The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-13
AMUSING MMNsCsNCss'oF BARON HkCKeTT. THE GREAT
REPRESENTATIVE or JACK FALlsTiF.
TO rnR EDITOR OF rHx HERALD.

AMUSING MmMECsNCss'oF BARON HkCxeTT THE GREAT
RfFResekTATvE OF JACK fALlsTMf.
TO rHR EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
JAMAICA, l. l., Oct ii, 1867.
weekly paper in referring to the death Of Charles
Porter the ACTOR and manager, says
Mr Porter was born 10 Newark, n. j., July e. 1891,
and his first appearance on tho stage IN bis naive
city with stroiling company Of actors, Baron hacKe't'
manager.
wonId correct such error and relate what the
facts aud circumstances, far as may be supposed
to have been associated with the late Mr. Porsrs daeut
on Tho STAGE
During the winter OF 1916, when ! Was . youth and
had recently been admitted Of the freshmen class
OF Columbia College, New York. my iandlady, Mrs. 10
Boy introduced to fellow boarder, young man OF
gcn,cel appearance, "ar Porter, Of Phadelpha"
Upon moro acquaintance SIR. Porter informed me his
home Philadelphia, where he had been for
soma time studynS for the stare, and that he
lately come 10 New York, and had been
trying hard, but in vain, 10 persuade the
metager OF the Park theatre (Which hsoitusily ire
Notwithstanding tickel 70 allow him an oppor-
tnpily 70 make his debut also tnai no bad rcsovea 70
abandon such effort and instead, 10 visit Newark, ~ j.,
take there popular hal and get Up, for pubic enter
tainnent some ROTATIONS poeuc and dramatic and for
WHICH ne nd readily OBTAIN magistrates hcense-a
tu,, re being inon Oslo by OF New Jerey pro-
hibed within that state ar Porter sol cited me 10 &C.
company INN, and suggested would assist nim there
sumcd name.
having repeatedly and with much applause spouted
oatons and Joined In dramatic dialogues q, our annual
:" Union Hall academic exno ions in this village
where had been prepared or coegel was somewhat
s;age-s'rcken TOO. and easily Persuaded 10 SIP away
from the city and my studies for ie" days, and went
with ar Porter Newark " j. where hc obtained the
hotel bal room Tor his purpose. and advertised himself
Mr. Porter Of Phiisdcpnia, and 40 be assisted
by Mr. Young Of New York -, Young was truly-be-
Ing hardly sixteen. Mr. Porter, however, seemed very
Leary OF mature age
Ina tad WIN a-s am
and atoms anu dramatic spiiioques and dialogues
were duly reced according 10 the programme wnich
Mr. por,er mad caused 10 DO printed and crcuated out
audience numbered about dozen persons, and only
OF them haa purchased ucses che price OF which
half coiia all tue oters uaying been Invited Dy
Mr. Portcr whose expenses the occasion we're up
wards Of S25. Nolhing dagnted, however, Mr. Porter
induced to continue with him as far as New Bruins
WICK, y. j., where WAS added 10 the bill OF fare which
had gwen ut Newark the interace Of >, lsoster
aggcvwood. the mad itinerant actor in which igured
again as air. Young OF New YORK;, playing sylvss-
Ter and Introducing pi of the then popular come
diam ot Ne York, Hson and splitter. ana Ar. Porter
personatins fus'an the Author. he had reduced the
pfice OF to three lsew York shilliugs S7l5
cen,s) and before the hour appointed Sr beginning she
hail liled.
will and influence u Mr. Dsan, his bill printer ana
editor OF newspaper. and popular and VIGOROUSLY
gotd fellow IN New DrunswcS 81. Dsah naa pelsuaaed
their valuable aid and TO perform variety OF popular
airs this occasion" They, however, did not come ny
psnctualiy lime N reaching he hall mat evening,
and collected had begun 10 manifest some I'M
pasnc AR. Porter being unwil lining 10 anticipate by
an appearance his and place in tho order OF his
programme persuaoad tall ianky boy Of about fifteen,
called 'Bill, whom Mr. Dean had kindly sent from
his printing ofce 10 olciais - promplsr,
Of the platform and which then hid Us Al
ssnt Of the people In front OF 1t. aud deliver
10 them message in the words OF which Mt Porter
thought he had rehsarsed Bill sufficiently Bill how
ever proved somewhat bashfu in stepping forth from
the screen and required 70 be gently pushed no ssns
of Tho stage Tho moment BIZ appeared-beng rccog-
nized by nearly ai prssen.-n.ny Of the Spectators
shouted, "Why, Bill! u appaudsd tumuituously and
hurrahd him. Poor Bill however, stood motenless and
apashed AZ his reception Ia sucn an mprovtsed debut,
and after silence was restored confused no could
not inter syllable OF the message with which he had
been charged by Mr. Porck who seeing Bin bad STUCK,
prompted MIN, in short sentences aud AZ loudly as ne
.slhe mu.c having come yet"
Bill ts,ammerng aud pulling uneasly with his hands
at the SIDES OF his trowsersi utIefsd-"The music
han't-cofac yet
A voice from the audience cjaculated-"well what
or nt''
Mr. Porter tbeh nd screeoj And Ar. Young
Mr. Porter continuing to promptl-"In the mean
time will give you Norvas account Of himself"
THIS proved TOO long for the breath Of poor
aHn ?"
MIR. Porter (repcating,-"Nr Young, in the mean
gi-.Mr Young says it's me'--
Ar. Porter-"Mr Young viii g'se you NorvaPs
snl-'ob, yes. Mr. Young Is going to let you have
novels.
Mr.. forter-..No MOI Norvals account Of himself"
l3ll-Noh. yes them novels on accoun: OF himself"
Mr. Porter whispering and ACCOMMODATIONS on,
Bnf'
Voice among the audence--..welI done, Bill"
Poor Bnl forgot his bow, and while Fastening toward
the scssen--
Another voice cricd--.Encore stop, Bill, and cay
that speech over again"
Bi now embodensd, made mouths and cried,
'i -ang-an1-ary -anS-ang, snant! anu ran
behind the screen.
within about minute there came from the auditorium
cries "Bow about them novesyn 'sYes, where's them
ere uovcis,'i
Fortunately however at this juncture the band OF
musicians entered and then strict order and good humor
prevailed gnc audience seemed hignly amused aud
well satisfied aud Mr.. poTiers enterprise yielded HIM
clear profit OF between ffty and sixty dollars
STR Porter and myself then and there parted company,
he proceeding TO Philadelphia and | returning 10 New
York Neither Of he the other until after lapse OF
more than twenty years Mr. Porter seems soon after
our parting became regular actor aud identihed
wrh the profession, while grow into manhood,
such thereafter tried my faculties, in the twenty
seventh year OF my age, making my debut upon tue
boards Of old Park thearp New York, In 1925. IL
proved successful aud adopted the stage az pro essop
though have Of late pursued II rarely and rregu-
larly and with persevering industry and con-
sequenty been regarded ~ Eiany rather ~ ian
our than pro- essionai actor
In my occasional movements the last thirty years ~
wandering star | have met the late Mr.. Porter re-
peaicaiv In thcatressoinetimes as manager and %
others as one Of the stock conpnny-when we used
always 10 greet each other old rends aud laugh
hcary over our recolections OF the Incidents
attending inv juvenile and his nitiatory adventure
winch hsyc des rbcd JAMES IL HACKEfE