The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-10

AuO HleuuS duU dlmlECAo VI Guc OlSLIue
guished comedian, Mr.. Burton, have for
some weeks been fnlly prepared for the re-
ceipt of the intelligence of his death. it be.
ing known that he was very seriously i'll at
his residence in New York. His disease is
that of accumulation of fat about the heart,
and during his protracted illness the most
powerful opiates have been required to allay
the great bodily suffering inflicted by the
complaint. The career Of Mr.. Burton has
been an eventful one, and so intimately is it
allied with many of the important measures
incidental to the progress of the drama in
the United States during the past twenty.
five years, that the present has seemed a fit.
ting occasion for review of the same.
William EVANS BURTON has been equally
conspicuous as actor and manager, and in
the capacity of author has acquired some
distinction. He was born in London in
1904, and, the son of VIM. George Burton,
author of" Biblical Researches" was ori.
ginally intended for the ministry. He re-
ceived the classical education preparatory to
the course which his father desired him to
pursue, but other occupations were more
congenial to his tastes, and at the age of
eighteen years he assumed direction of his
fathers printing Office, and shortly after.
wards edited a monthly magazine. Success
as an amateur actor soon caused him to
seek fame upon the regular STAGE" and be
made his London debut in 1882, at the
Haymarket, as "Wormwood," in "The
Lottery Ticket" At about this period he
wrote several dramatic pieces, and one of
them, ELLEN Wareham," acquired the re-
markable distinction of being performed at
five London theatres on the same night. In
1884 he crossed the Atlantic in order to try
his fortunes in country where the drama
was still in its infancy, and made his first
appearance as "Dr. Ollapod" in" The Poor
Gentleman" at the Arch Street Theatre
Philadelphia, Sept. 3, 1884. For a few
years he was member of haywood & Co. s
troupe, and his New York debut occurred
at the National Theatre, corner of Church
and Leonard streets, under the management
of the senior Wallack. In 1887 he erected
the National Theatre, Philadelphia, and,
according to the Chronology Of the Amer.
lean Stage" he must at the same time been
manager ofthe Equestrian Establishment at
Philadelphia, which was converted into
theatre in 184l. He was the proprietor of
the Opera House in New York, which was
destroyed by fire during the year last nam.
ed. In l845 he managed the National
Theatre, Washington, which was burned
March 4tb, and afterwards made unprofta-
BILE efforts to cater for the inhabitants of
Baltimore and Norfolk. His next enterprise
was the purchase of Palmo's Opera House,
Chambers street, New York, and here bis
first great triumphs were achieved.
For nearly ten years the most remarkable
success attended bis exertions, the greatest
source of profit, perhaps, being his semi
weekly production for a number of years of
The Serious Family" and "Toodles."
The announcement of these pieces never
failed to pack the little Chambers Street
Theatre, even upon the stormiest nights
for to "see Burton" in "Aminadab
Sleek and Toodles," was one of the most
important engagements of every person
visiting the Empire City--and there are
thousands who we'll remember the equal
establishment and delight created by the
splendid effects which Mr.. Burton was able
to produce upon that small stage when
Midsummer Nights Dream" "The Tenn
pest" and other similarly elaborate specta-
cles held possession of the boards. The
manager seldom left bis miniature dramatic
temple, although in 1849 he Joined with
John Brougham in a brief management of
the Howard Athen@um, for the purpose of
introducing Macready. Thomas Ford, the
manager, had been outwitted by the two
BIS. he having no idea whatever of the
important speculation going on, and giving
up the theatre temporarily only, as he
thought. for the appearance of Brougham.
Burton was announced to appear at the
close of Macready's engagement, but never
did so. On the 9th Of September, 1852,
a grand dramatic musical and terpsicho-
rean festival was given at the Castle Garden
New York, in honor of the centennial ami
versary of the introduction of the drama into
the United States, and among the artists
taking part were Lola Montez, the Mont
plasir troupe, Messrs. Couldock, Nea6e,
Brougham and Burton, the latter appearing
as Launcelot Gobbo." The extraordinary
triumphs achieved within comparatively
narrow compass prompted the great come
dian to extend bis sphere of action, and in
1857 we find him the manager of the Me-
tropolitan Theatre, New York. But his
removal up town was not attended withthat
success anticipated, and after repeated at.
tempts to place the establishment upon q
firm and substantial footing, be retired from
the direction, and has since been fulfilling
star engagements twice appearing in Bos.
tony in the principal cities Of the Union.
So much for the eventful career of Mr..
Burton as manager and actor, and we desire
now to speak briefly of his career as an
author. With fine education at the start.
with powers of thought and expression that
yielded readily to the influence of cultiva-
ton, with taste for reading which he
grati6ed in the collection of one of the finest
private libraries in the country, and with
those rare advantages which extensive COM
munication with the men and manners of
different climes invariably affords the attain
ment of some distinction as an author was
the result of a natural and comparatively
easy effort. His first launch was that of
The Yankee among the Mermaids," and
the second that of the famous " Cyclopedia
of Wit and Humor; both have experienced
very fortunate voyages, and neither of them
present any prospects of being ordered into