The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-18
Recent Publications.

PERSONAL REMINIsCENCEs BY O'EEEFFE, KELLY
AND TAYLOR. The Eeighth of the Brio a-Brac
Series. New York: Scribner, Armstrong, s. Co.
For sale by Loring Short g. Harmon.
The eighth of the Bric-a. .Brac is scarcely as
entertaining as the volumes which went before.
The editor tells US that the biographies and au-
photographers of actors are in general dull and
tedious. The poorest of them however contain
some good things, and Mr.. Stoddard has quick
eye for these. The present volume contains the
anecdotal substance of three notable books:
Recolec.ions of the Life of John O'Keeffe'
written by Himself; "reminiscences of Michael
Kelly. of the Kings Theatre; and Records of
My Life. by John Taylor.
O'Keeffe was an Irishmap, born in Dublin in
1747. He was designed for painter, but early
became interested in the drama. He drifted
to London, and at the age Of eighteen brought
out a comedy in five acts, entitled ''The Gen.
erous Lovers" 1t does not appear to have met
with much success, but subsequent venture
Tony Lumpkin in Town." sort of sequel TO
Goldsmith's, ''She Stoops to Conquer" was
received with more favor and brought the au-
thor some money, and considerable reputation.
This success determined his career, and up to
his death in 1888, he wrote no less than sixty
eight plays, the best known of which is the
fve-act comedy of "wild OATS" OF course
in his experience he picked up many enter
tanning stories of theatrical life Some of them
may be mentioned. Knipe, who was fond of
good living. fonnd himself in the supper scene
in "High Life Below Stairs" with good roast
fowl and bottle of wine before him. He
stuck his fork into the fowl-it was piece of
painted timber. He filled his glass, and found
the contents anything but wine. "Hap' said
he with frown at the economical property.
man, 'instead of our bottle and our bird, here
is fine subject for: landscape painter,
acood and aoater.'' Vandermeer was at
one time engaged in Dublin with
Sparkes, capital comedian, and particularly
correct in keeping to the words of his author
Sparkes had long, bushy gray eyebrows, that
stuck out One night be- was doing Justice
Gripus in Dryden's "Amphitryon. Wander!
meer, always inclined to pranks, played Mer-
curry, aud had, in the course of the business, to
take Justice by the ear, and give him a shak-
ing. Instead of that he laid hold of Sparkes's
eyebroacs. and kept pulling them, while the
poor Justice roared out in Dryden's exact
words, "Will you never leave Juggling me by
the ears?'
Michael Kelley was born in Dublin in 1852
He early devoted himself to music, and at the
age of nineteen made his debut in Florence.
In 1887 he established himself in England,
where his career was like that of the profession
generally. He was considered a good singer
and his musical compositions were greatly in
demand. He died in 1926. In the course of
his life he met and learned to know intimately
many men of whom the world will not easily
tire of hearing. Among these was Mozart.
Kelly describes Mozart as a remarkably small
man, very thin and pale, with profusion Of
fine fair hair, of which he was rather vain,
He was fond of punch, billiards, and dancing,
and doubtless would be regarded with some
suspicion did he live in Maine to-day. Kelley
consulted him in regard to studying counter
| point, but the great composer dssuaded him,
saying, Melody is the essence of music. L
compare good melodst to fire racer, and
counterpontists to hack post-horses. BE ad-
vised, let well alone, and remember the prov
erb, Who knows most knows least" Kelley
| met Paesello the music teacher OF Catherine
| of Russia. Paesielo told him that one time he
/ was struck on the ear by Russian Marshal
| In return he gave the Marshal a sound dru5-
| bing and was complained of to the empress.
Catherine dismissed the complaint and rebuked
the officer, saying, sit is in my power, Sir, tc
| make fifty marshals, but not one Paesello. y
| As the same story is told of Henry VIII an5