The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-09
O 0 STONES RETOLD.
Theatrical Farewslls. GerrIok aud
Siddomss
~
/. DAVID GARRICK.

s,reen-Tooms, of Garrick's intention to leave
the stage, where he had so long regned the
delight and wonder OF the age, and the en-
peror of all hearts.
n had long been known that Barry's rivalry
(Barry was the most ardent and tender of
I'Romeos') had compelled the great actor
20 exertions far beyond his strength The
death of his energetic ooadiutor, Mr. Lacy,
the joint patentee OF Drury Lane, had also
thrown upon Garrick burden too great
for him to bear. From 1878 (the date of
Mr.. Lacy's death), he had almost aban-
dOned Bosworth Field, Dover cliff, and the
gloomy fortress at Dunsinane for his even
more congenial haunts in the wainscoted
drawing rooms and palace ante-chambers Of
comedy, where aided by charming MRS
Abingdon, the best would-be fine lady yer
seen on the boards, he still bantered as "Bene-
dict, mounted the ladder as Ranger" blus-
tered as "DOn Felix, or became mean and
exquisite gull as "Abel Drugger."
In January l776, appeared poor farce of
Colman's, called The Spleen; or, Bitagton Spa,
meant to ridicule the affec atoms of would-be
fashionable citizens, who, discontented with
their own snug independence, had vainly
tried to turn Pentonville chalybeate into the
centre of second city of Bath The piece
ran for fortnight only. In the prologue,
written by Garrick with his usual neatness
and vivacity, public allusion was first made
to the intended retirement of the author.
After describing the restless cit, who, envious
of "Lord Flimsy' and "Maccaronis," retires
to his villa at lslington, and, among his leaden
gods and box-tree peacocks, sighs for the
merry hustle of Butcherow, the writer says
1.-THE master Of this shop. too, seeks repose,
sells OF his stock-in trade-his verse and prose,
HIS dagger ouskins, thunder, lightning, and
old clothes"
Garrick was already preparing for that solemn
last scene of all
"That ends this strange eventful history"
A few days after the appearance of The
Spa, Garrick produced the farce of Bon
Ion He had written this satire of the follies
imported from France, as a present for his
favorite actor, King, who appeared in it, to-
gether with arch Mrs. Abingdon and sensible
Miss Pope.
The versatile genius who had first appeared
on the stage at Ipswich, in 174l, as "Aboan''
(in Southern's Oronoko), "Sir Harry Widair,"
and Harlequin was about to close his
triumphs, and leave his mimic world.
de was rich, he was famous the wise, the
learned, and the beautiful crowded to his
almost royal levees still.
"Superfiuous Jagged the veteran on the stage"
The call-boy now spoke with hollow and
warning voice, and the prompSer was old age.
II had been lorg phantasmagoIic life of
pleasure and success sirc ce as a trim lad of
eighteen, he and his strange, clever, unsuc-
cessful schooImaster had set out from Lich-
Held to try their fortunes in London. A long
procession of years had passed before him
since, in Goodmans Fields, he first defed
the rivalry of Macklin, Quin, and Cibber,
and set Mrs. Give, Mrs. Pritchard, and
mrs: Woihngton talking. of the clever
young man with the large dark eyes,
who had been p 'aised by Lord Orrery, and
who had even drawn the great Mr.. Pope
from Twickenhaln. Hogarth too, was full of
admiration. The string of the "quality' car
1I.g 1rlages had reached from Temple Bar to the
1 HtIle theatre. The mad king, the generous
nero, the butterfly rake, the honest farmer.
the maddened tyrant, had all changed at last
into the one final character of the aISsps,
Sn. 0Ia great classic eyebrows
had lost their spring; the subtle mouth its
magic power; those supernatural eyes their
hidden fire and sunshine; age, cruel age, had
disenchanted that gifted face, which had so
well mimicked all the passions of our Species
the voice, once clear as a clarion, melodious as
a fute varied as the note of mocking bird,
was fast sinking to childish treble All Lon
don felt keenly what source of pleasure YVES
henceforth to be closed to them. Garrick's
parsimony and nervous vanity were now for
gotten, his virtues and genius better remem-
berCd. His "Brute' and "Bayes," his Clear
aud Orchard" " his "Kitely" and "Drugger,"
had been the friends of the town for years, |
and the most intellectual nen had spent their |
most innocent and happiest hours in their
society,".
That Garrick felt intense pain at the thought |
OF this impending parting there can be no
doubt. He was like the sleeping knight in
Tasso's enchanted garden of Armida, now at
last to be roughly awoke and expelled from
the golden world of dreams. The stage crown
was to be laid down, the stage sceptre to be
given to other hands. The painted forests of |
Arden were to be quilted, the dim magic light
OF the darkened stage, the pasteboard for
tresses, and Richards royal couch, We're to be
seen no more; red fire was no longer to glare
upon him; stage jewels were to be laid aside |
lie was to go forth in his old sge into the cold, |
garish, prosaic outer world, and to leave his
codrtlers and armies, his consprators and |
peasants, to be governed by another. Like
again"
Shakespeare himsslfh had deep sense of the
perishable nature of an actor's fame. 1t is
easier to describe special rainbow, or the
sWht vision OF momentary sunbeam than to
convey an impression to those who have not |
seen MN what even Robson was lil-e in his
snnaXes OF nervous irritation alternating
WIN gsyety. Who can describe Justly Ma |
Sfeauy Werner" or ''Virginius. - the elder
Aean tiger-hke rage, or the &c lerous manIi- |
ness OF Bannlster The actor's trne fon,o
perlshes with his life; after death IL 10 o1I |
a httul and varying tradition. II soon ~ |
comes disputed whether Roscius or Garr;oI |
were or were not better than the Boanerras 20 |
this or that theatre, he who acts WOtbslio1; |
like the mad butcher that he is, and croaIxs
through 'Hamlet' like the raven on ''Mac.
beth's" battlemCnts. TIA vita such ia tbe
Favaa of tho actor n raalIu oaacae II