The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-06-26
Marryiog a1 Actress.

In the winter of 1slS-l9 party Of bright
and lovely young people had assembled, to
spend the period Of Christmas festivity at
spacious old country seat not very far from
Dublin. Several of them, ladies IS well ~
gentlemen. had already acted creditably on
the amateur stage, 20 they fitted out large
hall as theater, and got up several standard
comedies in a manner that elected hearty
applause. Encouraged BY this success, they
thought they might manage one Of Shakes
peare's tragedies; and their choice fell on
Romeo and Juliet. They succeeded in cast
ing all the characters except one, that Of
Juliet herself 1t was offered 70 several
young ladies in succession; but they all per-
sistently refused, fearing to attemps 80 srdu-
Gus q part. In this dilemma some one
suggested an expedient. Miss O'Neill,
then in the zenith Of her fame, was an actress
Of unblemished reputation, most lady like de-
meanor. and eminent talent, whom l once
Jaw ~ Juliet. She was then regarded,
Justly imagine, as the most perfect inter-
prefer of Shakespeare embodiment OF fervid
passion and devotion in the daughter OF
Cspulet that had ever appeared on the
London boards; her singular beauty ad-
mirably ssconding her rare powers, and
turning the heads of half the fashionable
young men OF the day. She was universally
respected, was often admitted to the best 80
ciety, and had several times assisted at pri-
vate theatricals.
1t 40 happened that she was in Dublin,
and, for the time, 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 eagerly acce,led
to, and letter dispatched accordingly.
The part of Romeo had been assigned to
a gentleman Of fortune and family, Mr..
Becher Of Ballygibben, County Cork; jerae
encore. a. the French say, for he was still on
the right side of forty. and excelling all his
companions in histrionic talent. TO him,
az soon as the invitation had been given,
came one of his intimate friends. "Becher,"
said he, "take my advice before II lie too late. |
Throw up the part of Romeo. l dare say
some one else can be ionnd to take il"
"Bsck out of the part? And why, pray ?
Do you think nv acting il not worthy to
support Miss o Neilp.:"
"You act only too we'll, my good fellow, |
and identify yourself only too perfectly with
the characters you undertake. know Mis- |
O Neill we'll; there can't be . better girl,
but she's dangerous. She's perfectly he |
witching in her great role. II IL notorious |
that no man ever played Romeo to her |
Juliet without falling in love with her. |
Now I'd be sorry to zee you go to the stage |
for a wife"
Marry an actress and at my age Do
yOn ta::e me for fool p
"Anytb.ng but that, Becher. ! do take |
you for wfo;e-souled splendid fellow, with |
a little touch Of r,mance about him impress
sible BY beauty, an! ell more alive to grace |
and talent, and really can't make up my |
mind to address even thai glorious creature
az Mrs 'Recher.'"
''Do talk sense. Tom. II hads't agreed |
to play Romeo, I'd 60 and offer to take the |
part nov, just to convince yon how r:o;cu-
lon. you are"
"Well, all hope is that the enchantres
will decline"
But she accepted. Becher played Romeo,
shared the fate of his predecessors vas en-
gagged within the month, and married few
weeks afterwards.
Nv father spent several days with them at
their country-seat. He was charmed With
Mrs. Becher, in whom he said he could not
detect the slightest trace of the actress. And
the marriage, my father told us, seemed to
have been eminently fortunate, though up to
that time they had no children.
In the sequel they Rad several children.
Mr.. Becher, eight years later. was created q
baronet, lived thirty years With his wife, and
was succeeded, in 1850, by their son, Sir
henry Wrixon Becher, the present baronet.
Lady Becher died last winter. loved and
mourned BY friend. and dependents; having
survived her husband more than twenty
Daie Ocen IN July Adant.c.