New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-26

onIv within ,aw mon,bs that any serious apprehen
on h.a hesn s, oonoonin the result Of his illness
Until the beginning Of last weeA no was In 'ne h"p
receiving visitors. and Of PERSONAL uiec'ns 1ne pu',
ness affairs Of his theater 80 that tho immaculate even
Of his death must have been almost entre unexpected
He had long been sufferer from violent astacxs Oh
govt. which had weakened his system and nad' II less
capable than would otherwise have been Of resisting
the effects Of asthma that fastened itself Don
him short time ago. But in spite ofhis advanced age
the natural vgor OF his constitution had so long seemed
to defy these ailments that up to very recent day 1t
hoped their fatal termination might be arrested TOT
years to COME,
Mr.. Wallack was born in London, at Hercules Build
ings, Lambeth, on the oath OF August 1895. He in
hcrted his theatrical vocation from his parents both
OF whom had attained distinction upon the STAGE His
father, William Wallack was comedian Of excellent
reputation. and his mother Elizabeth Field had played
for many years with Garrck. 1t was intended that be
should enter the navy but the fondness for his fathers
profession so strongly manifested itself In childhood
that the effort to overcome 1t was abandoned. He
Joined the "Acadcmicals' in the establishment In
Leicesterst. where juvenile performances were regu
larly given. His talent observed by Sheridan,
WHO transferred him. at the age OF twelve to the regu
lar company of Drury Lane Theater. where no re-
maincd until the destruction Of that house by Ere
steadily rising In public favor He then visited Ireland
but on the opening Of the new Drury Lane returned
to play Laertes to the Hamlet Of Eison He then
eighteen years Old. Not long after during the engage
ment Of Kcan. he given the characters Of Macdu
Edgar. Richmond Iago and others second only in i'm
portaLce to those Of the great tragedan OF that day
In 1877 he was married to the daughter Of Mr. John
Johntone celebrate Irish actor shortly after which
he visited America for the first time. He appeared In
Macbeth. at the Park Theater in NewYork. on the
18th Of September. 1915 and achieved immediate and
remarkable success For two years he acted in this
county. and IN 1890 returned for single season to
Drury Lane The popularity and prosperity lie
had experienced In America led him to adventure
second visit in 1922. when he again met with bril-
liant Eew.York reception. While journeyins to Phil
adelphe. the stage coach In which Lie Travelled was
overturned aud lie suffered O compound fracture Of
tho leg which interrupted lis professional labors for
eighteen months. and tho effect Of which WAS always
partially dscernibe throughout bis life. This recess
passed in England but his temperance took place
In Now York. where he had eft bis wardrobe and per-
sona effects. The New. York public had shown great
regret at bis misfortune and assembled In overfowing
numbers to welcome him. all the more heartily because
impossible. and that his future career must
be limited 70 the representation OF few
exceptional parts. He came forward in the
character Of Captain Bertram old sailor on crutchss.
and the eprehensions OF his friends thus seemed to be
realized; but ia the second piece. my Aunt" he
electrified the audience by bounding upon the stage
with elasticity and vigor hardly surpassed In bis
earlier engagements Amer the close OF this visit Mr.
, n n bant
where he remained for considerable number Of years,
making only occasional appearances on this side OK the
Atlantic His popularity SUCH however that In Ger
tain cltie he was enabled TO play four long and bril-
liant engagements in a single season. In 1889 he
ceased to travel "a "s,ar." and became manager
Of the theater which now stands near the corner Of
Broomc 1t, and Broadway to the advancement and i'm
Of which honorabiy devoted nine years
During this period lie was tho Acknowledged leader
81 dramatic art IA America and his theaer roso to
rank which no other had held In this community.
and which, We disposed to believe. no other had
ever merted In la6l he butt his present house. at
the corner OF Broadway and Thirteen'h'st the suo'
ce. Of which has been deservedly uninterrupted.
The same conscientious adherence to the most refined
purposes OF the drama. and the same strict care.
delicate taste and sound Judgment which were CON
spcuous in his administration Of the old establishment
have here been exhibited in perhaps even creator do
gree. To cay that Mr. walack attained perfection In
his theatrical management would be credting him with
the omplshment OF an ipossb'y; but to soy that
he always aimed nc perfection, and srovc by every To-
Ultimate within bis grasp to secure IT, and that
the result OF his endeayors was an elevation OF theat
rical intelligence and culture TO standard much higher
than that achieved by any predecessors or cotnpo
raries s the simple and universally recognized truth.
Mr.. wallscks theaer has won the Just reputation Of
being superior to any other In which the English
language Is Spoken and FOR this We have Mr.. Wallaoh
alone TO DO grateful TO. The material had oil along
been ready here; but the enterprise 70 rightly adjust
ard control Il was wanting until he came. he had
learned BY long ard varied experience that the true
way 10 command In his profession to thorough
" and honestly deserve It; and that although ephenera.
prosperity may follow startling departures from tho
golden thesircal rule. enduring fortune cen only be
gained by faithfully maintaining II. His desth Will
be scrous and almost irreparabe loss TO the dramatic
inerests,of the community. matter how powerfully
hs Influence and teaching mny continue to guido tue
dcs,nics Of his theater.
We have spoken principally Of Mr. WaAeck as q
absence from the stage for tie pest four
having deprived Of the opportunity of making
any sufficient acquaintance with his qualities ss an &c
| tor His eminence was a weil.cstatlished fact Ht
renu,atiop WAS highest in dramas Of o romantic and
picturesque order. in which his vigor and fire and
dashinr energy are said to have produced eI'raordi
nary cfreots We have always Understood that his
shakcspearian personatons althousisIiking and pop
u,a,ly suecessfu were not remarkable for breadth
and majesty, but seemed rather to DO com
p,sed Of a series Of delicate. carefully studied
end ;elnborefey wrought points, worked to
s,ther with exquisite skill. like piece Of iutcllectue
mosaic work. Ills Rcla. in "Pizarro." Is universally
n,onopnce, to have been an unrisslled performance