Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-13
MknRyIHe AN ACTnEss.


/ In the winter cf1s1s- 10 . party Of bright and
lively young people had assembled 10 spend
the period of ch istmas iestlvity at . spacious
old country-sest not very far from Dublin.
Several Of them, ladies as well as gentlemen,
had already acted cieditably on the amateur
stage; so they fitted out large hall as thea
tire, and got up several standard comedies In o
manner tha. ELECTED hearty applause. En-
couraged BY this success, they thought they
could manage one Of Shakspeareb tragedies,
and their choice fell on Romeo and Juliet.
They succeeded In casting all the characters
except one, that of Juliet herself. II was od.
| cred to several young ladies in succession; but
they all persistently refused, Fearing to attempt
80 arduous part. In this dilemma some one
suggested an expedient. Miss oNeill, then in
the zenith of her fame, was an actress Of VII
blemished reputation most lady like demeanor,
and eminent talent, whom once saw Is Juliet.
| She was then regarded, justly imagine, a. the
most perfect Interpreter Of Shakspeare's en-
bodment of fervid passion and devotion In the
daughter Of Capulet that had ever appeared on
the London boards; her singular beauty ad-
mirably seeonding her rare powers, and turn
Ing the heads of half Of the fashionable young
men of the day. She was universally respect
ed, was admitted 10 the best society, and
several times had assisted at private theatri-
Gals. Az
1t 30 happened that she was then in Dublin
and for the tim without an engagement. The
proposal was, to write to her and ask her, on
her own terms, to come to them and take the
part of Juliet. This was agreed to, and o letter
dispatched accordingly.
The part OF Romeo had been assigned to q
gentleman offortune and family, Mr.. Becher
of Ballygbben, County Cork: jeune encore, Of
the French say, for he was still on the right
side of forty, and excelling all his companions
in histrionic talent. To him, as soon as the
1 t,rt 1al t,<1, III,
ultimate friends. "Becher," said he, "take nv
advice before ii is too late. Throw ND the par
ofRomeo, dare say some one else can be
found to take it."
"Back out of the part! And why, pray1 Dc
You think my acting is not worthy to support
Miss O'Neill's."
"ron act only too well, my good fellow, ant
Identity yourself only TOO perfectly with The
| characters you undertake. / know Miss O'NeiI
well; there can't be better girl, but she's dan
gerous: She's perfectly bew thing in her grea
| role. 1t is notorious that no man ever piayeS
Romeo to her Juliet without falling ia Low,
with her. Now, I'D be sorry to see you 90 OF
the stage for wife,
MARRY an actress! and at my age, Do vol
take me for foolp"
"Anythng but that, Becer. do take yo,
for whole.souled, splendid fellow, with lit
tie touch OF romance about you, impressable b.
beauty, and still more alive to grace and talent
and l really can't make up my mind to ad
dress even that glorious creature as Mrs
"Becher."
"Do talk sense, Tom. If hadn't agreed ;
play Romeo, I'd go and offer to take the pa,
now, just TO convince you how ridiculous yo
are.''
swell. all hope is that the enchantress wi
decline"
But she accepted. Becher played Romeo
shared the fate of his predecessors; was engs
ged within the month, aud married few week
afterwards.
My father spent several months with them 6
their country-seat. He was charmed with Mr.:
Becher, in whom, he said, he could not detes
tue slightest trace of an actress. And the ma
rage, my father told us, seemed TO have bee
eminently fortunate, though up to that time the
had no children.
In the sequal they had several children. NJ
Becher, eight years later, was created bar
, net, lived thirty years with his wife, and WI
succeeded, in 1850, by their son, Sir Hem
Wrixen Becher, the present baronet Lad
Beecher died only last winter, loved and mourl
ed by friends and dependents, having survive
her husband more than twenty years II ROBE
, Dale Osen IN Atlantic Monthlyl