where many times he triumphed is
forgot"--his calm and gentle genius and his hale physique have endured
in unabated vigor, so that he has charmed two generations of play-goers,
still happily lives to charm men and women of to-day. Webster, Choate,
Felton, Everett, Rantoul, Shaw, Bartlett, Lunt, Halleck, Starr King,
Bartol, Kirk--these and many more, the old worthies of the bar, bench,
and the pulpit in Boston's better days of intellect and taste:--all saw
him as we see him in the silver-gray elegance and exquisite perfection
with which he illustrates the comedies of England.

His career has impinged upon the five great cities of Boston, New
Orleans, Philadelphia, London, and New York. It touches at one extreme
the ripe fame of Munden (who died in '32) and--freighted with all the
rich traditions of the stage--it must needs at its other extreme
transmit even into the next century the high mood, the scholar-like wit,
and the pure style of the finest strain of acting that Time has
bestowed upon civilized man. By what qualities it has been distinguished
this brilliant assemblage is full well aware. The dignity which is its
grandeur; the sincerity which is its truth; the thoroughness which is
its massive substance; the sterling principle which is its force; the
virtue which is its purity; the scholarship, mind, humor, taste,
versatile aptitude of simulation, and beautiful grace of method, which
are its so powerful and so delightful faculties and attributes, have all
been brought home to your minds and hearts by the wealth and clear
genius of the man himself!

I have often lingered in fancy upon the idea of that strange,
diversified, wonderful procession--here the dazzling visage of Garrick,
there the woful face of Mossop; here the glorious eyes of Kean; there
the sparkling loveliness of an Abington or a Jordan--which moves through
the chambers of the memory across almost any old and storied stage. The
thought is endless in its suggestion, and fascinating in its charm. How
often in the chimney-corner of life shall we--whose privilege it has
been to rejoice in the works of this great comedian, and whose happiness
it is to cluster around him to-night in love and admiration--conjure up
and muse upon his stately figure as we have seen it in the group of Sir
Peter and Sir Robert, of Jaques and Wolsey, and Elmore! The ruddy
countenance, the twinkling gray eyes, the silver hair, the kind smile,
the hearty voice, the old-time courte