Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-29
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page,
WASHINGTON CITY:
WDNISDAY.......y January %, 1878.


The burning of the " National" Theater yes
terday for the third time calls up, among old
thester gOers, many "reminiscences OF that
classic Thespian ground. The first managers
of the National Theater of this city were Messrs.
haywood, Pratt and Rowbotham, and their
opening night was a great ssccess-Mr. May
wood performing the part of :" Sir PertinaI
MacSycOyhant," in the " Man Of the World, ;"
Is IL has never been here since. The company
may be judged by the merit of its members
Many OF us recollect Cline, with his Roman nose
snd stylish mode ofthe genteel comedy. Rodgers
did the heavy business, and a most villainous-
booking villain he was. His wife, also in the
samc company, was one Of the best tragic
actresses Of the time, Z" star or otherxise
Lame little Dwight was the comedian
and in such characters as :. Saueers, -
in . Eickleby," he had no equal
Airs. knight, after Mrs. Aossop Wa the most
pIquant Of chambermaids. Thin, pert, and
sparkling, her bright style was that of Agnes
Robertson when Agnes ,easnt Mrs. Bourcicault
Peter Riehings was also i'm the company. Mr..
Thomas Ward, a very gentiemanly and gener-
Gus Englishman, was stage manager, but as
IN actor his role was limited to two parts, Par
mer Ashland in "Speed the Piough,~ and
Newman Noggs," in "Nicholas NickeIby."
As the latter his performance was as perfect Is
Owens Unit OF Jefferson's Grip"
Charles Burke-'Our Charley'-as he was
lovingly styled here, appeared while Bur-
ton was manager, and brought out Putnam"
which made great hit with Charley Is the
Yankee militia captain of the Squash Neck
Blues. Towards the close of the same season
Burton brought out "Beauty and the Beast
and while he was on the stage a. the Beast
about nine O'Clock, during the performance,
the theater took fire, and in an hour was
ruin.
The first National was one of the finest
theaters in the country. We have had nothing
Of itscomforts or its elegant appointments since,
and only occasionally stock company that will
compare with the first. In those DAYS the the
strical ornament was Illuminated by Edwin
Forrest, in his prime, when he could indeed
''make Rome howl Burton, afterwards 80
stout, was then too thin to play "Aminidab
Sleek but in the Mummy -. Paul PRIV - and
John JOnes"-John Jones of the War Office
he was irresistible. Joe COwell as s'Crack" and
Eberle one of the 'sTwo DromiOs'' will be re-
msmbercd with gusto.
Shortly after the first destruction of the Ma
tional by fire, Burke began his successful career
IN the little Adelphi Theater, now Youngs
coach shop, on Pennsylvania avenue, near Az
street, in the company of Browne & Nichols,
and as ''Mose," in the Glance at New York
With Fanny La Roche As ssLize," he made a
great hit. At that time he originated the pre-
sent Rip Van Wrinkle of Jefferson. who also
truly asserted of Burke that he had the finest
genius for comedy of that day. Burke and joe
Jefferson were half-brothers, both being scions
of the famous Jefferson stock of actors. Burke,
who has been dead some years, had more origi-
nality than jefferson, but not the cultivated
powers of bis half-brother, who vet holds the
stage a perhaps the finest performer in his line
now living.