The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-26
TIE WIFE OF GARRICE.

fairs of the theatre; and to the last il was said
took pride in her shapcly ankle and good looks.
She was fond of speaking in high terms Oi King
George the Fourth, who, when Prince Of wales,
had visited her at her villa at Hampton, iuluir-
ing after her health, and expressing interest ia
her welfare. This had given her heartfelt plea
sure; 'and am not n little proud" she would
add, "Of the privilege of being allowed to drive
through st. James Park"
At Hampton too, she had received Queen
Charlotte. No notice had been given OF the
royal approach, and Mrs. Garrick had been dds
covered" to use term OF the theatre, In the act
of peeng onions. The Queen, however, seemed
pleased az the sight of this homely occupation,
and would by no means permit the good lady 70
stir from it. Indeed, the story goes on to tell
that the Queen commanded another knife 10 be
brought, observing that she should herself like
10 peel an onion with Mrs. Garrick; aud accord
inely, the wife of the sovereign and the
widow of the player sat for some time in the
most agreeable and friendly manner pecling
onions together.
1t was said that the Drury Lane committee,
when anxious about the success of new actor,
would induce Mrs. GIrick TO attend in her private
box, and then prompt her to say on the conclu-
sion Of the performance that she had been re-
minded of her departed David. II they
succeeded in this respect, of course the
valued dictum went the rounds Of the papers
Immediately, and the debUt0Htc was lauded to
the skies. In the case of kean, however,
there Is little dOubt that the good lady had
been really reminded of her late husband, for
in the styles of the two actors considerable re-
semblance existed. In kean's acting, accord
ipgly, Mrs. Garrick mantle ted great interest. He
was always n fayOritc with the widow of his great
predecessor and she loudly praised his Efforts;
not Unfortunately, however, for when kean,
on the occasion of his benefit in 1914, undertook
the part of "Abel Drugger," which Garrick had
made so famous, he received the following brief
note -
"Dcar Sir, yOg cannot play Abe DrasgGr ,,.u..,,
Yours, Sc., IVA "ARfIck.'
To which the actor replied as laconically -
"Dear madam know il. y.,
Mrs Garrick was o frequent visitor at Kean's
house in Charges street, and one morning, the
story goes, she found the tragedian in state
of great perturbation. He received his guest
rather abruptly, and withdrew. Mrs. Garrick
turned TO Mrs. kcan, inqniring the reason Of
this strange behavior. "Oh," Mrs. Kcan eY-
claimed you mustn't mind him; nc has been
reading violent attack upon his "Othello" in
one of the papers, which has terribly annoyed
him" "But why should he mind what the
papers say" asked Mrs. GuricI; che is above
ibCm, and can afford TO beia6used." Mrs. Kcan {:
"Yes, but he says the article is so well written,
If it wasn't for that be wouldn't care about the
abuse" Mrs. GarTick: "My dear, he should do
as David did, and then he would be spared all
this annoy ance." Mrs. Kean with great inte-
| rest, "What's that z" Mrs. Garrick "Write the
article himself; David always did So David
was an adrot tactcian, but the times had
changed since he held shares in the PVJtic Id
| nails had increased tentold.
MRS. GARRIcK's ORIGIN AND THE KISo's TASTE.
But it is time TO refer to Garrick's private life
| which in this Sear had undergone one Of its most
| important changes. lie was, in fact, married in
! July to a Mad'llc Nioetti, young danseuse OF
| great beauty and accomplishments as well rs O
| stainless reputation. His biOgraphers have not
| probably because Mrs. Garrick was alive at thC
time of their wrting), given any details
, with respect 70 this LADY, but IN one O
! the pamphlets published about the time
of Garrick's death, and bearing date 1770
| there is a romantic story, which appears never
! TO have been COntradiCted TO the effect that
several years before, Lord Burlington, when al
| Venice, had formed connection with an ltaliau
| woman by whom he had a child; and thai
mother and daughter disappeared after n shor
lime. Notwithstanding all researches and in.
| quries, Lord Burlington was never able 70 dis
cover the whereabouts of either, until by
r mere accident he happened 10 see Mdlle
| ViOett on the stage. Recognising her by
her extraordinary likeness to his lost mistress
he invited her to his house, and on nquir.
ing into the matter found his suTmise correct
To atone as far as possible for his Ions
though perfectly unintentional neglect, hi
retained her i'm his family as companion fOl
Lady Burlington, To whom he confided the story
Of her parentasc and by whom she wa'
treated with the greatest kindness and aiCc
tiOn. In this position she remained for two ol
three years, not again appearing on the stage
but occupying herself with the completion o
her education and the acquisition Of necessary
accomplishments, On her marriage Lady
Burlington presented her with splendid caske
of Jewels, which contained, besides, th
sum Of ten thousand pounds in notes. Tn
marriage, in spite of the disparity of religion
peTsuasions-Mrs. GaITick being Il ROmlI
Catbolic-prOyed in every respect happy one
perfect compatibility of temper and strong af
lection on both sides prevented any painful
heart huTniDgs thar might have arisen from thei
( want of children. IL was q matter of Temarl
thai during the whole OF Garricks life lac was OIL
no occasion separated from her for twenty .fOu
hours at time. In the theatre matters con
tinued to go on with fair success GlTick wa
never unwilling TO assist young authors
many of whose works he brought ont; hi
behavior in this matter contrasting adyn
taPeousy with that of Collcy CibbeT who wa
notoriously bruta' in his manner. On the OC
CasiOn of FentOn Chat tenton who assisted
Pope in his translation OF llomerl offering hi
+, trDPedy OF M0IiaHRe, he Is said TO have re
turned il with the advice 10 its author to "appl
himself TO some useful trade, for It was certai
he and the muses. would never agree. lie
also said 10 have expressed his pleasure in re
turning the works Of young author, calling il
with grim humOr, the "chOkng of singing
birds" TO such charges as these, Carrie
never laid himself openi an author who wa
! always sure of a sufficiently courteous rccep
ton and knew that il his work was rejected
IL would be for no other reason than its rea
unsuitableness for the stage Consequent upo
this mode of treatment, GaTrlck produced
vast number of plays, nearly all Of which hav
now, from the change of public taste aud th
production OF better models, passed into th
limbo of unreeogniled genius. Who in thcs
days knows moro than the names-lf, indeeo
The names even still suryiye-of C2eoae, IN
Oy5ibaR of China, The Fart Of SlsseT, Oyeste
ElriYa, or MNtaphay They are gone 20 the
own place; aud the purer taste OF later days
scarcely likely 10 revive these stilted and art
fetal works. Public taste was indeed at lo'
, Glib in these days Readers of the FoV
/ Georqes bordly need 10 be told that the kin
f George I'D "hated boetryI and bainters," G
that the fashionable world followed their Sow,
rtign's lead. That amiablo monarch went I
| sleep over the finest poetry in the language
and thought the prince Of the painters OF h
| day well rewarded with a guinea, given wit
the same grace that he would have exhibited
, bCstowing bone upon a hungry and impatlen
= dog. OF like quality was his taste In theatr
cal matters. Murphy mentions that he IL
sisted on the revival of certain scenes in Otway
Venice Preserred which had been omitted Il
many years on account of their gross indecency
lie was induced ON one occasion, however,
command performance of Richard III. thong
il was impossible orthose about him 70 conyinC
him that the actor Of that part could be an hone
man. The actors were terrified 10 observe thl