The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-16

tragic actor, but he could not hold It, To un- |
delstand this obstacle we must 20 back few |
years to those appalling reveries at Charnwood. |
1hose illusions whicn had vanished before the |
dissipation of less recluse life. and more free
tociety now in hls solitary tragic studies, and
amid the intense call upon feeling incident 10 |
tragic acting, came back upon HIM with tenfUld |
viyidness. In the midst OF some most pathetic |
possages-the parting Ol "Jafier" with his dying |
friend, tor instance-he would suddenly be sur |
prlsed with a 6t of violent horselaughter.
While the spectators were all sobbing before |
him with emotion, suddenly one OF those gro
tesque faces would peep out upon him. and be
could not resist the impulse. timely excuse |
once or twice served his purpose, but no audi
ence could be expected to bear repeatedly
this violation OF the continuity OF feeling.
He describes them (the illuslonsl as 20
many demons haunting him, and para
lying every effort. 1t was said that he
could not recite the famous soliloquy in
Hamlet even in private without immoderste
fits OF laughter. However, what be had not
force Of reason sufficient TO overcome, he had
good sense enough to turn into emolument, and
determined TO make commodity OF his dlstem-
per. He prudently exchanged the buskin for
the SOCK and the illusions instantly ceased; or,
ii the occurred for a short season, by their
very cooperation added a zest to his comic vein;
ssome OF hs most catching faces being (as he
expressed it) little more than transcripts and
copies OF those extraordinary phantasmata.
We have now drawn Liston to the period when
he was about to make his first appearance in
London. These details have been condensed from
paper in the London Magazine, January, 1924;
they are not referred to In the sketch OF Listons
career written few days after his death, M0rch
22, ls46, by his sonln-law, George Herbert
RodweN, the musical composer, and published
in the Illustrated London NelcS, March 2s. There
we are told that Liston was born l776; that his
father lived in Norris street, Haymarket; and
that young John was educated at DR.. Barrows
Soho School, and subsequently became second
master in Archbishop Tensions School. Rod
we'll relates that early in his theatrical lie Lston
went for cheapness, by sea, to Newcas stle-upon-
IT,, apI hnot anT.,N I,,a l..
for a iortnight; provisions ran so short that
Liston was reduced 10 his last inch of dry
cheese. At Newcastle, through the above delay,
he was roughly received by stephen Kemble,
the manager. Sitting in awful state in the centre
OF the stage, directing rehearsal, Kembe eyed
him several times before he spoke; at last he
nowled out, well, young man, you are come"
Mr.. Liston bowed. "Then now you may go
by being 100 late.n 'Its very easy to say 60
back" replied Lston, with one of his peculiar
| looks. "but here am and here must stay, for
! | have not a farthng LETT Ill the world.n KemDle
| relented, and Llston remained at Newcastle
| until he came to London Tor good. The first
comic part he eve performed was "Diggory,n in
She StoOpS to Conquer He took fancy 10 the
| character, and kept secret his intentions as to
| the manner he meant 10 play it in, and the style
| of dress he should wear. When he came on, so
| original was his whole conception OF the thing
| that not an actor on the stage could speak tor
| laughing. When he came OIL Mr.. Kemble
| said:-"Young man, IL strikes me you have
mistaken your forte; there's something comic
about YOU" 'Ive not mistaken my torte,n
| replied ListOn, but you never before allowed
me to try. 1 don't think myself was made for
| the heavy Barons !" He first appeared in Lon.
don as ''Sheeptace" in the Village Ld,oyer. June
| 10, 1905. That Mr.. Liston did really imagine
| he could be tragic actor" says Rodwell, 'is
| partly borne out by his actually having at
tempted 'OctaVian,' in the MounddiaeerS, MAY
| II, 1909"
| Latterly he went little into society. His
1 n Ip1i6Ous ol
| marked by devOut sincerity, and his knowledge
| OF the Scriptures was very extensive. When
| Liston first came to London he generally wore
| pea-green coat, and was everywhere accom-
panied by an ugly little pug dog. This pug dog,
| like his MASTER soon made himself a tavorite.
| 90 where he would, and seemed exceedingly
proud that he could make almost as many laugh
as could his master. The pug dog acted as Mr..
| Listens dUdnt courier, always trotting on before
| to announce his friend and master. The fre
quenters of the Orange Coffee House, Cockspur
| street, where Liston resided, used to saw
| laughing, "Oh, Liston will be here in q moment
| tor here is his beautiful pug"
MODERN AsTRoLoGY-'wIToH PICKLES."
Jtwould be an acquisition TO our knowledge if
some one competent to the task would collect
materials for the history of the men who, within
| the present century, have made profession of
| Judicial dStrOtogy. Attention is occasionally
drawn to the practices of itinerant fortune
tellers, many of whom still procure livelihood.
| The astrologer, however, or, as he is denomi.
rated in some districts OF England more
particularly in Yorkshire, "a planet ruler" and
| sometimes "a wise man." Is of higher order.
He does not itinerate, is generallya man of some
education, possessed Of good deal of fragmen-
tary knowledge, and q smattering of science. He
very often conceals his real profession by prac-
tising as Water Doctor" or as a "Bone
Setter" and some possess a considerable amount
OF skill in the treatment of ordinary diseases.
The m ore lucrative part OF the business was
that which they carried on in q secret way.
| They were consulted in cases of difficulty by O
class OF superstltous persons, and an implicit
| faith was placed in their statements and pre-
diCtions. The "wise man" was sought in all
| cases of accident, disaster, or loss. He was
| cons ulted as TO the probabilities of the return
| and safety OF the distant and absent; of the
| chances OF the recovery of the sick, and of the
destiny of some beloved friend or relative. The
consultation with these men would often have
| sinister aim-to discover by the stars
| or whether the affections OF a courted ol
| inconstant lover could be secured. Very
| often long-contnued diseases and inve
terate maladies were ascrbed TO an "il wish, ,"anG
the planet ruler was sought to discover who was
| tbs ill-Wisher, and what charm would remove
the spell. 1t is needless to say thot the practices
OF these astrologers were productive, in large
| number OF cases, of much disturbance among
| neighbors and relatives, and great mischief u
all concerned, except the man who prohted by
the creduluy of his dupes
Some or these charlatans, no doubt, vert
believers in the imposture but the greater mum
Der were arIant cheats. In Leeds and It's nelgn
borhood, there were, some five and-thirty years
AGO. several wise men," Among the number
was man known by no other name than tha