The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-21

In " Much Ado About Nothing" the programme
also including the Irish farce. Handy Andy" -
liberal patronage as ever was bestowed upon
careful and meritorious artist.
Mr.. Chase win himself take part also, and an.
nounces his design, Q sensible one 1t is while in
ciuding operate gems and concerted music. to
make special feature Of more Ineligible songs,
duos and qusrtettes of the English school. The
concerts will be given on the subscription plan,
but no seats will be reserved.
Presenting that our readers may be pleased to
hear Of the Whereabouts of some OF their old
theatrical porfeges. we give few jottings
Cleaned from exchanges:
Frank Lawlor, who was leading man in the
Varieties company In 1878, Is playing In Edwin
Booths company, at the new theater In New York.
Mr.. Garden who in the previous season (66-7)
was leading man at the same theater in our city,
is supporting Kate Reynolds at the Broadway
Carlotta De Berg. the great female bareback
rider, and James E.. Cook, the champion Ieaper,
both of whom were recently at the Academy
with the circus company, are now in Lent's cir.
1t is rumored that Dan Bryant, who 1t will be
remembered played an engagement 10 Irish char
acters at our st. Charles in the winter of ls67.s
will this coming summer take to Londen an Ethi-
opisn minstrel troupe, for the purpose of demon.
strstng to the people of that metropolis what can
be done with that sort of entertainment. Dan
gave some lively sketches in the Hibernian line
while be was here. and many of rs doubtless re-
collect with pleasure his Myles ma Coppaleen on
the occasion Of Edwin Adams's benefit at the
Varieties.
By he ny Ms, adams hss been very success.
honors, tits said, with the great trsgedian himself
and on Saturday nights, which are known as ''the
Adams nights" Tor Adams Eve-how would that
do? carrying the house by storm with his mag
nifcent Ndrcisse, in the drama of that name.
Mrs. Scott siddons, as was stated at an earlier
date, reached here on Thursday from Indianspo-
Ia n
ment at the ST. Charles. Her reputation has pre-
ceded her hither, and leads rs to anticipate, with
no small relish, her performance of Rosdlild, in
" AS You Like It." the piece chosen for her open
ing entertainment. Mrs. Siddons is accompanied
by her husband, Mr.. Scott Siddons, late of the
Royal navy, and most agreeable gentleman.
We are fortunate in being able to present our
Sunday readers with the following interesting
Geographic sketch Of an artist, who, to &C.
knowledged talent, adds refinement and rare
beauty.
u MRS. SCOTT sIDDoNs.
This youngest and most beautiful of the Illus.
trious Kemble family was born in the Bengal
presidency of the East Indies in 1874. her father.
Capt. William Young siddons, being the youngest
son Of George, one of the three sons of the great
Mrs. Siddons. Her mother is a daughter of Col.
Earle. Mary Frances, the subject Of this sketch,
Is the eldest of four children, with whom their
mother, becoming widow, returned TO England
In 1852. Mary and her sister were educated in
Germany, at Godesberg, near Bonn, on the Rhine.
Here her love for acting, passion with her since
earliest childhood, was greatly fostered by con.
slant performances in the respective Languages of
the finest French and German plays. The genius
she has since proved herself TO possess even then
shone so brilliantly forth as to occasion INQUIRIES
to be made Of the late Charles Kesn on the sub
ject Of stage education for her. He however
deemed her too young at the time, and so, perhaps
fortunately for her. abe continued her quiet studies
until she reached the age Of sixteen, when abe left
~ ~. - L..
and companions. her great beauty, hish spirit and
singular intelligence having endeared her to all
with whom she came in contact.
The yearning after the hstri0nic art at this time
was stronger with Mary Siddons than ever, but on
returning TO her mothers home in one of the most
retired parts of somertshire in England, her ardor
received q sudden and very decided check by the
opposition offered by her grandmother on the ma
terDal side, an old lady Of great piety, to whom
the stage" and all connected with it had but one
In vain did Mary cite her own noble ancestors
as instances of worth and greatness on the stage,
the subject was peremptorily dismissed and never
again brought up. Endowed with sympsthies so
large, SO harmonious temperament, her mind
readily turned TO other pursuits. Music, drawi &,
gardening. etc.. engrossed her thoughts com pletey
for the next two years, at the end of which, when
barely eighteen, she became the wife of 7. Scott
Chanter, of the royal navy. Here commenced
the most romantic part of her history. She met
her husband at her first fancy ball. Her dark,
lustrous eyes, exquisite features and symmetrical
form set of TO perfection by the gorgeous Indian
dress, presented by Hindoo queen to her mother.
young naval officer sat in corner by the side OF
a mstron, with whom he discussed the merits Of
each passing beauty. None as yet had satisfied
bis taste, when the matron attracted his attention
to an Indian queen. then walking slowly past, on
the arm of an officer. Unlike the gay and vola-
tile expression one Is accustomed to see on fair
faces at such festivities, this young face wore a
look Of deep esrDestness, mingled with an almost
chd.ke Inconsistencies. There" Mr.. Chan
ter, ;" said the matron, "you cannot deny perfect
beauty to that facet" He did not deny it /; but
be muttered something about "bad teeth, perhaps,
OF ugly feet" Before that ball was over
the young officer was convinced that Mrs Siddons
was designed for him, and during the drive
OF twelve miles TO her home, sfter II was over, we
believe we are not wrong 10 stating that certain
gallant sailor figured good deal In her dreams.
The marriage took place about five months after
q state into which this courageous couple entered
on an income of fle4, and lived more gloriously
than Ekpgs and princes" as we have heard
our heroine declare; she whose income now is
greater for an hours work. Her husband was
very jealous and noble. spirited officer. having
saved many lives at the peril Of his own. and hav-
ing received medals from the Humane Society for
two acts Of great courage. After having been
married about two years Mr.. Chsnter received
bis promotion, and was for short time on leave
Of absence. The dread Of separation suggested
the stage once more to bis wife, who besought her
husbands leave to try her fortune in the profess
sion of her family urging that could she succeed
quickly In establishing any claims to worth they
need never part After four months OF study she
appeared as Portid, in the Merchant of Venice;"
playing Lady Macbeth a week after, which was
quickly followed by Juliet. In each OF these her
success was 30 unequivocal that she Immediately
received sn offer from the 1heater Royal. E1in-
burgh. Here, where the Kemble memories were
so strong, she was received with the greatest
and the verdict Of the modern
Athens' was passport to every town aud city in
the kingdom. She hes been starring as Shaks-
pearian actress of the highest position for more
than four years. The leave of absence granted to
her husband was, strangely enough. extended
over three years, at the end Of which time he was
appointed to Hong Kong. The name and reputa-
ton of our heroine. however, had by this become
20 famous and her means so ample, that Mr..
CbsDter was enabled to throw up his commission.
he has always devoted his whole time to the
of his wfe's professional business,
and in England much Of her success is attributed
10 the straightforward, manly, and generous
.SiI two years ago NJ tSanef droPped e.
1sme in order legally 10 adopt that Of "Scott
Slddons," bis mothers family name Joined to his
wife's maiden one. So great is the affection In
which she lie held at home that il would be hard
matter now for her to retire from the English pub
10, even II she wished it, and her rsceptions in
New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Pitts
borg, ETC.. show how readily America has taken