The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-29
R|CHEL|EU USED
BY MANY ACTORS
Of MUCH REPUTE
Prof. SouthwiCk, Dramatic
Reader, Who Appears at
GOODWIN Institute Monday
Evening, Chats on Play.
BY JAMES eAsELLE.


Slender, with blue-gray eyes, high,
forehead, surmounted by luxuriant
white hair, large mobile mouth and
long, slender face that strongly sug-
gests his friend, Sir Henry Irving,
Professor Henry Lawrence South
wick, head of the Emerson School of
Oratory, Boston, Mass, who gives a
dramatic reading Of THE Cardinal
King" an Interpretation Of Lord
Bulwer- Lytton's romantic drama,
"Richelieu,'' at Goodwin institute
Monday night. is singularly inter-
-esting figure.
4 "Richelieu, despite it's numerous
y faults is play with a strong element
Of appeal" stated Prof Southwick
while seated at a belated breakfast
table at Hotel Peabody. ut has out
lasted all the other Bulwer- Lytton
plays even the once popular Lady of
Lyons The author wrote 1t for his
friend, the great Macready, who was
the first Richelieu. Since then it
has been played by Booth, Barrett,
Warde and a host Of others. Soth-
ern essayed 1t for while, but aban-
doned it for some reason.
Booth was a fine, scholarly
Richelieu. His performance was one
evenly balanced whole. There are
but Booth always avoided this temp
tation and the result is that his per-
Torrance was a delight to every
sense. Barrett, on the other hand,
flung himself upon the hight
with avidity and always made a big
hit with the gallery. 1t was favor
lite role with Irving, who gave the,
same clever, sane presentation of
Booth
Knew Irving.
Il knew Sir Henry Irving well and
learned many interesting facts about
him. On his last tour through the
United States he had a juvenile with
him that ran more to looks than
brains. 1t would not be fair to men
ton his name as he has quite a
reputation now. He had not been on
the stage long and the flattering re-
ception he received rather went to
his head He really had an idea that
the crowds came to see him and not
Sir Henry. Finally he opened up
with his own company and, meeting
Sir Henry, told him that he intended
to present Hamlet.
"'Ah," said Sir Henry" it is-an ad-
mirable ambition to strive to present
the greatest character in all dramatic
literature
"Just so,"' said the young fellow,
swelling with Importance "Just
SO. | am sure I will make a great
hit. have lot of new ideas on the
subject"
"Tndeed?' remarked the great ac-
tor quietly
eyes. indeed. I have been devot-
ing q lot of study to the matter.
have been looking up ancient Den
mark and find that red was mourn
ing, in the days of Hamlet. l shall
present my Hamlet robed entirely in
red"
"That will, indeed, be a new de
parture," Irving replied a quizzical
light in his eyes. "'No other actor
/. has ever thought of that"
~ Just so! Just so. But there is
one thing that troubles me somewhat
and that is Hamlet's remark: "Tis
not alone my inky cloak, dear
mother"
"Don't let that trouble you, my
dear boy said Sir Henry turning
away. Don't let that trouble at all.
You know there is red ink
Soul of Kindness.
"Sir Henry was the very soul of
Kindness" continued Prof. South
wick. There was an ambitious young
girl at our school who was deeply in
terested in the drama. She had to
make every penny count so when Sir
Henry visited Boston on his last trip
she was most anxious to see every
performance, but did not have the
wherewithal. Nothing daunted she
applied and was given position as
extra. The first night Dante" was
hill Mo 90 Cd
ieval days.
Our little girl was anxious not to
miss anything of the play and was
at the back entrance peering in. Irv-
ing was to make dramatic appear
ance from this back entrance as Of
one spent with running. To do this
he would make the run from the
dressing room to the entrance. The
girl was in his way, he thrust her to
one side and stood triumphant before
the assembled Florentines. A burst
of applause always greeted this bit
of business. The girl was greatly
mortified and somewhat apprehenstve
of the result of her awkardness. At
ter the act was over Irving put on
his thick glasses without which he
could not see a thing and went
around peering into the faces Of all
the extra girls until he came to the
right one. She was shivering in her
shoes, but determine to face the
music. Judge of her surprise, when,
instead Of scolding, Irving said. My
dear young lady, I must apologize for
my rudeness in thrusting you aside
in the last act. but really had no
time to explain to you and sincerely
trust you will pardon my rudeness!'
Think Of Richard Mansfield doing
that?n