The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-26


From London we learn that John Poole veteran
dramatst and dramatic writer has just died In an
OBSCURE lodging In Kentlsh Town, unnoted and
almost forgotten. He had entirely Outllved his
popularity that his name OF itself Will be scarcely
recognizable. Nevertheless he was the author Of
several charming comedies and OF at least score OF
delightful arces. The most famous Of all his dramatic
Notwithstanding, OF course, his three act
comedy of "Paul Pry'-was one of the greatest hits
ever made BY humorous playwright! beyond
winch 1t was the creation OF an entirely new
comic character. Mr.. Poole was over eighty years
or age. The date OF hts Dirth has been set down
as 1892. II Is believed to have occurred several
years earlier. He himself made kind OF ser0-
comic mystery about both the time and The locality
his first appearance. His earliest dramatic emu.
sion dates back sixty-two years-namely, to his
production IN 1910 OF burlesque entitled Hamlet
Irayestiev his rst farce the name OF which was
OF Drury Lane in 1915, sam Dabbs being enacted by
Munden. AS long afterward as February Is, 1928,
another farce was produced upon the same stage,
with Liston as lrstram Sappy. In the following
year, on September II, 1924, Pooles comic drama,
for the first time at The Haymarket it was on
November IL, 1880, that MS well-knOwn farce
IN whc che as n%ns aha D
surviving veteran, John Cooper, achieved one OF his
greatest successes. And on March Il, 1882 at co.
produced under the title or "a NaOob for an Hour
with Kelley as Dickv Dumpy. As more than merely
triumph Of Poole as a dramatist was that achieved
by MN with the cooperation OF Mr. Liston, at the
little theatre IN the Haymarket when .'Paul Pry,n
with 'nope don't intrude," first made his ap-
pearance. Other comedies were produced py MIN
VIII more or less brilliant results In the way OF nav
aud popularity, but none that could for an instant
he compared with the arch-embOdlment OF curiOslJv
In appearance. In his best days, Poole was tail and
handsome. or late years he had sunk to the last
stage OF decrepitude.
Abram Benl.
Abram Beal, for eighteen years past agent OF the
New York Prison Association, died on Sunday
morning. February Is, aged sixty -eight years. His
whole life, from youth up, was devoted to useful,
self-denying, but unpopular works OF benevolence.
lie was born IN Chatham, Kent, England, and all
the early records OF his life associate MIN with Sun.
day schools, ragged schools, prison reform, and q
universal sympathy with the weak and fallen. At
eighteen years OF age he Interested himself for
prisoners, and walked thirty three miles from his
nome 10 the county town to defend and OBJ
tam the release OF young man on trial
ne naturally and instlnctiveiy gravItated to the
Prison Association, and mere he has found the
mission Of his life. IL Is admitted that no single
individual accomplished so much In restoring back
and fallen as has Mr. Beal; and In ms daily walks
among all the city and country prisons he found his
path lined with every phase or human sorrow, and
MS broad sympathizlng spirit went out TO them all.
Often was his own home in Brooklyn made asy-
um for the characterless and destitute OF both
and his entire lie since he came here has been de.
voted TO practical and sclfsacrifcng charities. In
the intervals OF dellrlun few moments before his
death MS sister heard him distinctly address some |
poor prisoner with these wOrkS-'I am dying |
man; can do no more for you now, my friend; you
your own pard0a.n Mr. Bcal was u Methodist by
persuasion, Dut was active member Of Mr.. |
Beecners church, from which his remains will be
buried.