The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-01
WHO IS CHARLES MATTHEW'S ?

VINO, III tle hfst place, he is not, Is point de-
serving attention. He is not the Charles Mathews
whose redundant humor, sparkling wit and inim-
liable mimicry, delighted the word for nearly a
half century. He is not the friend of Lamb, Leigh
Hunt, Wilson Croker, of Scott Of Byron, of Moore,
In fact, of all the great names whose friendship two
score years ago elevation to the best peerage of
Great Britain. He is not the subject of the multi
tudinOus good things, juicy Stories and the author
OF thousand practical Jokes, whose funny sayings
and doings are likely to Outlast the immortality of
Joe Miller, and shine when all his cotemporaries of
the stage are forgotten. This Charles, the Charles
of whom we attempt brief biography. the Charles
who married Eliza Vestris and Elizabeth Weston is
the son OF the great man alluded to with whom he
is not to be cOnfounded, either on the score of the
social qualities or fine talents which rendered him
deservedy illustrious.
Charles Mathews, the younger, is a native of
Liverpool, where he was born on the 26th Decem-
Der, 1903. lie was the product of his fathers sec
ond marriage-the first had been childless-and as
is quite usual in such cases, the delight of the pa
rents exceeded all reasonable limits. A thousand
extraordinary perfections discovered in the in
fant before he was three days old. Before he was
six he was discovered to possess peculiar qualica-
tons for the pulpit; and he was not christened be-
iore the Church was fixed for his destination. With
TINS late IN view, his early education was peculiarly
grave and decorous. As early as was at all admis-
sple, he was entered on the foundation of the Mer-
chant Taors' School, through the kindness of the
recorder OF London whence, in the course of a few
months, he had to be transferred to a suburban
academy, city air not agreeing with his delicate
health.
By the time he was Is he discovered and satisfied
ms friends that he had none of the recommends
tlons desirable for an eminent divine and possbIe
bishop, but that he had palpabc aptitude for the
hne arts, and more specifically for architecture
The young votary of Vitruvius and Bramante was
accordingly removed from school to the studio of
Mr.. Pugin the leading Pecksniff of that dov and
subsequently to that of Mr.. Nash 1t was while
laboring under the latter that he made his first ap-
pearance on any stage. He had organized private
theatrical company, which, after long practice and
painful rehearsas, ,ndulged select circle of friends
with performance at the English Opera House.
the Dill consisting of Charles Lambs damned "AIr
H, H. a French comedictta, ole Comedien
a Etampes, and the ''SOrrOws of Werther."-
Charles, who enacted the leading role in each was
said to have done wonders notwithstanding he
halted upon the stage, with spraned ancle which
served to disguise the awkardness of carriage,
which he was only freed from later in life.
This "hrst appearance took place April &c, 1922
Then came tour to Italy in the curious suite of the
Earl and Countess of Blessngton, along with D. Orsay
and the rest, the pretence being the completion of
his studies at Rome and Naples. In 1926 we find
him returned, and busy erecting 4 country mansion
in Wales. The business proved distasteful the mo-
rails and manners in which he had graduated while
in the train of the Irish Countess were more to
his liking, and the same season we find him the
wing for sunny Italy. What his course of life was
while there are not instructed. 1t was very
certainly such as to PROSTATE him with paralysis
of the lower portion of his body, and to require
the arms of Nannini, his faithful attendant.
In this helpless condition. he was carried to Eng
land, where another six months passed before he
could use his limbs; and some two or three years
before he could do any active duty. Architec-
ture now abandoned. He fancied himself a
painter, and actually introduced picture into the
Somerset House exhibition, which, doubtless, some
Fred. Bayham of the day splendidly puffed. I'm
happily, at this moment, the elder, the great
Charles Mathews, died, on the anniversary Of his
birthday, June %, 1885. The inherited his
fathers half interest in the Adelphi, and at once
burst upon the world in the character of manager
At that period the Adelphi was conducted by
Mao. Vestris, grand daughter of Bartolozzi, the
famous engraver; a lady of mature years. as she
was born in 1897, and of charms, morals and repu-
tation, so much more than mature, as to approach
decay. Married when sixteen, to Armand Vestris,
French dancer, she had presently left him, in fa
vor of half dozen successive lovers, who, each in
turn, loathed and left her. Young London was be
witched with her fine eyes and graceful limbs which
appeared to striking advantage in such male char
acters Don GiOUdRi, where silk tights were call
ed into requisition. Her management of the Olym-
pic had commenced in 1880; so that when Mathews
became enamored of her veteran and overwhelming
attractions, she the notorious relict of score
of lovers, wearisome stage hack; in short, bra
zen demrep.
1t is curious trait of Mr.. Mathews character
one that segregates him from the common crowd
that for such tIsc women his heart ALWAYS instinct
lively warns, while he seems to sicken and turn
away from maiden modesty. He married Vestr;s
on the 18th July, 1888, Immediately leavinc for
America to escape the scorn which the publication
of such transaction would inevitably bring down
upon his head. Having arranged an engagement
with Simpson, of the old Park Theatre to take eff
feet when the fall se5sbn commenced, the innocent
and happy pair sought shelter during their waning
honeymoon in rustic seclusion-at Saratoga, at
!Catskill, at Poughkeepsie- knows where Nis-
ltors at Saratoga stated that they were here that
their shameless insolence and indecency had snIcH
ed the entire community; and specimen OF tie ~
arrogance it was stated that they had refused to
dine the table Oe of their hotel l., put
y their valet and their maid to MI M ther bdsn 81
tbe ot oHoi with Indignation When therefore on
the l7th of September, 1888, they made their first