CAPTAIN IRA WOOD. 103 



played Brabantio to his Othello, but who the lago was is 

 forgotten. For a boy of eighteen or nineteen Ira's make- 

 up as the "reverend signior" was excellent, and he filled 

 the dignified part well, as many said. Eddy was an actor 

 of the robust school of Forrest and not unlike him in man- 

 ner, and would bear nothing that would even slightly 

 mar one of his scenes. Ira also played with Mr. Eddy in 

 "Richard III." that week, and afterward with Couldock and 

 other stars of those days. I do not remember seeing him 

 in comedy except once, and that was as Sir Anthony Ab- 

 solute, in "The Rivals," with Mrs. John Drew as Mrs. 

 Malaprop, with her "derangement of epitaphs," but for- 

 get who played Bob Acres and Sir Lucius OTrigger. 



One day Ira wanted to go fishing, said he had only 

 some four hours after the morning rehearsal, and did not 

 want to put in all his time in going and coming to the 

 fishing grounds and back. Evidently the Popskinny was 

 too far on the east side of the river, and the Normanskill 

 equally so on the Albany side. Fishing off the dock for 

 such strays as might pass had ceased to be attractive as 

 manhood approached, and after a moment of hesitation I 

 said: "Have you ever fished for striped bass in the river 

 here?" 



"No," said he, "the only fishing I have ever done is on 

 the inland streams and on Onondaga Lake. I don't 

 know what a striped bass is like. If they are near here 

 and there is a chance to get one or two let's try it. How 

 big are they?" 



"Down in salt water they grow big. Up here they 

 run up to half a pound. Meet me at the State Street 

 Bridge at any hour you name and I will be ready with 

 everything that we need." Naturally all these conversa- 

 tions in the long ago are reproduced in substance in the 

 words that memory suggests as she recalls the facts; no 



