Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-05
IOHN DREW'S MEMOIRS
Memories and Anecdotes ol
Half a Century on Stage

foreword to John Drew's "My Years on
the stage" (Dutton) both informs the
reader and illuminates tho subject. One
paragraph il especially noteworthy In
iteskeen critical analysis OF the actor.
autobiographer and its appreciation Of
the merits Of the man. Mr.. Harrington
'say::v;v ay:v;v,.. =. n. n,.,.d most con.
q bis time have been tho roles Of
sentlemen; and there 10 q certain. thing
about his book Of which We are already
sure before We read It; therein he cun.
not fail to add ono more to tho long
fine gallery Of gentlemen he has shown
u.s.. and this one must necessarily be the
best gentleman Of them all. And 1t will
be the one We have liked best; for 1t
was always there. and turned many a
playwright's shOddy outline into q fne
fellow. John Drew would play simon
I.esrec into a misunderstood gentleman
believe vt,
Drew this will seem an admirable and
complete Characterization. There Is
much Of entertainment and there are
many memories to be evoked for the
playRoer of the last half century In
these chapters Of autobiography In
which John Drew has set down his
impressions of the stage and often OF
contemporary events over the long
period Of his theatrical career:
The book 10 written in q pleasant,
lucid. bred style, without gentility OF
dictiOn or manner but with the pest
Of manners. 1t has many anecdotes re:
latins to stage folk who have survived
in memory and some concerning those
whose fame Ia buried In dusty play .
hills. but whose names recalled out
Of the past bring back only vague rec.
The actor, as has been said more tnau
once, has the least durable method Oi
perpetuating his art and fame. The one
II sometimes transmitted through his
disciples or pupils, II he has had them
the other soon becomes merely q mat.
ter Of tradition. For as the era which
sharp and defined lines Of his figure and
personality dim and fade. As Mr.. Tark.
ington points out. Mr.. Drew's genera.
ton still continues and 1t is charm.
Ing for those who followed him in the
old Augustin DAILY and Empire StOcl
days, az well AZ for the younger gen
GRAFTON who saw his fine acting only
last season in this city In Somerset
Maugham's '"rhe Circle" to have such
an agreeable narrative of his stage life
His early days in this. his native
city, q Civil War boyhood; his debutant
endeavors on the stage of the still
standing Arch Street Theatre, Of, which
his mother was lessee his long connec.
tion with DAILY and the constellation
that able manager gathered about him
his Shakespearean adventures. and down
the line to his own stardOm and the
following Of select audience that al
ways waited for the John Drew en-
sagement-these are some of the RENT.
niscent chapters SO graphically written
Recollections Of his father. the elder
John Drew, noted Irish comedian. and
his mother Louisa Drew. certainly tn
best classic actress Of her day; OF thu
Barrymores, connections by marriage
of Louis James and Jim Lewis. Adj
Rchan, Edwin Booth, Fanny Daven'
port, Mrs. Gilbert, Edith Kingdom
Elsie Dc Wolfe, Ida Conquest, Oti'
Skinner, Maude Adams, Augustir
Daly, Charles Frohnan, and scores o
others of importance, make fascinating
reading for those who love the stag
and those who relish readable memoirs
Reproductions of old stage photograph
and historic playbills provide an abun'
dance Of very lOokable illustratiOns-Ot
what memorable joys their remembered
names and feutures, their now quain
costumes and modes OF Golf and whH
kers. recreate in the mind OF the 'olt
stagef.'