The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-26


TRoupE.-The last night Of the Richings
Opera Troupe, the occasion Of the benefit
and farewell TO the Richmond boards OF
that veteran of the stage Mr.. Peter Rich
ings, was one that the people Of Richmond
win never forget. The large and brilliant
audience, the delightful variety of the pro-
gramme, and, above all, the final appear
ancs before us of one Of the few men who
remain to remind US Of the brightest and
best days of the dramatic profession, COM
bined to give the occasion extraordinary
interest. bz.,r,-
The performance was commenced with
"The Blind Mans Daughter" short, pa
thetic sketch, in which hr. Richings and
his daughter appeared as the principal
characters. Mr.. Richings's acting as Ma
jor Wilson was perfect. The vacant stare
of his eyes, the nervous shaking of bis
frame, the convulsive clutching of his cane,
and his impatient, petulant manner, ap-
peared SO natural that we could hardly for
get that we beheld in that imbeeile and
weakly form that stately old gentleman
who seems yet in the prime Of life. All !!
thought we, as the eyes Of so many grew
dim around us, shall we ever behold the
like againa Shall we2ever again hear the
drama SO rendered as to rouse our best and
truest feelingss Alasl we fear not. We
live, unfortunately, in o sensational age,
and have Just come into the world in time
to see the dying Of the true glory Of the
dramatic art. ..-..-,..... .
Miss Richings's acting in the part Of
Caroline Somerville was very superior, and
Miss Burnett and Messrs. Arnold, Wylie,
Peskes, and Murphy supported the old man
and his daughter very well. The scenes
in which the two latter appeared were SO
pathetic, and their acting so touching, that
but few in the audience could restrain their
tears. At the end of the piece, Mr.. Rich
ings was called out, and came forth amid
the most deafening applause. In answer
to the calls of the audience, he delivered
an address, which, for true feeling, good
taste, and excellence of verbiage, pre-
sented o rare specimen of this kind of
oratory.
The speech throughout bespoke the high
minded gentleman and accomplished
scholar. His past brilliant career was
spoken Of without egotism. He marked
his future course in manner that showed
q true Christian spirit, and the most deli
cate relations Of his life were referred to in
the NEST refined and appropriate phrase
ology. There was not grain Of sand to
disturb the smooth movement Of the train
Of thought but the whole came out so
gently and so aptly as to appeal to the
finest sensibilities of our natures. We
shall never forget this remarkable old gen.
tleman who has trod the stage with Keene,
Matthews, the Kembles, the elder Booth,
Cooper, Macready, Forrest, and others of
its brightest lights, as we beheld him bid
ding farewell to the profession he has
adorned for so many years.
We append his address as delivered by
him: ......
Ladies and Gentlemen,-I now come be-
fore you for the last time, to bid final
adieu to my professional labors upon these
boards-age in the first place, the wishes
Of my family in the second, and sacred du-
ties in the last, render the measure impera-
tive.
There are two important events in q
mans existence the first when he springs
from boyhood into either commercial or
public life, and the other when he sinks
from manhood into the sere and yellow
leaf, to gradually decay, until he is sum-
moned by his Divine Master to shuttle Oft
this mortal coil. / have passed from the
first to the second stage, the turning point
of mans life, having reached the age of
seventy years, and forty-five of service be-
fore the American public. That is q
period when every actor ought to de-
vote his time and thoughts to more
sacred duties than strutting and fretting
his hour upon the stage. If you can bear
with me l will, with your permission, give
a brief recital Of my career; it has not been
a chequered one. I can look back upon
the retrospect with much pride and plea
sure.
Born in affluence and nurtured in ease,
my education was carefully and classically
trained at a public school in London. After
eight years Of close study, it was my good
fortune to pass rigid examination. and
thereby secure what is considered an
honorable post-a studentship at Pembroke
College in the University Of Oxford. There
l passed another ordeal Of the same type ;
and was within few months of being or
dained as a clergyman, when was sum-
moned to fill governmental situa-
tion, under my father, at Madras, in
the East Indies. After a brisf sojourn
in that section Of the world, my father
was stricken down by paralysis; he sur
vived the blow, but ! was forced to
take him home to England. For employ
ment's sake he purchased me commission
in the British army, but being ordered to
the West Indies, and disliking the post, l
sold out. l then turned my attention to
the law, and during two years probation,
having season ticket at Drury Lane and
Coyent Theatres in London, I imbibed q
most uncomfortable infatuation for the
stage, and O consequent distaste for the
sedentary life Of lawyer. Without fur
ther preamble, I resolved to leave all ad-
vantages and embrace the life Of the actor
promulgated my determination-my
family opposed me, even carried their an
tagonism to extremes. Not to be thwart-
ed, and nothing daunted, but with fixed
determination to consummate my designs,
took ship to New York with my wife,
whom had married some three years pre-
vions-by the bye, we were yesterday
within one year of our golden wedding
Upon the 25th Of September, 1921, |
made my first appearance upon any
stage at the old Park Theatre, In New
York, as Henry Bertram, in the opera
of Guy Mannering. Foolish reports from
correspondence between my family and
the British consul of that city, with view
to drive me from the stage, heralded me al
q nobleman In disguise; as this, as that
that was left fl50,000, &C., &c.-which
l never realized. You know rolling bal
never loses-mine did not. Itinvested me
r