What grandeur, what pathos, are in the words; but we will not believe them—at least not of him. The lustre—the undying lustre—Shakespeare's transcendent genius has shed upon the world marches down the ages undimmed by time."
I lately came across a tribute to Shakespeare which provoked alike my admiration and surprise: the author being that brilliant wit and humorist, Douglas Jerrold. These are his words:
"The great magician who has left immortal company for the spirit of man in his weary journey through this briary world—has bequeathed scenes of immortal loveliness for the human fancy to delight in—founts of eternal truth for the lip of man to drink, and drink—and for all time to be renovated with every draught."
Charles Wyndham
Of that accomplished and delightful comedian, Charles Wyndham, there are bright thoughts of the happiness he gave to playgoers during an exceptionally prolonged career. Its only blemish, indeed, was its length, when the inevitable decay, which at last declines to be warded off, became manifest towards the end.
His early successes were made at the Criterion Theatre, in plays of an amusing and frivolous kind, such as The Great Divorce Case, Pink Dominoes and Betsy. These were followed by far better work, of a higher kind, and the production of those admirable comedies by Henry Arthur Jones, The Case of Rebellious Susan and The Liars.
I confess to having thought, had I remained longer on the stage, how happy I should have been to have played some types of those delightful, helpful, elderly men, who often make life pleasanter to the young, and were so perfectly acted by Wyndham.
He retained his youthful appearance until late in life: the preservation of his "figure" was amazing, and he remained a good walker to the end, but never carried a cane.
To recall a peculiarity of his hard working days, I have frequently known him stop at a post office and scrawl a hurried letter or send a telegram to himself, as a reminder of something important that he had to remember or to do.
The memory of Charles Wyndham should always be held in high regard for his unbounded generosity and devoted service to the Actors' Benevolent Fund. It was a pleasure and a privilege to me to propose that Lady Wyndham should be chosen to follow in his footsteps as its president.