Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-08-26
Recolleetions of KeaH.


was on Monday. the 25th of March, 1888, at the
Covent Garden Theatre. His health, for months,
observed to be rapidly declining and bis physi-
cal energies became so visbly impaired by those
long INDUCED irregularities, which had broken down
naturally vigorous but abused constitution, that
his acting rendered generally feeble, unsatsfac-
tory and often painful; and even his inability TO ap
pear at all when announced was by no means a rare
occurrence. The last effort he made, at all worthy
of his former fame, in the early part of the win
ter when the Importance of having his othelo bro,
out, for the first time, in JUNCTION with the rival
talents of Macready in lago, gave stimulus to his
powers of body and mind sufficient to sustain him
throughout the character. 1t universally ad-
mitted that did his genius display itself more
triumphantly. On this occasion, however, he was
advertised for the fayore part to the lago OF
his son Charles, who never having acted with him
on the stage BEFORE warmly greeted on his
entree by tolerably numerous audience but when
in the second scene, the father entered, Otheo,
followed by the son, the house rung with reiterated
acclamations. The father kept bowing for a con-
siderable time without producing any diminution in
the enthusiastic and loud cheering which prevailed,
when, if suddenly awakened to sense of the
circumstance, he turned and taking his son by the
hand, led him step or two forward, and, with a
graceful bow, and one of his most fascinating and
characteristic smiles presented him to the audience
The waving of hats and handkerchiefs, and the
doubly redoubled plaudits which ensued, checked
for an unusually long period every attempt made
EN- 10 proceed Win lnelr part.
There was nothing distinguishable in Kean's per-
formance of the first and second acs from his usu-
al personifcaton of Othello, except more than
dinary feebleness in his voice. action and gait which,
as he had not many weeks previous broken down in
the midst of the part, imputed to designed
servaton, Or perhaps the fear of too early exhaus
ting what physical strength he mil ght otherwise be
enabled to call up order to sustain the third and
latter acts; when, however, he came to that memoir
able apostrophe Now, forever farewell !" etc. the
.lo1a oC: A. Il
Gus melancholy so noted in his brighter days, and
happily described by the critic Hazett, as str
king upon the heart and Imagination like some di
vine music" onl mingled with far greater degree
of feeling than had ever before been observed in
fact SO deeply affecting were his tones that, as he
half sobbed out the last line Farewell T." Othe.
los occupations gone" remarked to friend near
me, " Poor fellow | fear that a consciousness of
Othellos despairing moans being applicable to him
self personally has touched bis feelings ~ Kean
failed, in this particular point, to elicit less
than three hearty rounds ordinary occasions but
on this, they were increased in number, force and
duration.
He remained abstracted and notonless his chin
ting on his breast and his eyes fixed on the ground
for many seconds after every murmur of applause had
subsded; then raising his head from his chest, as
from forgetful slumber, he seemed partially aroused
into of his situation with the audience, and
the necessity of proceedings but, instead of that sud-
den and nfurate ealternaton-toweringp passion which
used TO threaten the destroyer of his peace with ire
sstible and immediate annihalion-he turned slowly
and feehly. toered few steps towards Iago, (who,
seeing his sinking state, approached him. and lean
ing on his arm Tor support, and unable TO seize him
by the throat, he uttered in disointed accents, only
audible 10 those quite near him, Villain, be sure-you
prove then throwing himself upon his sons neck
be added, in faint and faterng voice. "Oh, God j!
I am dying! speak to them, Cdarles'' The house,
though somewhat prepared for a result of the
kind, did not anticipate such a decided prosra-
ton of his faculties, and kept up their applause for
nearly minute, endeavoring TO cheer him by
showing every mark of indulgence. AT length
Charles made attempt to assist his father forward
when, his look and manner indicating the most ptia-
Bile heplessness, it became evident that he could no
longer stand alone, and the audience with accord
arose. and cried, " Take him off, whereupon one of
the performers from the wing, and poor Kean
who was trying to bow, borne off, and carried to
house in the vicinity for the night, and the next day
removed TO his residence at Richmond, where he
fingered about six weeks before he expired.
Thus terminated the ftful career of an actor
Take him for all in all, neer shall look upon
his like again'