The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-02


whom l have quoted, he kept himself al.
ways aloof from the evil examples sometimes
found in his then profession.
Caldwell was probably the most active and
energetic of the managers Of the theatre
In his time he departed from the staid policy
of Warren and the managers of the old
school, and introduced melodramas and
spectacles," which were highly successful.
He made, recollect, once an engagement
with Pepin's Circus, then performing-the
circus was at the corner Of Duke and Fairfax
streets, then vacant lot-and brought out
Timour the Tartar and other such plays, with
horses on the stage, and really nothing of
the kind that have since seen in the North
ern theatres was more snowy or better adap-
ted to,please the multitude. Caldwell him
self was capital performer, and excelled in
several characters, especially in Charles Sur
face and the Three Singles. But old Mr..
Jefferson! "Alas! poor Yorck-where be
thy gibes now?" He sat in my fathers pew
in St. PauPs Church (then on FAN fax street.
where Mr.. Green has now his lumber yard)
one Sunday, and l heard him say after
church that he would "like to talk to Mr..
Wilmer, because, after all, he expected they
were not TAR apart, considering that he was
a great sinner, and Mr.. Wilmer "a good man
and sincere Christanw Who that has seen
Jefferson in Tony Lumpkin will ever forget
him? And, speaking Of this, reminds me
that among my recollectons of the stage in
Alexandria is this : On one occasion, I think
benefit night, the honor was done J. II. D.,
then gay, sprightly young man, still an
old, respected and honored citizen OF Alex
andria-and long may be live and flourish!
TO request him to name the play for the
night. He proposed Goldsmith's excellent
comedy of "She Stops to Conquer" 1t was
feared that so well known piece would not
draw. But Mr.. D. was light. The play was
cast according to the full strength of the COM
pany--a numerous and fashiona BILE audience
attended everything passed off delightfully."-
and the "beneft" was one of the best
nights of the season. I also recollect that
George Barnwell was played once on Sat-
urday night. The house was packed, and,
if anything, too warm; but the same night
the Potomac river froze across from shore to
shore, and the people came out of the thea
tire, as it were, from the temperate zone to
experience the rigors of the Arc.ic region.
think have mentioned before that, on
my present visit to my old home, mourn
fully turned my steps to the old theatre. I
entered its walls, but all was changed 1t
was divided off into stores below, and rooms
and halls above, utterly spelling the finest
room in Alexandria designed for place of
public amusement. looked around in vain
for the old pit, boxes and galleries-for the
we'll proportional stage, with the motto over
the proscenium-a motto of the old school
surrounding the medallion of Washington
"He saved all who saved the States for
the orcbestra-for all the adjuncts of thea
tire! But was where, notwithstanding these
sad changes, the beauty and the fashion of
Alexandra once reigned supreme-where
the fairest women and the nobest men were
wont to meet amidst blaze of light, the ear
saluted with the richest strains of harmony,
the eye gratifed with the rarest scenery of
the stage, and the intellect Toasted with the
productions of the most celebrated drama
lists, spread out by the best performers! Is
it any wonder that, as called to mind what
had been, wept!
am told that occasional spasmodic efforts
have been made of late to revive theatre in
Alexandria. One, they tell me, was started
in the upper part of building at the corner
of King and Royal streets, but the attraction
was evidently divided, from the first, between
the third story and the basement, and finally
the basement carried the day, and the thea
tire ceased. Let it rest. The times are
out of joint" here, | should say, for any
hope of a successful revival Of the taste for
rational theatrical amusements among the
people generally. But, if ever theatre
should be started liz Alexandria again, let
the old building be obtained and restored to
its original object and design; tear out the