The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-13
Rilbmonn 4ispattb,
MONDAY MORNING. ....rEl

1k~AysW~W~ *~fssVVys
| MONDAY MORNING. ..........rED. II, iseo,
DRATH OF BURTON, TRE COMEDIAN.
VIM. Evans Burton, the author, actsr and
manager, died OF enlargement Of the heart. In
New York, ON Friday morning laat In The ssth
year Of his age. He had been for several years
pas. sufferer from the maiady, but despite
the advice OF medical men, persisted In remain. /.
| ing on the stage. In January he started on q
professional tour to the South, but on reach.
| ing Richmond contracted 90 severe cold that
he was forced to return. He never played
| again, and his last appearance in this city
proved, indeed, q farewell engagement" in a
profession Of which he has been brilliant
light The following sketch Of his life 10 very
| interesting:
He was born in the city Of London, in Sep.
| tember, lSo2. His father was printer and
publisher, and likewise an author. The son
was bred TO the business of the father, and
after receiving good elementary education,
mastered all the mechanical details Of the iy-
biographical art. One Of the specalities of
| the business Of the elder Burton was the print
| ing of classical works, and the son at very
early age acquired a knowledge Of the Greek
and Latin languages for the purpose Of proof
reading. Ills kDOWIeOge OF tue CDRlle0 Cl0S.
sics, and especially Of rhe dramatic authors,
was also thorough and profound. The elder
Burtoa died whe4s the zsuAjeet Gf-0ur sketch
nad scarcely attained his majority, and the
name of his mother. Like many of his craft.
Mr. Burton was passionateiy fond of the the.
atre and cultivated the acquaintance Of the
| .c ors with whom he was brought in daily
contact by his business. Thence the transition
| " the stage was easy. He acted AS an amateur,
,,laying for his first character Hamlet, and for
Il long time believes tragedy was his forte. He
finally entered 4 company on what il called
| the Norwich circuit, ana IN 1882 appeared at
the Hnymarket. and made his debut there in
1898. as Wormwood, in the farce of "The Lot.
tery Ticket" For years afterwards he was
com pelled to undergo the usual vicissirudee
privntions and disappointments which beset a
novice upon the stage. lie played any thing
and everything, and was content to take up
with the leavings of other men who had a tain
I'd position with the public. by an accident
he secured the part OF Paul Pry," and made
an encouraging success ia it. In 1884 ne re-
solved to come to America, and he arrived in
Philadelphia, TO which place he came withou,
he advance which is usually given TO artists
1t was matter OF pride with Mr.. b.. that
he was one OF the very few European artists
who have come To the United States at their
own expense. He made his debut in September OF
lie year teiore named, al the Arch street The
4tre as Cornet Oliapod, in :. The Poor G.nt,e.
man" He remained in Philadelphia several
wears, acting and writing for the press, and
peedily obtained All extended reputation in
trt and letters. He conducted at this time
The Gentleman's Magazine" and published
wo volumes OF fugitive pieces, generally hu.
norous sketches, which had an ex tended sale
lis magazine articles attracted great deal vi
attention and admiration. In his own pro
ession be was recognized as a ''star," aud as
snch made a tour through the United States
,tis first essay in the metropolis was made a,
me old National Theatre, in Leonard street.
'hen isSy under the management of Mr.
.'@m". WaiIack Mr. Burton played. for
complimentary benefit given to Mr.. Wallack
81 .,..non Ss,ck, Ia q" "Sl,ring and Autumn
rhe drst piece on this night was the opera OF
tAmilie," +" in which The Seguins, Miss Shireff.
ahd Wilson. the tenor, assisted. Such AL Ell.
tertainment could not be matched at the pres.
ent day. When the Theatre was burned MIR.
Burton was connected with the management
lie returned to Phiiadelphia in 1s4U, and tit,pu
ap Cooke's circus building, In Chesnut street,
t,r theatrical representation, and called il thu
National Theatre. He had very fine com.
sIany, which AZ various times included Misses
Charlotte and SusaQ Cushman, Henry aud
Cnomas Placide, aud noted performers
The famous tairy piece, the "Naiad q ueen.,
was produced here tor the FIRST time in iii.
United States, anu netted a small fortune fo,
he manager. He invested the larger amoun,
4 his earnings in his friend Mex B,ddie'k
famous United States Bank ef PeunsyI Ivania
lad suffered severely by the smashing up oI
that institution.
lu is4t leased the theatre, corner of Leon
rd and Chsrch streets, in this city, and
brought his Philadelphia company on here
together with all the beau tiful scenery for the
prosecution OF the "Naiad Z ueen." The piece
had a fine ruu, aud whilst Ia the midst OF sue
cess the bnilding caught fire and was again
burned, destroying Also all of Mr.. Bur toms
splendid scenery The building was fire,
burned in 1889, while under the management,
If Mr.. James Wallack. We next find Mr
Burton, nothing dannted by misfortune, the
manager OF the Arch street theatre, i'hiiadel-
phia the theatre at Washington, and the Fron,
street, in Baltimore. Next after the Park he
had the best company in the country, and was
distinguished for the liberal way in which he
mounted new pieces. He did London Assn.
rance" with a real aviary and real TO ounlaius.
but that the birds wOuldn' sing and the fou n.
tains wouldn't play. The result Of Mr.. Bur-
WAS not pecuniarily magnificent, and he re.
solved, in is46, to have dash At the metropolis
He ealected spot between the Park and Bow
cry flres-namely, Palmo's old Opera House, In
Cnainbers stree.. PalmO had made u fortune
in cafe in Broadway, and lost it in trying to
manage Italian Opera. The theatre was alter.
wards used for model artist exhibitions and
travelling shows of all sorts. 1t was con-
speculation was regarded a suicidal af.
fair. He opened, however, in September.
1919, and during the first part Of his sea-
son lost money nearly every night. He
He acted one night here, another
IN philadelphia, and another in Baltimore.
and then repeated the operation for week in
and week out The FIRST hit made at Cham.
bers street was Mr.. Brougham's adaptation of
sDOmbey and Son." cleverly adapted, and ad- |
mirxbly acted. WHO that saw the play can
forget Bnrton's "Cattle," Brongham's "Buns-
BY" or Raymond.s "Toots.r) "Dombey and
sidered as the foundation of the managers
fortune. The burning OF the Park a year af. |
ter the opening Of the new theatre left Mr.
Burton master of the field. He speedily gath.
iuced all the new London plays in rapid sue.
,ession. Above all others, "rhe Serious Fami-
y'' took the town by storm.
Mr.. Burton created the part Of Amindab |
Sleek, and played it altogether over six hun |
1red times. "rhe Toodies,', altered from an |
domestic drama "A Farmers |
Story" was likewise terrific hit. Mr. Bur. |
on was now rich again. He bought the thea
re for the sum Of nifty thousand dollars, built |
! nne town house In Hudson street and = /
!plendid country residence At Glen Cove,
Long Island. He felt too, that he could do 1
omething In the way Of illustrating the /
shakspearean drama, Of which he had q |
borough knowiedge, and for which be felt the |
most fervent alteration. He produced several |
4 the great masters plays, and placed them l
N the Stage with degree OF atten tion to de-
All and perfection Of ensemble which have
iever been cQuailed in this country.
Mr.. Burton was SO we'll and widely known 1
o the American pp bile, that an extended crit |
ctsm upon his artistic qualifications would /
Y superhuous. He held his place ~ the first
OnediAn OF the American stage for twenty
I've years, and leaves NO successor in his Pc |
uliaT vein. which was the unctuously hu.
nor0ns. Where shall we find another Sir l
rooy helch. or Outtle, or Z Toodies, or Al
lutolycus. or An Aminidab Sleek. or an Ebe.
lezer Sudden As stage manager he Was not
My exceedingly clever. bot untiringly Indus
riouA he would work from ten tan live, and |
CT from seven tiii eleven, thinking soothing of I
The ncxt mOrntng would Mud him up with
be lark. AlonG With tho theatre be bad many L