The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-07
Charles Fechter, the TraRedian.

The first appearance In this city Of Mr. Charles
Fechter, the Anglo-Franco-Teutonc tragedian
which takes place at the Walnut Street Theatre this
evening. will be quite an event in the theatrical
world. Mr.. Fechter's advent has been heralded by
such blast of trumpets that there is great deal OF
curiosity on the part OF paygoers to see him, espe
Cay In the role selected for the opening nght-that
OF "Hamlet." Mr.. Fechter was born in Hanway-
yard, oxford street, London, about the year 1928,
and Is consequently about 1ftyseven years OF age.
His father was a German his mother an English
woman, and he was educated entirely in France, so
that the three leading nationaites OF Europe have
contributed to his physical and intellectual compost
ton For some years his attention was directed to
sculpture but he early manifested an in
cllnation for the stage, and when but seven
teen years OF age he made his debut in
lie Mari de la Veuue at the Sale Moliere, Poris,
dingy little place. Although entirely without exPe-
rence, his acting this occasion was so full or pro-
mise that 1t insured him an Introduction to Scribe
series OF lessons at the Paris Conservatory fol-
lowed. But after few weeks tuition, we are told
he despaired OF acquiring valuable knowledge in an
institution where four different professors, in as
many weeks, had read to him one part after four
different fashions. So he quilted the Conservatory
and returned to his studio. He accepted directly,
however, offer to join travelling troupe In Italy,
and although compelled by the pecuniary Ill success
of the venture to again take up the chisel he was
80 little disheartened as to set aside diploma
authorizing him to compete as sculptor for the
pri1 de Rome, and to profit, in preference, by an
authorization emitting him to a hearing at the
Comedio Franchise. From that day Mr.. Fechter's
career as an actor was uninterrupted. He was part
of the company OF the Comedie for eighteen months,
and he laid the stage Of the first theatre Of
France the foundation OF thorough fa
miliarity with his art. Leaving this house,
he passed a year in Berlin, whence he
transferred his services to the Vaudeville, then to
the Ambigu, then to the varieties, and then to the
Theatre Historiaue. At the latter theatre he was
the original personator OF "The Corscan Brothers,
and OF "HOrace" In Pauline. Subsequently, at the
Vaudeville he "created" the part of "Armaud in La
Dame auG CaneiaS (CGrsRe) and that OF raphael"
in Les Files dc MGrbre, and tn IN accepted the pro
posals OF the Porte st. Martin management, and fig
ured there in lie Fills de Ia Mutt La Belle GGbrets and
Kindred works Suited by physical qualities and by
early picturesque surroundings for the delineaton
OF romantic characters, he won for himself In them
a great popular reputation. This portion OF his
career was varied by professional visit to Berlin,
which occurred in the year 1s46
Having now reached the zenith of his
fame as French romancist he turned
his attention to the English stage, and,
after studying the language with the Rev.
Mr.. Bellew, sensational preacher OF note, he ap'
peared In 1860, under the management OF Mr. Har-
rs, in Ruy Bias at the Princess Theatre, London
Whatever may be the merits OF his acting, his sue
cess was immediate and so decided that he al
once determined to orsake the French stage and to
give his whole energy TO the easy task OF deightine
English audiences. He soon attacked "Ilamlet,
and casting aside certain traditions OF the English
stage, created no little sensation by his
Innovations, especially that OF naXeI
wig His success in this Shakespearan character lee
him to essay "0theo" in 1851, at the Princess. Hi
success in this role by no means equalled that Which
had attended his "Hamlet," and soon after he re
turned to his French repertoire, and during the re
mainder OF his engagement at this theatre devoted
his attention to class OF plays OF which The C0rScG
Brothers may be taken as q type. In 1862 he trans
ferred himself to the Lyceum, OF which he became
lessee, his first important production here havnI
been John Brougham's adaptation OF THE Duke
Motto, which ensured the success of his management
Bel DemoniO followed, and at long intervals Hant
was revived, with stage appointments OF unusut
excellence and attraction. He relied, however
mainly upon the more feryid OF the Frenc
dramas. until he brought out Bulwers Lad
of Lyons, creating profound sensation
the part OF "Claude NelnOtte." His nel
great success was in the dramatization OF No TIN
rotlghfage, Christmas story by Charles Dickens an
WiRie Collins, which had been written with IL
special view OF supplying MI. Fechter with part
which his imperfections OF pronunciation would NJ
ne inappropriate. No Thorottghfare was brought OF
at the Adelphi on Christmas day, 1867, during NJ
Dickens last sojourn in the United States, the DIR
matizaton having been the joint production
Wilkie Collins, benjamin. Webster, and Mr.. Fecht
himself. His personation In this play of the role
''Obersezer," although not regarded as equal of h
early triumphs on the London stage, was regard
as superior to any OF his later achievements at d
Lyceum.
Last year it was announced authortatiyely tn
MIR. Fechter would pay a professional visit to Il
country and his advent was heralded by