New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
THE DlTE GEORGE CLIFFORD JORDAN.

recent announcement-which we have
heen rsluctant and slow TO credit-of tho death of
Georoe Jordan ia authenticated. This fayorite actor
,pired suddenly, at TOrquay in England, on frlhay
November Il. in the 10Th year OF his age ne was FsI
popuar at one time this country and he deserved MS
popularity That popularity indeed, rested less upon MS
ability as than upon his Characteristic graces ss
a man There was no depth in his acting. lie was not
subtle artist either in his intellectual perception ha
bumor or his treatment of character and feeling. But
he had fine person, gallant carriage OF the BODY,
richly and exhilsratng voice, and abundant AMI
mai spirits and these. combining with proficiency In
the use Of stage methods, suffced to commend MN
to general public favor A an actor ne was al
WAYS picturesque: he had the capacity OF
repose and he could starte by sudden gusts Of earnest
ness and by flashes of pictorial power. His range OF
parts was not exceptionally wide but It was consider
able and it seemed 20 he steadily growing 10 ina
brightest his American days he babe fair TO excel IN
light comedy. would have been admired by almost
everybody a. Charles Surface and indeed he acted that
part with a youthful buoyancy OF feeling and grace
ful ease OF ohand manners that we're delightful out
he could otintroduce the personatOn the essential
attribute Of Inherent gentleness His Chares SwIaoe
was too much o man-ofthe-word whom the world had
spoiled There a lack OF fneness In the hoef Oh tho
character This ran through the whole Of his acting.
and often spoiled its flavor. II was ike excess OF
perfume upon the garments OF beau or like too much
Glove in a sauce At certain times, though. IT became
a mer-as It was. for example, when he acted Capla"
Harksiey IN "sull Waters" This part no acted per
fectly we'll Wa do recall actor who has rivsied
him In this embodiment Of cool, propusve dlpomiue'
geneered and underlined dupicity II was the part
that he liked best to represent in the old daysas We
have often heard him say: and yet there nothing
akin with IT, in his nature excepting the vanity.
the love OF display, and the manoftheworld nonchs
lance. These he possessed. But he was amiable ana
JOYOUS temperament; the impulses OF his heart were
generous; and mind that under happier ex
perience than fell his or, would hayei rpened into
serious aspiration and moral dignity He was fondy
devoted to profession Of the stage and In earnest
moments. he used TO talk Of 1t with tho enthusiasm OF
an impetnous boy Thele must have come a tine.
under right auspices when he would nave
discarded tho pettness and prettiness incident 70 his
estate OF Handsome George" and aimed at high and
genuine achievements. Perhaps that time came during
his last years IN England For long while he had been
acting PygmaIion and Phidmir-n Mr.. W. ). GIberts
Pygmaion and Galatea" and Palace of Truth'-and
he had won honest respect and admiration from British
paygoers and British critics These successes denote
development Of better and higher elements IN what
will long be remembered-by those who knew INN wen
as lovable nature. His career however, has been
cut meridian OF laborious activity and Just
had reached its best of sunghted culture and ef
Portland he passes away without leaving mark that
will last. He had been upon the stage for upward 1
twenty-five years In boyhOod he learned the trade or
printing IN Baltimore whore he was born. HIS first
professional appearance made at the Baltimore Ma
scum, then managed BY Mr.. John L. owens. He
next heard OF At the Walnut Street Tneater. Pbadel
pba and July &c, S4s he BurtOn's Cham
beers Street Theater ID NewYork acting the Chspaiier
I'm The Angel OF the Attic" His rise the NewYOrk
stage wac rapid; but az we have intfmated, it was
growth in popular acceptance rather than growth
artist One OF this is read In the fact that
his name is associated, "reminiscences, with only
,arta TIts in Spplr
was one OF his best personations-as indicative OF
source and versatility. He showed signal and genuine
talents. also in his Sir Bernard H1rLetgh IN Dreams
of Deluson." and his Raphael in The Marble Heart"
These among his best successes, when at Laura
Keenes Varieties the Winter Garden
in 1855 With that actress he associated for consd
cradle tImeand it a notable coincidence that he
vved her only days and that be survived another
Of his old companions, the late A. H. Davenport only
twenty-throc days. In 1853 he played a particularly
brilliant engagement at the Howard Atheneum in Bos
ton, under the management Of Jacob Barrow who had
OF the brilliant companies formed in this
couutry-though 1t did not last long. Henry Walack
John Brougham. George Jordan, John L. Owens James
Bennett, Mrs. Barrow, and Charlotte Thompson-with
many more-were members Of this combination. 10
IssO-6l upon the eve OF the Civil War. Mr.. Jordss
was acting at the Varieties Theater, New-Orleans
and he there avowed himself partisan Of the
Southern cause, and joined what was termed
tied IN England and there the current OF mis- life has
since flowed onto the and dark that at last
ingulfs ALL His first London appearance made In
1861 at the Prncess Theater when he acted
Herbert Wareriy in John Broughams comedy OF Play.
ing with Fire" He afterward engaged at Mr..
Lyceum. In 1866 he came TO NewY York, and
acted Edgar tie Master or Rarenssood at the Olympic
Theater; but he failed to attract anything like the
old public interest and he returned to England. HIS
last appearances in this country made In company
with Miss Bateman In 1869 The last part that he acted
in New-York George Wdrner--whch seen ~
Taylors prison drama OF Mary Warner" first pro
tuced In this country. He twice married and twice
divorced. His wives Annie Walters and Emily
JOrdan-both actresses OF consequence IL Is. per
haps needless say that his married life very ms
erabe The fact however is not to be- left out Of
ust estimate OF his artistic Had fate been kinder
10 him, George Jordan might have lived to catch the
mantle OF Lester wallack and to absorb and carry
hose legends OF od-comedy- acting which slowly
but surely dying away from our stage As 1t was, be
suffered shipwreck and thereafter he drifted through
hill waters Of misfortune and pain. to shores OF
oblivion. There actors who may learn useful
essen from life There are friends to whom his sud
sn death will not fail TO come u solemn warning:
" Like clouds that sweep the mountain summit
Or waves that own no curbing hand,
so last has Brother followed brother.
From sunlight To the sunless land"