Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-28
Marrying an Actress.

IL the winter Of 1S1S-19, says a writer
in the July atlantic, party of bright and
lovely young people mad assembled to
spend the season of Christmas fcstivity at
a spacious old country seat not far from
Dublin. Several Of them, ladies as well
as gentlemen, had already acted crcdita-
bly, on the amateur stage, so they fitted
out a large hall as theater, and got up
several standard comedies in "a manner
that elected hearty applause. Encour-
aged by this success, they thought they
might manage one Of Shakespeare's
tragedies, and their choice fell on Romeo
and Juliet" They succeeded in casting
all the characters except One-that Of
inlet herself. 1t was offered to several
young ladies in succession, but they all
persstently refused, fearing to attempt so
arduOus part In this dilemma some
one suggested an expedient. Miss
O'Neill, then in the zenith of ner fame,
was an actress Of unblemished reputa-
ton, most ladyIike in demeanor and emf
nent talent, whom | once saw as Juliet
She was then regarded, justly | imagine,
as the most perfect Interpreter of Shake
speare's embodiment of fervid passion
and devotion in the daughter of Capulet,
that had ever appeared on the London
boards her singular beauty admirably
seconding her rare powers, and turning
the heads of half the fashionable Young
men of the day. She was universally re-
spected, was often admitted to the best
society, and had several times assisted at
private theatricals.
1t so happened that she was then in
Dublin, and for the time without an en-
gagement The proposal was to write her
and ask her, on her own terms, to take the
part of JuIiet. This was eagerly acceded
to, and Il letter forwarded accordingly
The part of R0ne0 had been assigned to
gentleman of fortune and family, Mr.
Beecher, of Ballygibben, County Cork;
jeat1ae e.1core, as the French say, for he was
still on the right side of forty, and excel
ING all his companions in histrionic talent
To him, as soon as the invitation had been
given, came one Of his intimate friends.
"Beecher," said he, take Iny advice be
fore it is too late. Throw up the part of
Ron9e0. | dare say some one else can be
found to take it,"
Back out of the part, and why, pray?
DO you think my acting is not worthy to
support Miss O'NeilVs?'
You act only 100 WELL my good fellow,
and identify yourself only too perfectly
with the characters you undertake. |
know Miss O'Neill well; there can't be
better girl, but she's dangerous. She's
perfectly bewitching in her great role. 1t
is notorious that no man ever PLAYED
Ronseo to her Ju}iet without falling in
love with her, Now I'd be sorry to see
you go to the stage for a wife"
Marry an actress? and at my age? Do
you take me for fool?"
"Anything but that, Beecher I do take
YOU for whole-souled, splendid fellow,
with a little touch of romance about him,
lmpressible by beauty, and still more alive
to grace and talent, and | really can't
make up my mind to address even that
glorious creature as Mrs. Beecher.'"
"Do talk sense, Tom. If hadn't agreed
to play Romeo, I'd 90 and offer to take the
part now, just to convince you how ridic-
ulOus you are
"Well, all hope is that the enchantress
will decline"
But she accepted. Beecher PLAYED
Romeo, shared the fate of his predecessors.
was engaged within the month, and mar
rled few weeks afterwards. Nv father
spent several days with them at their
country seat. He was charmed with Mrs,
Beecher, in whom, he said, he could not
detect the slightest trace of the actress
And the marriage, my father told us,
seemed to be eminently fortunate, though
up to that time they had no children In
the sequel they had several children Mr.
Beecher, eight years later, was created
baronet, lived thirty years with his wife,
and was succeeded in 1850 by their son,
Sir Henry Wrixen Beecher, the present
baronet: Lady Beecher died only last
winter, loved and mourned by friends and
dependents, having survived her husband
more than twenty wears