for the first time played Coriolanus
_beautifully_. He discarded the disfiguring beard of the warrior that he
had worn during the "run" earlier in the season--and now that one could
see his face, all was well. When people speak of the evils of long runs,
I should like to answer with a list of their advantages. An actor, even
an actor of Henry Irving's caliber, hardly begins to play an immense
part like Coriolanus for what it is worth until he has been doing it for
fifty nights.)
_November 16._--"New York. Saw delightful Maude Adams in 'Quality
Street'--charming play. She is most clever and attractive.
_Unusual_ above everything. Queer, sweet, entirely delightful."
From these extracts, I hope it will be seen that by burning most of my
diaries I did not inflict an unbearable loss upon present readers, or
posterity!
I am afraid that I think as little of the future as I do of the past.
The present for me!
If my impressions of my friends are scanty, let me say in my defense
that actors and actresses necessarily _see_ many people, but _know_ very
few.
If there has been more in this book about my life in the theater than
about my life outside it, the proportion is inevitable and natural.
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