The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-01

| appearance at the Park, they were received will,
the frost of January. Nobody hissed them-conr
tesy, more exacting here than in London, forbade
! such an exhibition of inhospitality. But nobody
! applauded, nobody laughed Their comedy was re
ceived like tragedy; their farces, lively and spark
! ling as they were, were received as so much
stale beer. They played resolutely through fort
| night to vanishing houses, and then themselves
vanished to Philadelphia where their reception was
equally cool. They could push the experiment no
Iurther. There was nothing for it but to return to
! this city.
While waiting for their packet, they played few
| more more nights at the Park; but when, on Novem-
per hlght, they had their benefit and last appear
ahGe, there was but half house, and that as chill
as Noya nemDla: Then and there Mathews made
IaIeweil speech, in which he deplored the treat
Hht meht they had received, ascribing it to the
saratoga story, to rebut which he stated that
they had never been in Saratoga, but had spent
| the Summer in Poughkeepsie And so they went
back, out Of heart and out of, pocket. leaving
Nine. Celeste in the full tide of a profitable sea-
son.
", returning to London, Charles resumed his
Wych street theatre to which he had gone before
the american expedition, and Madame re-opened
the olympic. Both broke down; the latter so effec-
tually IN 1872 as to drive her finally from her old
pace Place ana send her starring it in London and the
IToVlnces. Charles persevered at the Lyceum
MheIe, py dnt of systematic punder of the French
theatre, and his own ease, pancy, and facile MINI
lcry' he contrved to carry the war with various
sNNNSSo' -hdIileWS, the younger, though longer
young, figured in fact a second-rate actor upon
Ihe boards of secOnd-rate theatres. His ups and
ooWns, and ms and outs, were manifold and deyi-
gus gus. NOW manager, now subordinate, now
etdI anu now stock actor; now in chancery, now
DIT lW' oltener on the nsolvent Court; his highest
merits We're the performance of light comedy, and
the accumulation of heavy debts
Of his assets, which had ofttimes to be restoted
Tor the benefit of the Bankrupt Commissioners the
person OF his wife was always the most valuabie-
AT the Lyceum, in lS47, she rejoined him. Bank
rnutov fino oh, ~ ~, I:I4I'
dame died on August s, 1856, having retired from
tne stage two years before; and the disconsolate
wldower, well stricken in years and moneyIcss
looked looked about HIM anxiously for new theatre of
enterprise. Upon an evil dav he selected America
! Leaving England on the 22d of August 1857 he
arrived in New York in time to make his first an
Pearance at the Broadway Theatre on the 14th of
September, where his reception was most cordial
All his old faults and delinGuences were forgotten
oung America was not quite sure that he was not
the great Charles Mathews, of whom they read
smart things in the Sunday papers. He was found
to be inferior to several of our own stock actors
but still he was liked. His grace facility, and
mobility of feature were commendablc, and an
plauded There is doubt but that, as a re
spectacle old actor, he might have left us
with pleasant memories had he had proper sense
OF decency and selfrespect; or anv trace of that
morality which the clerical advocate of hstrionics
predcates Of his theatrical allies. Such proved
not to be the case. Age had neither purified his
morals nor his taste. 1t was his fate within the
l"st fortnight, to encounter professionally another
Syren, almost as thoroughly accomplished in i'm
morality as his ever-amented Yestris and to the
cnarms OF bad reputation, and to the attraction
OF wee, the actor never was proof. He became
desperately enamored of Mrs. Elizabeth Weston
Davenport the wife of well-knOwn and highly pop
ular performer at one of our theatres Mrs Daven-
port is native of this city, her maiden name being
Jackson. Her theatrical career commenced at New
orleans, nine years ago, after which she ourshed for
time at those democratic temples of Thespis which
decorate the Bowery side, from whence she was
Inv Nor
Street Theatre, where she acquired some popularity
Scandal followed her with more than ordinary zeal
and probability. To say nothing of side intrieues
she had been married, it was reported and divorced
repeatedly, and was thrice at least widow, when
young Davenport, in an oblviOus moment was mad
enough to marry her. This lady, with these emf
nent testimonials, was the second ensaver of Charles
Mathews. The amour proceeded with such energy
that there reason to believe before month had
elapsed, the understanding between the faithless
wife and her superannuated lover completed,
and the husband dishonored. Davenport at once
took the only proper course. He sued for divorce
On the l4th of February last it granted and on
the next day the Press was enabled to announce the
nuptials of Mathews and the divorce.
The subsequent transactions, the shame which
followed this alliance, the punishment, we'll merit
ed on every ground, which Mr.. A. II. Davenport
thought proper to infc upon his wfe's scducer and
the newspaper warfare that has ensued, are fresh
produce. yesterday, specimens of the epistoIary
powers, both hostile and amatory Indicative of Mr.
Mathews talent in that line. For the sake of de-
cency and social order we would fain hear no more
of him.
lie came at the moment when the theatrical pro-
fession was endeavorng to vindicate itself from
the implication of systematic vice. There seemed
to be an earnest purpose, if not to amend ndividu-
al lives at least so to the latent immortality
from the common eye, as to render the public dis
plays of the stage unexceptionable There was an
apparent anxiety to raise the position of the actor
in the social scale The pulpit was disposed to lend
helping hand. When to this promising state of
affairs came the husband of Vcstris, with whose
shortcomings the profession at least was familiar
it was thought that time had far corrected his
vicious tendencies to present likelihood of his
bringing fresh disgrace upon his calling.
The suppOsition shallow. Had the island of
Manhattan been of the Feeees, he could not
have proceeded with more reckless disregard of
public opinion and public decorum. He has be-
haved as it, and he probably is, insensibe to shame
He has added new force to the condemnation with
which moralists have loaded the actor. He has set
an example of undisgused indecency which, unless
by exposure of the really despicable character of
the man neutralize its effect, must act as
pregnant example to'the youth of America. 1t is
with this motive alone devote this much atten-
tiQn to the unworthy of his sire, who otherwise
might disappear into obscurty with the silent dis
regard which he justly merits.-N. Y. Times.