There is not a writer living holding that for a theory, or who has
that desire for a fundamental impulse. Art is selection, and upon the
individual soul of the creative artist is laid the burden of choice. It
is in the way he chooses his material and in the way he works it out
that he is to be judged. He may be a story-teller like Stevenson, or he
may be a novelist like Zangwill. All I ask of him is just simply
this--he must be an individual creative artist; he must not repeat, must
not imitate for the sake of gain.

JOHN GILBERT

PLAYING "OLD MEN" PARTS

[Speech of John Gilbert at a banquet given by the Lotos Club in
recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of his first appearance on the
stage, New York City, November 30, 1878. The chairman of the dinner
was Whitelaw Reid, President of the Lotos.]

"CAESAR, WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE SALUTE YOU." Such the
gladiator's cry in the arena standing face to face with death. There is
a certain appositeness in the words I have just uttered that probably
may correspond to my position. Understand me, I do not mean to die
theatrically at present. [Laughter.] But when a man has arrived at my
age, he can scarcely look forward to very many years of professional
exertion. When my old friend, John Brougham [Mr. Brougham:--"I am not
going to die just yet."] [laughter], announced to me the honor that the
Lotos Club proffered me, I was flattered and complimented. But I said:
"John, you know I am no speechmaker." He replied, "Say anything."
"Anything," I said, "anything won't do." "Then," said he, "repeat the
first speech of Sir Peter Teazle, 'When an old bachelor marries a young
wife, what is he to expect?'" [Laughter.] Well, I think I can paraphrase
that and say, "When a young man enters the theatrical profession, what
is he to expect?" Well, he may expect a good many things that are never
realized. However, suffice it to say that fifty years ago I made my
debut as an actor in my native city of Boston. I commenced in the
first-class character of Jaffier in Otway's charming tragedy of "Venice
Preserved." The public said it was a success, and I thought it was.
[Laughter.] The manager evidently thought it was, too, for he let me
repeat the character. Well, I suppose it was a success for a young man
with such aspirations as I had. There might have been some inspiration
about it--at least there ought to have been--for the lady who personated
Belvidera was Mrs. Duff, a lovely w