The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-05-15
The Wife of Macready.

In his book of "reminiscences, jus
published, the actor Macready describe
at length the circumstances which lie
to his acquaintance with the exceller
young actress who afterward becam
his wife, which are not without touc
of romance. During an engagement a
Glasgow, on the night of his benefit,
pretty little girl, about nine years O
age, was sent on at very short notice t.
act the part of one of the children il
the "Hunter of the Alps" She wa
imperfect in the words she had t.
speak, having had no time to lear
them. Not being aware of this, Mac
ready gave her a good scolding which
cost her many tears. Their next meet
ing was as follows:
| Dressing and breakfasting at Mon
trose reached Aberdeen about noon
where 1 saw my name announced il
the playbills for Richard III. as pass
| ed from my hotel to the theatre. Two
young girls were walking up and dowr
the stage, apparently waiting for the
business of the morning to begin. One
the managers daughter, was common
looking persons; the other. plain but
neatly dressed, was distinguishable fol
peculiar expression of intelligence and
sprightly gentleness. She rehearsed
with great propriety the part of the
prince of Wales, and was introduced to
me by the manager at my Virginia fol
the next nights play. On the follow.
ing morning she came an hour before
the regular summons to go through
the scenes of Virginia and receive my
instructions. She was dressed in q
closely fitting tartan frock, which show
81 % ,ak
ry of her sylph-like figure. just de-
would have been guessed more, but
She might have been Virginia. The
beauty Of her face was more in its ex-
preston than in feature, though no
want of loneliness was there. Her re-
hearsals greatly pleased me, her acting
being so much in earnest. There was
a native grace in her department and
every movement, and never we're inno-
cence and sensibility more sweetly per-
sonifed than in her mild look and
speaking eyes, streaming with unbidden
tears. 1 soon learned her little history;
she was the support of her family, and
was the same little girl whom had
rebuked some years before for supposed
inattention at the Glasgow theatre.
My engagement with Mr.. Ryder was
for three weeks, divided between the
towns of Aberdeen. Montrose, Dundee,
and Perth ; and as the same plays were
repeated by the same performers, my
opportunities of conversation with this
interesting creature were very frequent,
which, as they occurred, I grew less
and less DESTROYS of avoiding. Her
strong good sense and unaffected warmth
of feeling received additional charms
from the perfect artlessness with which
she ventured her opinions. The inter
est with which 1 regarded her per-
suaded myself was that of an older
friend, and partook of paternal char
acter. ALI the advice my experience
could give her in her professional
studies she gratefully accepted and
skiilfully applied, showing an aptness
for improvement that increased the
Partially she had awakened in me. I
could have wished that one SO purely
and 80 naturally gifted had been
placed in some other walk of life but
all that might be in my power or her
I resolved to do. On the
last night of my engagement at Perth,
[ sent for her into my room, and pre-
senting her with the handsomest shawl
1 could procure in Perth, babe her
farewell, desiring her, if at any time
my influence or aid in any way could
serve her, to apply to me without hest
tation, and assuring her she might rely
on always finding ready friend in me.
As I gazed upon her innocent face
beaming with grateful smiles, the wish
was in my heart that her public career
might expose her to no immodest ad-
vances to disturb the serenity or sully
the purity of her unspotted mind. My
way lay far away from her, but her
image accompanied me in my southwark
journey, and may say, indeed, never
after left me"
The engagement did not take plac
until two or three years afterwards
Up to that time Macready had cherished
a deep interest in the young lady, had
given her no small amount of excellent
advice, but as yet mo- word of love had
passed between them. Still their affec-
ton for each other was no less deep for
not being delirious.
During my absence on the CONT
nent the young actress. Miss Atkins,
whose innocence and beauty had made
a deep impression on me, had removed
with her family to Dublin, where her
talents were appreciated, and were in
the course of successful development.
Our correspondence continued there,
and became more frequent and more
intimate. A sudden and heavy calaml-
~ befell her in the death of her father
and brother, who were drowned with
most of the passengers in the Liverpool
packet, wrecked through the miscon-
duct of the captain, in a calm sea. at
midday, on the Skerries rocks. Such a
disaster could not fail to weigh with
most depressing influence on her spirits,
and to draw forth the tenderest express
sions of sympathy and coincidence from
me. The actual state of my feelings l
could no longer conceal from myself.
[ INDUCED i'll the pleasing dream that
my interest in this young creature was
limited to friendly and paternal solicit
tude for her welfare and professional
and now awoke to the
conviction that love was
the inspiration of all the counsel and
I had rendered her. This
disclosure was no longer withheld from
her; her answer to my declarations and
proposals was acquiescence in all my
views, and under her mothers sanction
it was settled between us that our mar
riage should take place as soon as pos
sible compatibly with the arrangements
With which I was bound. 1t is but
simple Justice to her beloved memory
20 repeat the truth that although in a
worldly sense might have formed a
nole advantageous connection, could
not have met with qualities to compare
With the fond affection, the liveliness
md simple worth that gave happiness
o SO many years of my life"
SWALLOWED ONE KNIFE Too MANY.
The case is mentioned of an Ameri- |
,an sailor who died in Guys Hospital,
London, n post-mortem examinatioA of
whose body showed that his disease
vas due to his repeated exploits of
swallowing knives, from the effects of
which he bad been sick for three years.
The first time he swallowed fourteen
Knives, became sick, but recovered, and
TO