The Montana post., 1868-10-16
JOHN w. JAMESON THE ACTOR.

JOHN w. JAMESON THE ACTOR.
A single paragraph in the telegraPhic
dispatches of Saturday. informs as of
the unfortunate termination of the life
of Jameson. He was in many respects
q remarkable man, and but for a single
event, which overshadowed him just as
he was budding into eminence, would
have lef; behind him a name and fame
equal to that OF the most distinguished
actors of modern times. Jameson was
favored with the person and bearing of
an Apollo Belvidere. In form and stat
ure he was every inch a man, and his
countenance beamed with intelligence,
beauty and good humOr. He possessed
wonderful histrionic powers, and great
versatility-was equally at home in
Hamlet or in a roaring Irish farce In
fact we doubt il, judged by any OF the
ordinary standards of criticism, better
Hamlet ever trod the boards. Murdoch
is highly extolled in this character, but
there were points in which he was
greatly excelled by Jamiesons About
twenty years ago, just as the trump of
fame had began to herald the merits of
Jameson, he was, most unfortunately
for himself, invited by Forrest to sup
port him IN his leading characters on a
theatrical engagement through the
Western and Southern cities. Mrs.
Forrest, then a most attractive lady, ac-
companied her husband, and Jameson,
one of the family, was thrown daily in
to her society. They became intimate
as friends, and this friendship ripened
into deeper sentiment. Jameson pos.
sessed refinement of taste and culture,
which won upon the lady's admiration,
and while they were at Cincinnati For
rest began to suspect them of illicit con-
nection. By prudent and careful watch
fulness his worst fears were finally con-
frmed. by finding among the papers of
his wife very elaborately worded lets
ter of affection, addressed to her in
Jamieson's chirography, and signed
"Consuelo." IL was indeed a very per~
feet imitation in style of the charming
novel of George Sand, MADAME Dude-
VANITY bearing that name. The great
;ragedisn was in rage of jealous ex-
element, and for which he cut such an
tics before high Heaven, that both gods
and men were afraid. The result was
an immediate separation between him~
self and wife, and a most unceremoni-
Gus expulsion of poor Jameson from the
company. The great Forrest Divorce
Case, which immortalized John Van
Buren as counsel for the lady, and
Charles O'Conner for the husband, fol-
lowed.
From this time. Jameson, who had
glittered for a day in the theatrical
world, experienced permanent repulse
in ali his efforts to regain reputation.
The ban of the destroyer was upon him,
and whenever he attempted to appear
upon the boards, at New York, Boston or
Philadelphia, the friends of Forrest,
whose name was legion, greeted him
with Misses, and sometimes more sub
stantial evidences of their spleen He
became a rover Fitted by nature for
nothing but the stage, he joined the
strOlling companies which passed
through the country, playing star en-
gagements TO crowds that pitied him,
but still felt that his punishment was
not unmerited- He could never rise
4. a Il.
tion, and he sought relief i'm the bottle.
We have often heard him, while assev~
Grating his innocence of any criminelity,
curse his existence, and -bemoan the fate
which a = aited him in the future. Poor
fellow That fate has at length over :
taken him, and one of the brightest,
kindest and noblest of actors finally fell
a victim TO the crushing wheels of To-
comotive.
We have passed many pleasant hours
in the society of George Jameson, dur
ing his days of darkness and adversity.
aud heard from his own mouth a full
narration of the circumstances of his
downfall. Ii bore evidences of truth
and came from a heart deeply sur
charged with a Consciousness of wrong.
He was nothing, perhaps. 20 the world
who will read the account OF his death
as a common accident; but there are
many to whom he was known in the
circles of private friendship, who sym~
pathized with him in life, and who will
lament his untimely and unfortunate
fate. Sons of genius tread lightly
upon his names, for he was akin 10 We -
One of the sources OF income 10 the
Mexican Indians is the scalps they take.
These are sent to France, boiled. carded.