Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 7 in the reminiscences of the great actors. They condole with him in his disappointments and misfortunes ; they rejoice at his triumphs. Could Shakespeare return to this world and see how his plays were being performed, he would say, “ I see in Robert Mantell and Louis James the best exponents of several of the most difficult, yet delightful, characters that have trod the stage since my bones were laid to rest.” In years to come, when death has touched many of our readers, old gentlemen will say to the Shakespearean student and play-goer : “ I saw Mantell in ‘ Lear sir, he was the greatest Lear that the stage has ever had.” And when years have elapsed, we can safely say that the dramatic critic will de- clare that the true Lear passed with the passing of Mantell. L. Frank O ' Brien, ’08. MtUUh. How so othes the silence of the stars. When no profaning noise My soul’s rapt stillness mars! Anon, the swimming eye of tears Sees, — past the sight it blurs — The hushed dead love of years. Joseph B. Jacobi, ’01.

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6 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL vests the role with a profound melancholy. He has the ease of a gentleman, the dignity of a prince, symmetry of features, and flexibility of voice. His eyes were large, brilliant, and penetrating. His action and gesticulation, though extremely easy and natural, were generally quick, energetic, and very earnest. His voice, when raised, did not become harsh and dissonant ; it was charming, musical, undulating. In the strictly declamatory portions of the character, Mr. Mantell seemed ‘‘ to have inspired the soul of ‘ Hamlet,’ its intel- lectuality and sensitiveness were wrought into transparent prominency. ' ’ Yet, Mr. Mantell’s “Hamlet,” though it en- raptured some, is not greeted by the audiences with as much enthusiasm as some of his other parts. “ Richard the Third ” is one of Mr. Mantell’s most popu- lar and invariably attractive parts. “ Shylock ” is another role in which Mr. Mantell is well received. His “ Shylock ” is an almost perfect presentation of this most difficult of all comedy parts. It has often been said that though the triumphs of the actor are immediate, they are not lasting. The result of his efforts is quickly gathered. He is conscious of and hears the thunder of applauding multitudes, while he is yet before the stage, but it is short lived as it is loud. The fame which re- wards the author, the painter, the sculptor, the poet, and the statesman, slowly ripens until it blossoms forth never to fade. Not so with the actor. When we say actor, we do not mean the ordinary run of men who are on the stage and are representa- tives of merely nothing. But the fame of a really great actor is not evanescent. Roscia is not forgotten; Garrick’s fame will survive memory; Kean and Kemble have a name written indelibly in time; Booth and Forrest have been immortalized. Tradition will preserve the names of Sir Henry Irving and Richard Mansfield. In every truly polished age, people learn- ed and those not so well informed, have taken great interest

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8 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL a a pmnfi and a iiet. (A Story.) D ick Powell was broke, “ dead broke and his allowance not due for ten days. There he sat, head in hands, sunk in our friend Bunyan’s “ Slough of Despond.” The room was bright and cheery, facing on the campus, and decorated with the college man’s usual abundance of pen- nants, pillows and well-seasoned pipes. Outside, a crowd of Sophomores listened to a lone Freshman’s attempt at a song. The unmusical tune floated through the open window, but failed to rouse Dick; he was watching his air-castles fading slowly away, — with a sort of grim pleasure — a pleasure such as the criminal feels when he sees that the axe is newly sharp- ened. The sun was sinking. As the magazine stories say, “ twilight was spreading her cloak over all,” and Dick was away under the cloak. Over, and over again he revolved the unpleasant situation in his mind. “ Jack Norris’ sister coming tomorrow, and Jack writes me to show her a good time. How in the mischief I can show anybody a good time in my present condition of ‘ frenzied finance,’ I don’t see. Just at present my total list of assets is a nickel, a penny, and a key. Board is paid up, and if that confounded Miss Norris had not appeared on the scene, I could have invested my nickel in a sack of tobacco and lived comfortably until Pa sends my allowance. As for the penny, — well I was going to keep it just to be able to say that I’m never without money. If I had only known this was going to happen I would never have — O but that’s ‘ spilt milk. It was too easy; I ought to have known something was going to happen. Well it happened all right; as I can testify.