Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-09-22
Garricl,. Farewell.

The piece selected was the Wonder,
and it was announced, with Garrick's
usual good taste, simply as q perform
snce for +" the benefit Of the Theatrical
Fund" No gigantic posters, no news
paper puts, clamorously invoked the
public interest. Tho town knew only
too we'll what it wa going to lose, and
every corner Of. the theater was
crammed. In his zeal for the charity
Of which he was the founder, and to
which this "mean" man contributed
over $4,000, Garrick had written an
occasional prologue, to bespeak the
good will of his audience in its favor.
1t has oil his wouted vivacity md point,
and one line
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind
has passed into q household phrase.
This he spoke as only be could speak
such things. He had entire command
of his spirits, aud he even thought that
he never played " Don Felix to more
advantage. So, at least, be wrote to
Madame Necker, eight days afterward (;
but when it came to taking the last fare
well, he adds 81 not only lost the use
of>my voice, but Of my limbs, too it
was indeed, as l said, a most awful mo-
ment. You would not have thought IN
English audience void OF feeling II you
had then seen and heard them. After
had left the stage and was dead to them
they would not suffer the petite piece to
20 on, nor would tho actors perform,
they were so affected in short, the
public was very generous, and am
most grateful. -(Garriek Correspond
ence, II. 1919 10 do consciously for
the last time what has been the work
aud the delight Of a life would agitate
the stoutest heart; but to do it in the
face of those whose sympathy has been
your best reward; one would suppose
almost too much for endurance. That
Garrick felt this Is plain. His parting
words were full offesling: I" It has been
customary" he said, " for persons In
my situation to address you in u fare
we'll spilogue. had the same intention,
and turned my thoughts that way (; but
found myself then as incapable Of
writing such an spilogue as | should now
be of speaking it. The jingle Of rhyme
and the language of fiction would but
i'll suit'my present feelings. This ia to
me q very awful moment; it is no less
than parting for ever with those from
whom I have received the greatest
kindness, and upon that spot where
that kindness and your favor was en-
loved, (Herc bis fine voice failed him,
and he paused till relieved by ~tears.)
Whatever may be the changes Of my fu-
ture life, the deepest impression Of your
kindness will always remain here-here
in my heart, fixed and unntterablc. /
will very readily agree to my successors
having more skill and ability for their
station than l have; but l defy them all TO
take more uninterrupted pains for your
favor, or to be more truly sensible Of it.,
than is your truly grateful, humble ser
want" On this, writes hr. Fitzgerald,
" he retired slowly up-up the stage ;
his Dyes fixed on them with o lingering
longing. Then stopped. The shouts
of applause from that brilliant amphi-
theatre were broken by sobs and tenrs.
Farewell farewell /! farewell 7 The
wonderful eyes, still brilliant, were
turned vistfully again and again to that
sea of sympathetic faces and At last,
with an effort, he tore himself from their
view" And so without fuss or -four
ish-true genius and gentleman rs he
wag-passed from the stage tho greatest
actor Of modern timss.-Quarterly Re-
riew.