The New York herald., 1922-11-12

ance, but feel he VIII not look upon
II as a presumption II nsk him TO for
ward 1t to you, as 1 am not familiar
with your address.
1 cannot tell you, my dear VIII, what
an enormous success I have achieved
in England and In France. II Is stu
pendous, and I might say. there has
been nobody so genuinely surprised as
the humble writer. ! am inclosing n re-
print OF an article which appeared In
The Tdtler a few weeks ago. which will
give you a small idea OF my very great
good fortune.
In Paris there was not a solitary
qualification In any OF the French critl-
cisms. They gave me the preference
over Mounet-Sully. Some said I had
taught their tragic actors a lesson in
simplicity and distinction; others that
had originated a new school OF tragic
acting, which they hoped would be fol-
lowed. Think OF 1t, my dear Will-in
France! and then. as you know, they
made me Chevalfer OF the Legion OK
Honor; definitely the first Englis..-
speaking actor who has ever received
this great distinction, and as far as the
Ministry Of Fine Arts can ascertain, the
only actor outside OF France, with the
possible exception, which Is doubtful, or
Novelli. the great Italian tragedian.
II seems more like a dream than a
reality. My last performance was as
the guest Of honor at Stratford-on-A Avon,
as OtheIlo, where according to the
critics and my friends, ! scored the big
sest triumph OF my career Many OF the
pa'crs said ] was the greatest Othelo
since Salvini. and / am glad to say that
Mrs. Hackett scored genuine triumph
also as Desdemon1. She was BESIDE
mona personifled. II was q very happy
occasion.
might also add that produced
"Silas Lapham" and scored a big pe--
sonai success In that. One of the edi-
torials was headed THE Yankee from
jefferson TO Hackett" and I will merely
quote the first paragraph: Tho fes-
cinating portrait OF Yankee OF the To's
limned this week by Mr.. James X.
Hackett In The Rise OF silas Lspham'
is worthy TO be hung with the Asa
Trenchard OF Joseph Jefferson and ]. d
Blackstone IN Our American Cousin
and the Hon. Bardweli Slots of W. j.
Florence in Tho Mighty Dollar" Later
on the writer says: "Mr. Hackett's
'Silas' Is probably less exaggerated than
Jefferson's Asa Trenchard, or Flor %
ence's Bardwell Slote. I counsel every
lover of character acting to make the
acquaintance OF this dear old Yankee"
II was n long jump from Macbeth 90
Silas. and big jump back from Silas
20 Othello.
Incidentally. appeared by invitation
OF the Press OF france, as Shakes
peare' himself. in the finale OF the
Atoliere Tercentenary celebrations which
took place at the Opera House In Paris
last spring. At the request OF Alfred
CapUs who invited me In the name OF
the Maison des Journalistes repre-
Eented Shakespeare and his works on
behalf Of the United States. Englan |
snd France" His letter read es follows;
You have succeeded In your own
country. YOU have triumphed in Eng
land, and all Paris has feted your
triumph In Macbeth and Othello. We
90 not regard you as an American acto'
aolely. but as the international interpre.
ter OF the great Shakespearean roles,
and we therefore consider you abund-
entity qualified TO represent Shakespeare
and his works on behalf OF three
nations"
This was a great honor. us you will
readily understand, and I had q very
enthusiastic reception. Parenthetically
! made up" as the statue OF Shakes
peare In Central Park, and the effect
was so striking as to be In way
Ltartling.
There is a curious BIT OF sentime II
involved which you will instantly grasr,
as :ou mentioned in your article that
my fSther had been responsible for this
statue. and you may remember that the
legs OF this statue we're modelled after
my fathers. As wrote a friend. I
went. not with my fathers legs, oL,
with the best apology for them that :
could personally offer.
The entire stage of Paris. about 5000