Year: 1875




groenroom TO greenroom to the effect that
ex-Mayor Oakley Hall had resolved to 60
upon the stage as a dramatic performer. No
announcement for a long time is calculated
to make wider sensation. Mr.. Hall, by rea-
son of the enmities as well as Of the friend
ships engendered by long life in politics and
law, has achieved worldwide reputation.
Beginning life as a journalist, then going
into political career, then becoming the
chief criminal officer and the chief executive
officer Of the city, afterwards q member OF
the most powerful combination that ever
governed great municipality his new ap-
poarance will be All interesting event,


II would De an injustice 70 Mr.. Hall him
SELF as well as 70 the public to indulge in
any predictions as to his success in his new
calling. History shows few instances Of men
even as gifted as Mr.. Hall changing pro-
fession in the latter years Of life. The mind
is good deal like the body; it is apt to be-
come set in its functions, to grow into ac-
customed ways, and to find new Offices diff
cult if not impossible On the first blush





a perilous experiment; but he is an old
stager he has played many parts in his time;
he has shown that histrionic taste which in
many cases is hereditary, and has exercised
an irresistible fascination upon talented
persons in all generations. We have seen
players Of more or less merit 60 from the
stage into other callings with acceptability.
There is really no reason why men who
have the dramatic gift should not in
dulge it, even at the close Of q
political career as noted and in some re-
spects as brilliant as that Of Mr.. Hall Mr..
Boucicault and Mr. Brougham and the late
Sheridan Knowles show that the literary fac
ulty may be developed to the highest point
in men who are professional players. Mr..
Dickens came within an ace of becoming a
comedian. To the close Of his life he was
whenever he cared to appear on the boards
a brilliant and versatile actor The illustri-
Gus Goethe was never 50 happy as when Ia
boring over the stage management Of the
theatre at Weimar. Speaking Of the greatest
of Germans, we naturally think Of the greatest
Of Englishmen. who was known in his gen
Grafton, not alone as the writer Of Hamlet !"
but as the representative Of not very re-
markable ghost. We believe it is no secret
that lady as well known as Anna Dickin-
son, who ten years ago was the Joan of Arc"
Of the anti-slayery movement in the eyes Of
her friends, and who has been for years
one Of our most popular female lecturers,
has decided to adopt the dramatic career
and will soon appear at one Of our theatres.
The debut Of Miss Kate Field, one Of our
most accomplished lecturers and essayists,
was the event Of the last dramatic season.
All Of which shows that the resolution Of
Mr.. Hall, strange as it may seem, is not with
out many examples to lessen our wonder


If any profession would naturally tend to
the stage it is that Of the law. Nearly every
great advocate is more or less an actor He
is an impersonation. He is constantly act
ing part written in his brief To-day he is
the miser tomorrow he is denouncing
avarice. From pathos he goes to humor.
and from thence to sentiment. The maiden
who has lost her lover the father who would
save the life Of his son, the wife who would
be protected, the husband whose hearth
stone has fallen into ruin, are all parts
which are written as frequently on the
briefs Of an advocate like Mr.. Hall
as on the prompters book Of an
actor like Mr.. Booth or Mr. Wallack AS
the true actor plays the part which best suits
him, 50 we learn from what our reporters
tell US elsewhere that Mr.. Hall will play a
varied experience. 1t will not alone be the
comedian telling US what the dramatist has
written, but once distinguished and now
much-censured public official telling the
story Of his public life in the form of play.
In this respect Mr.. Halls appearance will
be an event which stands alone and unique
in our dramatic history. He becomes an
advocate in the highest sense, for he will
be the hero Of his own play. Certainly if
he takes advantage Of fragment Of the
opportunities which such life opens
to him he will make a sensation far
beyond the histrionic value of his
performance, the sensation of a man who
feels that he has story to tell Of how he rose
to eminence and power, how he administered
the important trusts imposed upon him by a
party and people, and how he fell from
station and authority. The thousands who
have believed in Oakley Hall as a man more
sinned against than SHINING, and whose mis-
fortunes came from circumstances which he
could not control, will welcome the oppor-
tunity which he seeks to make a new defence
and a new fame.


In this spirit we therefore welcome Mr..
Hall into his new profession, and trust that
his success will be such as to justify the best
wishes of all who believe in his courage and
his ability, and who feel that courage and
ability can find no better field than on the
stage