The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-08

nine gender. bright-eyed and oherry-oheeked-
we entered Into q round Of gayety and pleasure
which eliminated in an evening with the
maskers at the Academy OF Music. Our lady
friends were unanimous in expressing their
unqualified praise of the magnificent spectacle
which presented itself on that occasion. A
beautifully decorated stage. groups of elegantly
attired ladies and gentlemen, costumed with
taste and proprlety, the boxes filled with de-
lighted spectators, the whirl of the dancers the
bubbling laughter that made music from the
lips of the ladies, the delicious music of the
band, all conspired to make the scene one OF
enchantment. On Monday, January IL, 1869
the scene will be repeated. Tue motto OF Messrs
Abel Risley, the projectors of these admirable
balls seems TO be 'E xcelslor" and as the sub
scrptlon list is filling rapidly, those who de-
sign participating should attend to the matter
at once.
MRS SCoTT-SIDDoNs- Tho following commit d.
nication, doubtless from Dr.. II. Sheldon Mac
kenzie, appeared In the Press this morning.
AS Mrs. s SOFT SlddOns' pretensions to being a
descendant of the great Sarah" have been IN ore
than once disputed, we consider it no more
than justice that she should have the benefit of
DE-. Maokenzies testimony, especially as no
person in the country is probably better quail.
fed to decide upon such O nice genealo sleal
question:
To The Editor Of the PreSS:-Sir:-Some doubt
has been thrown on the authencity OF Mrs.
Scott.siddons' claims TO be considered as one of
the Kemble family, so famous in the annals of
the stage. II Is in my power, from actual
knowledge of facts and persons. TO clear away
manner, promising that / do 30 without the
knowledge OF the lady in question, with whom
never exchanged one word of conversation.
Sarah Kemble, eldest daughter of Roger
Kemble and Sarah Ward, married Mr. Sid
dons. an actor in her fathers theatrical COM
pany, on November rs l773, she then being in
her nineteenth year. The marriage took place
in Trinity Church, Coventry, Warwckshire.
several children were the issue OF this union.
Early in 1903 George Siddons, one of the sons
was sent to Calcutta as an employe OF the East
India Company, then virtual owner of Hindos.
tan He was in the civil service, was well
educated and clever Qn the English sense
Mrs s says
itself to the Governor. General OF India almost
amounting to command to provide hand
India. l have understood that he became
judge, was intimate with Macaulay in India
son. and MIS-. Scolt-Siddons is that sons
daughter, consequently as much the great
grandchild of the famous Mrs Siddons as
Frances Ann Kemble Is her niece
A few years ago there was a teacher of elocu-
tion In New York who called himself PRO.
fessor j: II. Siddons," and In an article of fic-
titious "Reminiscences, in Hdrper'S Mdgasine,
claimed to be the son of George Siddons, and
born in India. His real name was joachim H.
Stocqueler; he had successively been private
soldier in The East India Company's service,
newspaper editor, manager of theatre, and
so forth; but his father was q Swede and he
was no nearer related to the Kemoe family
than am.
George Siddons' granddaughter, the charming
woman and promising actress who was lately
admired In the Academy of Music. is now little
more than "a years Old. Sne was married at Is,
her husband Jnen being an officer in the British
navy. Two or three years ago he was called on
active service, but, being unwilling TO separate
from his young vile, exercised his right of
declining. IL was then that, feeling the here
di!aIyd Taste s r for the stage ih2 M lady per,
read and then to perform in pMolic. She had
no fair chance in the Academy of Music,
where, as Charles Mathews told an audience
ten years ago, the Vastness was so great that
Mcy required good glass tn see the actors face,
ana: he could not m AXE himself heard uni sss he
used a speaking-trum 1u r smaller theatre
Rhe would have been effective She wants
stage practice, perhaps some stage training,
nuL she has a great deal of talent, with the
KemDle features (nOt on the large SCALE so tRmi-
liar TO us, but "sOitened into beauty'D, and the
unmistakable Kembie eyes, dark, liquid, and
expressive.
Mrs Frances Ann Kembe that she does not re-
cogniZe Mrs SCOttSiddous as one of the family.
This can scarcely Ue correct. though the person
in question backs up his statement with "the
which is meant as a aclincher. If the denial of
one niece is to have this weight, what force must
attach to the affirmation OftIUO nephews? Mrs
f A Kemble is the daug tier OF Charles Kemble
Mrs Siddons' youngest brother, bora two
wears after her marriage with Mr.. Siddons
But MIR. Charles Kemble Mason and his
brother, both ere ditably known in this
country, where they have lived more than half
their years-these Gentlemen, as sons of Mrs
Siddons' sister, are her nephews, and readily
acknowledged their cousinship with Mrs Scott
Siddons. Perhaps, after all, IL was not neces-
sary to meet the aspersiOn which has ELECTED
this communication, but having reason to
know that from the positiveness with which a
garruous gossip made 1t, several thoughtless
persons were induced to believe 1t, thereby, L
trust, doing wrong TO Mrs. F. A. Kemhle have
deemed il right to tread the slander down. =,
II. S. M.