The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
WARDE RECOLLECTS'
FIRST APPEARANCE.
HERE IN MEMPHIS
With Mccullough at Lubrie's
Iheater on Jefferson st.
ChlckaSaW Guards Present
and Receive FLAG.

Frederick Wardc, well-loved dean
OF american drama, received an ova-
lion when he gave his sparkling lee
ture, Fifty Years OF Make Believe"
AT Goodwin institute, Thursday
night. Mr., Warde was delighted
with his reception.
Such wonderful greeting from
friends, old and new. is gratifying
In the extreme" he declared. 1t
would be enough to bring the dead
10 life. | am so overwhelmed 1t is
impossible for me to express my
gratitude. This visit, like my first
Is memorable. shall never forget
either.
Il first came here in 1879 with
John Mccullough. | played Icilitus
his Virginius, at Lubries theater on
Jefferson street. One OF the pleas
/ ant features of the evening was the
presence OF Memphis military COM
pany called the Chickasaw Guard
that had won prizes in every COM
petltive drill throughout the South.
They attended In n body the FIRST
night and presented a brilliant mp
pearance. In a neat, graceful speech,
Mr.. Mccullough presented them with
a regulation size silk American
flag. The captain, s. T. Carnes--
now general. and with n splendid
record, and one of my dearest friends
made brilliant speech OF accept
ance that brought down the house
Many of the members OF this COM
pany are still friends OF mine and
] always look forward to my Mem
phis visits for the pleasure IL gives
me TO meet them again.
After this first visit we came ev-
cry year. Every visit was an added
pleasure. Mr., Mccullough won the
gratitude of Memphis by making II
very liberal donation at the time of
the yellow fever epidemic. ] had
given a little, too, and the noble
heart OF this great city magnificd
the little service many times. We
visit that Memphis never forgets her
friends, no matter how humble they
may be.
On Long Trip.
Il am now on q ten weeks trip
throughout the country, going as far
as Canada, and winding up in Los
Angeles. | have three days In this
delightful city, among most charm
ing friends. which is Il luxury I
certainly appreciate. shall remain
IN Los Angeles all winter portraying
the part of Fray Juhipero Sierra In
the mission play at San Gabriel,
which is II miles from the Angelic
city. The play was written by John
McGroorty, journalist, poet and
dramatist. A dear, delightful Irish
man, with high ideals and noble as
pirations, who has made in this play
a vital contribution to American lit
erature. The thcater where this Is
given is located just across from the
old mission Of San Gabriel. and
while playing at times the bells of
the mission blend with tho words of
the actors. 1t is certainly inspiring.
u am delighted that my friends in
Memphis are so interested in my
book, Fifty Years OF Make Believe
] have been greatly pleased to see
how many OF them had read 1t. The
way II came to be written was as
follows: / had been playing the part
OF Father Sierra, and the play was
such as success that the editor Of
the Los Angeles times suggested that
! write a series of ten articles on the
stage, one article to be published each
week. / was indiscreet enough to
promise to do so. However, the close
Of the articles only brought me to my
first visit to California, and l was
deluged by letters urging me to COM
plete 1t, So at last ! did. | was
occupied all last summer in doing so.
! have been more than Eratified with
the warmth of reception it has re
ceived.
1.-THE world does not look upon the
stage with the disfavor 1t formerly
did. think that much of this en-
lightenment Is due to the work of the
Actors Church alliance, of which |
have the honor to be vice president
Bishop Burch, of New York, whom
first met when he was a newspaper
editor in Michigan, is president. This
institution does n world of good.
II Is a far cry from the day" when
minister of Fifth avenue church
refused to bury man because he
was an actor, and told Thomas JEFF
ferson and Edwin Booth to go TO "a
little church around the corner; they
would care for anybody and Jeffer-
son reverently took off his hat and
said, God bless the little church
around the corner Now an actors
profession is looked up to as II
should be- as being the equal Of any.
That church, by the way Church OF
the TRANSPORTATION. TO give II it's Of
fetal title, is known and loved by
every thespian throughout the COun-
try, regardless of creed
Cannot Obstinate.