adventures and letters-第3章
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ter ran two parallel black picture mouldings between which we could easily insert cabinet photographs of the actors and actresses which for the moment we thought most worthy of a place in our collection。 As the room was fairly large and as the mouldings ran entirely around it； we had plenty of space for even our very elastic love for the heroes and heroines of the footlights。
Edwin Forrest ended his stage career just before our time； but I know that Richard at least saw him and heard that wonderful voice of thunder。 It seems that one day； while my mother and Richard were returning home； they got on a street…car which already held the great tragedian。 At the moment Forrest was suffering severely from gout and had his bad leg stretched well out before him。 My brother； being very young at the time and never very much of a respecter of persons； promptly fell over the great man's gouty foot。 Whereat （according to my mother； who was always a most truthful narrator） Forrest broke forth in a volcano of oaths and for blocks continued to hurl thunderous broadsides at Richard； which my mother insisted included the curse of Rome and every other famous tirade in the tragedian's repertory which in any way fitted the occasion。 Nearly forty years later my father became the president of the Edwin Forrest Home； the greatest charity ever founded by an actor for actors； and I am sure by his efforts of years on behalf of the institution did much to atone for Richard's early unhappy meeting with the greatest of all the famous leather…lunged tragedians。
From his youth my father had always been a close student of the classic and modern drama； and throughout his life numbered among his friends many of the celebrated actors and actresses of his time。 In those early days Booth used to come to rather formal luncheons； and at all such functions Richard and I ate our luncheon in the pantry； and when the great meal was nearly over in the dining…room we were allowed to come in in time for the ice…cream and to sit； figuratively； at the feet of the honored guest and generally； literally； on his or her knees。 Young as I was in those days I can readily recall one of those lunch…parties when the contrast between Booth and Dion Boucicault struck my youthful mind most forcibly。 Booth； with his deep…set； big black eyes； shaggy hair； and lank figure； his wonderfully modulated voice； rolled out his theories of acting； while the bald…headed； rotund Boucicault； his twinkling eyes snapping like a fox…terrier's； interrupted the sonorous speeches of the tragedian with crisp； witty criticisms or 〃asides〃 that made the rest of the company laugh and even brought a smile to the heavy； tragic features of Booth himself。 But there was nothing formal about our relations with John Sleeper Clark and the Jefferson family。 They were real 〃home folks〃 and often occupied our spare room； and when they were with us Richard and I were allowed to come to all the meals； and； even if unsolicited； freely express our views on the modern drama。
In later years to our Philadelphia home came Henry Irving and his fellow player Ellen Terry and Augustin Daly and that wonderful quartet； Ada Rehan； Mrs。 Gilbert； James Lewis； and our own John Drew。 Sir Henry I always recall by the first picture I had of him in our dining…room； sitting far away from the table； his long legs stretched before him； peering curiously at Richard and myself over black…rimmed glasses and then； with equal interest； turning back to the ash of a long cigar and talking drama with the famous jerky； nasal voice but always with a marvellous poise and convincing authority。 He took a great liking to Richard in those days； sent him a church…warden's pipe that he had used as Corporal Brewster； and made much of him later when my brother was in London。 Miss Terry was a much less formal and forbidding guest； rushing into the house like a whirlwind and filling the place with the sunshine and happiness that seemed to fairly exude from her beautiful magnetic presence。 Augustin Daly usually came with at least three of the stars of his company which I have already mentioned； but even the beautiful Rehan and the nice old Mrs。 Gilbert seemed thoroughly awed in the presence of 〃the Guv'nor。〃 He was a most crusty； dictatorial party； as I remember him with his searching eyes and raven locks； always dressed in black and always failing to find virtue in any actor or actress not a member of his own company。 I remember one particularly acrid discussion between him and my father in regard to Julia Marlowe； who was then making her first bow to the public。 Daly contended that in a few years the lady would be absolutely unheard of and backed his opinion by betting a dinner for those present with my father that his judgment would prove correct。 However； he was very kind to Richard and myself and frequently allowed us to play about behind the scenes； which was a privilege I imagine he granted to very few of his friends' children。 One night； long after this； when Richard was a reporter in New York； he and Miss Rehan were burlesquing a scene from a play on which the last curtain had just fallen。 It was on the stage of Daly's theatre at Thirtieth Street and Broadway； and from his velvet box at the prompt…entrance Daly stood gloomily watching their fooling。 When they had finished the mock scene Richard went over to Daly and said； 〃How bad do you think I am as an actor； Mr。 Daly？〃 and greatly to my brother's delight the greatest manager of them all of those days grumbled back at him： 〃You're so bad； Richard； that I'll give you a hundred dollars a week； and you can sign the contract whenever you're ready。〃 Although that was much more than my brother was making in his chosen profession at the time； and in spite of the intense interest he had in the theatre； he never considered the offer seriously。 As a matter of fact； Richard had many natural qualifications that fitted him for the stage； and in after…years； when he was rehearsing one of his own plays； he could and frequently would go up on the stage and read almost any part better than the actor employed to do it。 Of course； he lacked the ease of gesture and the art of timing which can only be attained after sound experience； but his reading of lines and his knowledge of characterization was quite unusual。 In proof of this I know of at least two managers who； when Richard wanted to sell them plays； refused to have him read them the manuscript on the ground that his reading gave the dialogue a value it did not really possess。
In the spring of 1880 Richard left the Episcopal Academy； and the following September went to Swarthmore College； situated just outside of Philadelphia。 I fear； however； the change was anything but a success。 The life of the big coeducational school did not appeal to him at all and； in spite of two or three friendships he made among the girls and boys； he depended for amusement almost wholly on his own resources。 In the afternoons and on holidays he took long walks over the country roads and in search of adventure visited many farmhouses。 His excuse for these calls was that he was looking for old furniture and china； and he frequently remained long enough to make sketches of such objects as he pretended had struck his artistic fancy。 Of these adventures he wrote at great length to his mother and father； and the letters were usually profusely decorated with illustrations of the most striking incidents of the various escapades。 Several of these Swarthmore experiences he used afterward in short stories； and both the letters and sketches he sent to his parents at the time he regarded in the light of preparation for his future work。 In his studies he was perhaps less successful than he had been at the Episcopal Academy； and although he played football and took part in the track sports he was really but little interested in either。 There were half…holidays on Wednesdays and Saturdays； and when my brother did not come to town I went to Swarthmore and we spent the afternoons in first cooking our lunch in a hospitable woods and then playing some games in the open that Richard had devised。 But as I recall these outings they were not very joyous occasions； as Richard wa
