The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-20

From the Unpublished Anscdotioa Recol.ectioas of
SOL SMITH.
There is class Of Individuals who claim TO knoDp
cUerybOdg. Actors particularly, and particularly
great actors are their most familiar companions
Macreddy, Forrest and Booth are their most valued
professional fends--they have known them so
long and so jnlimately-interchang so many civ
iites with them--beeu in their society under so
many peculiar cumstances-indeed, they have
known hem from chdhood-they consider them as
brothers
In 1914 one Of this class happened TO be passen-
ger on the White" on her trip from New Oreans
to st. Louis, during the month of March. He was
Jolly fellow, full of anecdoie, aud always ready
with his joke, conundrum, repartee or pun.
Snalches of the fashionable negro songs-called,
for fashions sake, Ethiopian melodies-quaint saw.
ings and quotations from Shakespeare, were at his
tongues end ;--he was the life of tile social hall
Not knowing his real name, we will call him
Spriggias.
The great tragedian, Macready, had been per-
forming an engagement at the ST. Charles Srheatre
end he was, of course, The subject of conversation
in the cabin Of all steamboats, leaving New Orleans
Sprggins had, according to his own account, at
tended the theatre every night Macready had
acted
''His Macbeth was great" said Spriggins, join
ing in conversation by the stove in the Social
Hall, where the passengers were picking their
teeth and smoking cigars after breakfast" his
Hamlz superb, and his Werner magnificent!
lave frequently said to him, at supper, after he has
been personaling the latter character
" You know him, then ?" interrupted a passen-
GER who was at the moment lighting cigar by
SPrggins's,
Knoro him know BILL Macready? Well
should rather think dot-intnatel tely-intmately
spent most of my leisure time with him while he
was in Orleans. 1t was by my advice he came out
to the South"
"Indeed!"
Yes, indeed-it was lucky thing for the
managers, that | happened to be in New York on
his arrival from England-he never would have
visited the South had it not been for me.n
What sort of a man is he in private life % in
qured gentleman.
"Oh!" replied spriggins, che is devilisb
naughty and austere to strangers, but in his inter-
course with friends, he is very companionable
sort of fellow, assure you"
Are you acquainted with Mr. Forrest ?" asked
a passenger.
" Acquainted with him p NED FORREST ?
Have known him since he was a boy; we were
school-maes in Philadelp lphia-saw him make his
first appearance as Young Norval at the Chesnut
street; it was by my advice he adopted the stage
as a profession, Great man, Ned is, but after see
ing Macready, one doesn't relish Neds acting as
formerly he is all very well as MetUm0ra and
Jack CGde, but when he attempts Shaksperan
characters "-Sprggins concluded this criticism
by shaking his head and slightly shuddering, as
man does when he has just taken dose of salts
Did you see him act during his late engage
ment at the st. Charles ?" asked one.
mo, didn't" replied Sprggns-" though
like Ned, couldn't persuade myself to undergo
his stentorian infections. He called to see me
once or twice, and | dined with him three times,
believe and that's the extent our intercourse this
season.
Spriggins went on chatering about actors anc
actresses till near dinner time-giving very anus
ing accounts of their adventures during his Ions
and intimate acquaintance with them. He knew
them all "ltke a book." The Southern managers
were under great obligations to him for oezDfcs-
indeed they very seldom made any engagement q
consequence without consulting him. He knew
all the stars and principal stock actors aud actresses
He had been the prime agent in getting up most q
the complimentary benefts--he had written nearI
all of the criticisms and pulis that had appeared il
season in short, if his veracty might be relied or
he the connecting link between the public an
the theatre and to a casual obrerver, it would b
4 matter of wonder how theatrical affairs coul
proceed for single week without him.
Who WAS HE?
lie knew everybody connected with the stage, G
who hui been connected with it during the la.
twenty years. He dined with Mr.. Caldwell twc
awgek-it was by his advice that gentleman ha
bull the old st. Charles. We have already see
that he was on terms of intimacy with the tw
great tragedians of the age, Before the ringin
of the dinner bell, the congregated passengers i
the social hall became aware that the more hun
BILE followers of Thespis were also honored wit
Mr.. SPrggrs's acquaintance and limited regard
In reply to questions judiciously propounded b
the cigar smokers, it became known that the sea
son at New Orleans had closed, and that the con
pany were about leaving for St. Louis-tllat
was bound for the same city, but declined the inv
|--tatou Of Bill Mueready, Jim Ryder, Jos Fieb
isgG Wez'9ni sud Bel Smith, 10 SO wish shs,n