The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-19
OBITUARY.
Peter RlrhInrs-

the Philadelphia stage, aud ha had &c many warm
personal as well professional friends here that the
announcement OF his death will be received with
general regret. Both as a finished actor and as
high toned, honorable gentleman he was fully enti-
tied to the cordial esteem in which he was hell and
although he had retired from the stage and in his
old age enjoying the fruits of long life OF hon
Orabe labor In the cause OF art, his sudden death
will be none the less regretted hy those who re-
garded him as among the last a glorious line OF
dramatic artists who have done honor to the Amerl
can stage.
Mr.. Rlchngs was born at Kensington, London
on May 10, 1877, and he was consequently seventy
three years OF age al the time OF his DEATH His
father was Vice Admiral in the British navy, and
his family in the best OF the word respecta
ble Mr.. Rchlngs at an early age had predictions
FOR the stage, and as usual on such occasions he
obliged TO contend against the opposition of his
friends. He persisted, however, in adopting the
profession for which he felt that his talents aud
Clinatons fitted him, and the 25th OF August,
1884, he sailed for the United States to try his
tunes on this side OF the Atlantic on his arrival he
made the acquaintance OF Mr.. Simpson, the manager
OF the Park Theatre, New York, who 30 favora-
bly, impressed with him that he gave him
| gagement. on the 25th OF September he made his
first appearance the stage at the Park Theatre in
the character of 'HarTy Bertram" In the drama OF
Guy MqnBcrtlg aud made very favorable impress
sion. He played for two years at the Park Theatre,
learning the routine OF his profession and making
steady progress by his strict attention to his duties
had to do At the close OF the second year of his
engage meat at the Park Theatre an extravaganza
e. entitled Ten, and Jerry was produced, and Mr..
Rchings made his first great hit by his persOnatiOn
of "Dck Trine" This part was in the line OF busi-
ness for which Mr.. Richngs afterwards most
4 celebrated, aud the brilliant success which he
4 achieved in it gave him that enabled him to
tread the way to fame and fortune rapidly than
ever. Fo sixteen years after his first great hit Mr..
|4 Rchings identified with the Park Theatre, and
" nj 10 m IN tha Mpy
n York stalc.
III Mr. Rchlngs came to Philadelphia in 1s4O, and
~ made his first appearance here at the old Ma ional
Theatre on the 3lst Of August as Captain AbSo-
vi lutte" in Sherdan's comedy of TIE RtUdts. The
0 National had formerly been used a circus, aud
had recently been converted into regular theatre,
III and placed under the management Of Mr. w. Il.
NJ Burtor. MI RChings became great fayorite
81 Immediately, ard after the destruction Of the
J. National by fire he went to the Old
Fl Chesnut Street Theatre, then managed by Pratt,
where he hCd the responsible post OF stage map-
ager. The season at the Chestnut closed prema-
turely, and Mr.. Bichngs made his first appearance
at the WALNUT Street Theatre, with which he was
for so many years identified both actor and stage
manager, as "Dlzze" in London Insurance, Mr. t.
AL L. Davenport sustaining the character of "Charles
Courtey.' In 1913 he went TO Baltimore and man
aged the Holiday Street Theatre for one season In
the following year he returned to Philadelphia, and
became a member OF the Walnut Street Theatre
company under the management Of Mr.. Il. A. NJ lr-
shall. IL succeeded Mr.. Blake as stage manager at
A the Walnut in 1916 Mt Richings attached TO
the Walnut between eight ana niue years, and his
abilities as an actor, aud his line taste AMI thorough
81 knowledge of his profession, made him one of the
q most pUou stage managers ever connected with
the theatres OF Philadelphia.
1t was while acting as stage manager at the Wal
nut that Mr.. Rlchtngs introduced his adopted
daughter, Miss Caroline Rchings-now Mrs. Ber-
nard-to the public. This LAZY was born in England,
and was brought to this country by her parents
when quite small child. Her fathers name was
Reynoldsou, and he was well known as writer for
the press aud an adapter Of plays. His pecuuiayY
success, however, was not great, and when he died
he left bis little girl entirely unpr0vided for. Mr..
nj RchiBgs adopted her. and from that time to the
hour OF his death he acted more than fathers part
I'll towards her. Both in public aud in private he
Fl always d 80 ayed the warmest affection for her. aad
her success Is very largely due to his fathery care.
= He gsve her an excellent education aud as she early
gave indications Of having fine voice, Mr.. Rich
al ings provided the best masters for her, and took
great pains to cultivate her musical talent to the
/ utmost The FIRST actual appearance in public OF
ed Miss Richings was as pianist, on November 20,
lS4T, at the first concert OF the Philharmonic SO.
ciety at Musical Fund Hail. She appeared for
u second time on the 18th OF December in the same
year. Miss Rchings made her debut on the stage on
the 9th of February, 1852 with the Seguin troupe at
Il the Walnut Street Theatre. It her ambition as
nj well as that OF her adopted father 10 distinguish
n herself as pTtlnd donna, but the disbaudment 0l
the Seguiu troupe deprived her for the time being
OF opportunity to do so. she nevertheless held fast
4 to the idea of achieving success i'm English opera
and within few years past she mas been able TO
carry out her plans in that direction. In the mean
time she cultivated both her vocal aud dramatic
talents, and achieved a high reputation an
| actress and as a singer. Miss Rchings made her
first appearance as a cOmedicnue at the Walnut
on March Il 1885, for the benefit of Mr., Peter Rich
ings, In the part OF ''Stea" in the comedy OF ia
PrimG Donna, which was produced for the
first time in America that occasion Sht
afterwards appeared in the comedy O
! E1treaes the operate spectacle OF Th
Enohantress and number OF other similar piece
that afforded her opportunities to display her yoca
and histronic talents. After leaving the Walnut
Mr.. Richugs and his daughter played star engage
ments for time, and the Ith of March, 1SS
Miss hichngs made her debut in Italian opera at th
Academy OF Music in this city, which had then jus
been naugurated, MIR. Peter Richings delivering th
inaugural address on the opening night. Miss Ricf
j ings' first Italian opera role was "Adegisa" i
Norma and she afterwards appeared in "AZucena
in Trovatolc, and in similar parts. During the dri
matte season of 1851 -5S Miss Richings was a men
/ ber OF the Walnut Street Theatre Company She le
the Walnut in January, 1852 and for several yea
! travelled as Il star.
In September, 1865, Miss Richings appeared as Il
d leader OF the Rchings English opera Troupe, an
H achieved a success that the puoc is familiar wit
and succeeded apparently In making English oper
y what 1t had never been before, permanently fas
ionabe and popular. 1t is well understood that IL
excellence OF the performance given by this trouI
was in a very large measure due 10 the exertions
Mr. Peter Richings, who was the actual II not Il
nominal manager; and until the marriage of h
tadd on0hfa ohq