6
THE HESPERIAN
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Art is detail. Any man knows that Lear the people who study Skakospoaro know not
should be "a fond and foolish miserable old of.
man," but it takes Henry Irving to mako The student who really knows most about
him such. The first balcony student goes to the thoatro and whoso judgment is worth
see a literary presentation, not a stage one. most, is the student who goes to everything.
He goes for now points and side lights on a Who is not roloct, who can laugh over
character, not to see an artistic creation. Fanny Rice and lose his head and heart over
Ho goes to the theatre to analyze, not to Julia Marlowe and cry over Olara Morris,
feel. If the actor does not play his particu- Ho has tho stago feeling and tho stage
lar idea of Shakespeare, ho is angry and do- knowlodgo, and ho can give better students
clares tho actor a fool. It is strange how thnn ho, pointers on tho thoatro. From
tho scholarly gentlemen of tho world have those resonant heights of tho third gallery ho
appropriated Shakespeare. As I once hoard looks down upon comedy and tragody,
an actor say, "Shakespeare was a player mirth and pathos and is moved and placed
and he wrote for players, not for colleges, by it all, regardless of whether the inter
He belongs more to the meanest wretch who pretation is according to Hoylo. Booth
rants in melodrama than to tho most learned
doctor in tho world." Ho is tho players'
Bible. Ho is tho one thing in their lives
that looks up and out, and they worship him
with a zeal that is almost fanaticism. To an
actor a Shakespearian role moans what a de-
used to say that the critics ho feared most
wore tho critics of tho third gallery. They
sit upon the lofty heights and look down
upon a gas light world that laughs and
weep to please them, just as tho gods of
old when worn out by onnui used to look
greo does to a student. Not long ago I was down upon the ludicrous tragedies and tho
complimenting an actor in a farce comedy stern comedies of mortals. If tho student
on his success in his part, and ho interrupt- goes to the thoatro at all, ho should go to
od me by saying hastily: onjoy himself, not to bo instructed. Ho
"Oh, I wasn't always in farco comody. I should yield himself to every turn of tho
have done the legitimate; 1 played Poter in phiy as a dancer does to every change of tho
"Romeo and Juliet" ono season with music. If things don't please him, then ho
Mather." Ho had played Peter. But on had better keep quiet. His criticism will
further talk with him I found that ho knew not effect the standard of work on tho stago
the whole play by heart and most of Shako- to any groat extent, nor influence tho mau
speare's plays, and that ho had sounder agers in their choice of stars for next sea
ideas of the character than most schoolmen, son. Talking will not mako Cora Tanner
A Shakespearian actress of great merit once any thinner or Bernhardt any fatter or Mag
told me that there was not a woman on the gi Mitchell any younger.
stage who did not spend most of her leisure
reading Shakespeare and longing to play
Shakespearian roles. She said that Laura
Burt confessed to her that her dream and
desire was to play Juliet, and that she was
POINTERS.
)
College students wanting employment for
the summor should address P. "W". Ziegler &
Co. Box 1801 St. Louis. Mo., who offer
always careful as to how much wine she groftt illducemontB for 8pecilll wopk t0 which
took for fear she might grow too stout for students arQ woll fitted) and wMch payfi
tho part; Laura Burt, who rides Queen ?7B to $150 month
Boss in "Old Kentucky" and accepts racing
saddles and riding whips front tho Kansas Thompson, tho optician, can fit you out in
City Jockey Club. Among tho people that spectacles bettor than anycody in the city,
live Shakespeare, there is a devotion that 1241 0 street.