Life — February 3, 1910 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“LIFE: Popular Birthdays VICTOR HERBERT Born February 1, 1859 : This gentleman has been so long and so favorably known to the American public as a composer of light opera in the very first rank, that he needs no extended encomium. We might say, however, that to this general fame there is added on our part the recollection of a very pleasant per- sonality—a simple and boyish attitude rarely absent from the genuinely great. To have added to the pleasure of mankind in. the harmonious manner that he has done it, i a real achievement. We hope. sir, to hear you many t again, and to enjoy your work increasingly. In the meantime we acknowledge your worth and your gifts, and wish you many happy returns of the day. JUDSON HARMON One-time U. S. Attorney General Born February 3, 1846 As a launcher of an individual, personal, Presidential boom, sir, you have not been a success; but as a lawyer and a gentleman and one whom his countrymen love to honor, you are all that can be desired. We esteem you for your many high and enduring qualities and we give you greeting. JOHN MITCHELL ° Born February 4, 1870 When any man rises above his inviron- ment, and then devotes the rest of his life to the betterment of that environment, he is to be accounted above the common. Mr. Mitchell is one of these. He is an uncommon man, made great by his own sense of humanity and the simplicity of his character. He believes in helping others who cannot help themselves. We have faith in you, John Mitchell. You have done good work. FRANCIS WILSON Born February 7, 1854 “We count our comic poets through centuries."” says George Meredith, “in the singular number.’’ Can the same thing Le said of ‘our comic actors? Mr. Wilson, to emphasize yourself by a gentle whimsicality of deportment and a growing refinement, has been your peculiar talent. To create laughter is important, but it is not so important as to create an inward smile. We believe that you have done both. This, for you, is a much higher art than tragedy. You began as one of the grave diggers in “Hamlet.” You have ended as Francis Wilson. We congratulate you upon your rise. It has been deserved. ROBERT BRUCE MANTELL Born February 7, 1854 We confess to a sneaking admiration—nay, love—for the old and simplier form of the drama. We like the rugged- ness of it, as distinct from the smart ver- biage of much of the later forms. Shakes- peare still interests us, and those old actors who stalked across the stage, inwrapped in a profound melancholy or ‘depicting cle- mental passions, appeal to us still with an absorbing interest. Mr. Mantell has ma a time inspired us with delightful emotion We trust that he may long continue to do so. You have an honorable place in your pri fession. We salute you, sir, as a very worthy actor. The Admirable Dean Ames T is told of the late James Barr Ames, of the Harvard Law School, that he could never delegate any duty, and probably never dictated a piece of writing. He did all his work him- self—an immense deal of it—with his own hand and head, and usually went about on his own legs—often on a jog trot. Consequently all he did had quality—his quality. Not living much on the labor of others he never got rich, never tried to, never aeeded to. He was enormously valuable in the work to which he gave his life—a teacher who loved teaching, a mind saturated with the principles of law, one of the greatest trainers of lawyers that ever lived. Put it down to the credit of athletics that he was captain of a very early Harvard baseball nine, but baseball was dif- ferent then, and so were college athletics. WOULD rather be the flower of a day blooming on the grave of the past than the everlasting tombstone marking it. Old Mrs. Firefly: TMeERE’LL SURELY HAVE TO BE SOMETHING DONE WITH THAT OLD CODGER OVER THERE. WHY, HE'S SO NEAR SIGHTED ME’S BEEN TRYING TO LIGHT MIS CIGAR WITH MY HUS- BAND FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES. comicbooks.com