1905.] on Dramatic Thoughts : Retrospective — Anticipative. 75 



A valuable opinion was also expressed by one — the remembrance 

 of whose acting lingers with us yet, like the sweet fragrance from 

 some dainty perfume — I mean Mary Anderson. To use the far better 

 words of her illustrious fellow countryman : " When she passed, it 

 seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music." That lady was " Delighted 

 to hear of the movement on foot for the establishment of a State-aided 

 Theatre and Dramatic School. Both have been sadly needed since 

 the old stock company days ceased to be. "While these existed, good 

 honest training was the rule, and those who were fortunate enough to 

 be brought up in such companies were generally well-rounded, smooth, 

 pleasing in their work, even though they may not have been bril- 

 liantly endowed. Perhaps they followed tradition too slavishly, but 

 the tradition was of the best, and gave them solid ground on which 

 to stand. Considering, therefore, the sufferings of the would-be actor, 

 who must paint his pictures directly before a critical public, and who, 

 unlike his brother-of-the-brush, cannot sketch in or rub out what he 

 has done in private — considering also what the public endures in 

 witnessing his blind and often-times frantic efforts at effect, it would 

 indeed, be a charity to both to found a State-aided theatre and dra- 

 matic school. What an incentive these would be to conscientious 

 work ! Nothing but good could come of such a venture ; good to 

 the public, whose amusement should be of the best, good to the young 

 actor, who, having his work perfected and polished before presenting 

 it to his audience, would come upon the stage with confidence and 

 authority." 



I wish to add some words by Mr. John Hare, whose labours as 

 actor and as manager have for many years shed lustre on his pro- 

 fession, words spoken at last year's Royal Academy banquet in an 

 eloquent plea for the endowment of a National theatre : " A theatre 

 which should uphold the noblest traditions of the British stage, 

 where the best and worthiest plays of British authors should be per- 

 formed, and to which a sound school of gratuitous dramatic teaching 

 should be attached. Such an institution would at once raise the 

 dignity of the drama to the level it occupies in other great nations 

 of the world, and would help to check those malignant growths 

 which are poisoning and undermining our very existence, and making 

 our stage a byword and reproach." 



I agree with every word that I have quoted, excepting only those 

 which advocate State aid. If I remember rightly, it is a French 

 proverb which says : " Scratch a Eussian, you will find the Tartar." 

 So I verily believe, if you scratch many a Briton there will still be 

 found the Puritan — both being somewhat barbarous in their different 

 ways. I think the old nursery rhyme might run : " Fe-fi-fo-fum 

 —I smell the blood of a Puritan ! " But I quarrel with no inan's 

 views, and conversion is not my mission; to hurl rational ideas 

 against a brick wall is a waste of time, why tilt your lance against a 



