The distinguished¹ artist whose name is prefixed to these remarks purposes to leave England for a professional tour in the United States. A few words from me, in reference to his merits as an actor, I hope may not be uninteresting to some readers, in advance of his publicly proving them before an American audience, and I know will not be unacceptable to my intimate friend. I state at once that Mr. Fechter holds that relation towards me; not only because it is the fact, but also because our friendship originated in my public appreciation² of him. I had studied his acting³ closely, and had admired it highly, both in Paris and in London, years before we exchanged a word. Consequently my appreciation is not the result of personal regard, but personal regard has sprung out of my appreciation.

The first quality observable in Mr. Fechter’s acting is, that it is in the highest degree romantic. However elaborated in minute details, there is always a peculiar⁴ dash and vigour⁵ in it, like the fresh atmosphere of the story whereof it is a part. When he is on the stage, it seems to me as though the story were transpiring⁶ before me for the first and last time. Thus there is a fervour in his love-making — a suffusion⁷ of his whole being with the rapture⁹ of his passion — that sheds a glory on its object, and raises her, before the eyes of the audience, into the light in which he sees her. It was this remarkable¹⁰ power that took Paris by storm when he became famous in the lover’s part in the Dame¹¹ aux Camelias. It is a short part, really comprised in two scenes, but, as he acted it (he was its original representative), it left its

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