Evening star., 1936-04-14
BY WILLIAM A. BELL, JR.

By WILLIAM n. DELL, IN.
NJ OST men of 78 are in the sixth
M age of the seven described
V in the famous all the
L worlds a stage" soliloquy,
but Robert Lindley Downing, retired
actor and active evangelist, is in the
third.
The sixth age, according to William
Shakespeare Jaques in Act II of LAS
You Like It." is that of presently
when q mans hose is "a world too
wide for his shrunk shank" and his
big manly voice, turning again toward
childish treble, pipes and whistles in
his sound"
The third, soliloquizes Jaques, Is
"the lover, signing like furnace" etc.
Eight years past the Biblical allot-
ment of three score and ten, Mr.
Downing will take unto himself bride
his fourth-tomorrow afternoon at
the Plaza Apartments.
His voice. far from a Childish
treble" retains the same thunderous
resonance which once carried it to the
farthest gallery seats Of theaters all
over the country.
Bride Friend in Childhood.
When the news spread that Mr.
Downing had taken out a license to
marry q childhood acquaintance, Mrs
Mary Shafer Jones, 65. Of 3437 Mount
Pleasant street, reporters called at his
modest home at l349 Harvard street.
Don't, for heavens sake" doomed
the white haired bridegroom-elect
"call me an old veteran I don't con-
slider myself by any means veteran
I feel as young as I was at 40. Good
health. Good strength"
One would scarcely have thought oi
calling him an old veteran. His step Is
springy; his brown eyes clear and
sparkling. He retains most of hi;
hair, snowy now, once the rich brown
wavy glory of matinee idols.
Mr.. Downing has outlived three
wives. His first died, leaving his only
child, now Mrs. Travers ]. Crocker, ir
whose apartment he is to be married
tomorrow. His second, Eugene Blair
was a well-known actress. His third
the former Mrs. Helene Quertiel
Kirkpatrick, died five years ago.
MIS-. Jones has been q widow nv
years.
She is a teacher and the couple vii
honeymoon and live in Colonial Beach
Va, where she will teach literature
and he dramatic art.
Recalls Early Experiences.
On the eve of his wedding MI
Downing opened today his treasur
house of memories. He went back h
1876 and his first performance 20
consequence" 1t was in the Nationa
Theater and the play was "Uncl
Toms Cabin" Young Downing playe
George Harris, who befriended Uncl
Tom.
Then followed five years Of stoc
company playing and associations witt
such immortals of the legitimat
drama as Edwin Booth, Joseph Jeffer
son. John Mccullough and Mary An
derson. (''Mary Anderson-ah, ther
was q lovely woman. She played Julie
to my Romeo. I keep this picture Q
her in that role.")
In 1881 Mr.. Downing formed
company of his own and went on toul
His first production was Joaquin Mil
ler's "Tallyho." Better known, how
ever. and more beloved to Mr.. Down
ing was his performance in the it'll
role of 1.-THE Gladiator" Three thou
sand times he played it, up and dow
the land.
Mr.. Downing seldom wore the soc
of comedy, preferring the buskin
tragedy. He came to be billed a
Americas tragedian." But he wo
the praise of critics, too, as Capt. Ah
solute In 1.-THE Rivals" Mrs. job
Drew played opposite him as Mr.
Malaprop.
"I said to John-John Drew-on
day." MIR. Downing recalled, "Johl
do you think we're as good as tn
critics say?' He laughed and saii
NO, Of course we're not
Knew Barrymore Children.
st knew 'em all. Knew John an
Lionel and Ethel Barrymore whe
they were kids growing up. Williai
Farnum, too-he was almost like a
adopted son. His father. Dustin, wa
my treasurer. Young Dustin used I
travel with the company renting oper
glasses and selling photographs.
Why did Mr.. Downing leave tn
stage for the pulpit? The religion
and spiritual significance Of the drs
mas in which he performed induce
him, he declared.
"I was affected principally by m
role as John the Baptist in The Voit
in the Wilderness I wanted to Ii,
and preach as John did"
So in 1908 Mr.. Downing forsoo
the stage and took up the career h
says has. afforded him the most sut
lime happiness, He was ordained
the Christian Church in 1917 and sti
goes around the country preachin
the gospel.
"I don't claim, like Billy Sunda,
that I save 'em," he said, "but I ju.
try to get over a message Of plail
matter-o -of-fact religion"
Mr.. Downing s callers didn't 81
-