The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-31

for execution, and he began to answer:
"Ah! but to die and go we know not
where!" he tainted, and shortly after
ward died before he could be carried from
the stage.
Samuel Foote was seized with paralysis,
in 1777, while acting in his comedy, "The
Devil Upon Two Sticks" He rallied,
spent the summer at Brighton, and was
ordered by his physicians to France. But
at Dover he was seized with shivering
fit while at breakfast, and breathcd his
last in the course of the afternoon, Oct. 21,
1777.
Edmund Kcan, too, may lie said to have
died in armor. He appeared for the last
time as Othello, and, in the passage be-
ginning: 80, now, forever, farewell,
the tranquil mind! Farewell, content'''
his articulation gradually died away, and
he whispered to his son: "Speak to
them, Charles, I am DYING
A more recent instance may be men
toned in the case of Harley, whose last
words marked his identity with the old
Shakespearian drolls. Though not actual,
ly dying on the stage, he was conveyed
from the theater in state OF insensb'ity,
after playing Launcelot Gobbo, when be-
quoted B0tto1n's words: 81 have an expo
sition of sleep come over me-, and from
that moment remained spcechless to tho
end
Poor Clara Webster was fatally burned
on the stage of Drury Lane Theater dur
ing the ballet; while old play -gocrs may
remember that Mrs. Glover was speech
less on the occasion of her farewell ben
eft on the 18th of July, 1850, and died on
the 10Th.
Gottschalk, the great pianist, was per-
forming his favorite composition, g. La
Morte," when he suddenly fell down dead.
Miss Maria Linley expired at Bath in
September, 1874, while singing 81 know
that my Redeemer liveth."
Cummins fell dead upon the stage June
20, 1917, while performing the part of
Dumout (Shore) in Rowe's tragedy Jane
Shore Just as he had uttered the bcnc.
dictOry words at the close of the piece:
Be witness for me. ye celestial hosts,
Accords to thee, and begs of heaven to show thee,
May such befall me at my latest hour.
Mr.. James Bland, we'll known for his
clever assumption of the monarchs in Mr.
Planche's extravaganzas, expired at the
stage door of the Strand Theater immc-
| diately after entering for the purpose of
discharging his professional duties whilst
Mr.. Barretc, a recent talented actor of old
mems parts, died in cab that was con-
veying him home, he having played in Il
farce, and being afterward dressed for
P0lOnius.
Poor James Rogers may almost be said to
have died on the stage in 1868. He continued
to exert his mirth-creating powers to the
very last, and when his powers were absO-
lutely exhausted. On the evening before
his death he had struggled through the
part of Efe Deane, in a travcstic at the
st. James Theater, and on his return he
was so completely exhausted that he was
unable to make any further effort, and
rested in an arm chair throughout the,
| night without taking his clothes off. The
next morning, fancying he had recovered
| little, he took his violin and played over
a song he was going to introduce into the
burlesque; but as the day advanced he be
came so weak, and breathed with such
difficulty, that he felt compelled to send a;
message to the theater stating that he
wife's hands, and turning to friend, he
said, with feeble effort to cheer them
with smile, and in his peculiarly charac-
teristic manner, "The little rattle is over
and soon after expired. TIE last words
suggested to Mr.. f. l.: Blanchard the fol-
lowing lines:
These were the last words flowing
Forth from The actors BREATH
| The jester who to lifes story
In the ear Of the Extraordinarily.
1.-The Rattle of Life soon over
| And though others a chance renew,
The blanks still go to the many,
The prizes fall to the few.
| "Rafle the dice! Who's highest?
| Come take your turn for Il throw:
| Perchance you may tuln up the highest,
Perchance You may get but the low.
I'VE throw. but il-fortune may battle
The hand and the hope and the rye;
With chance for us all in the Rattle,
The only thing sure is the die"
Similar cases are not at all uncommon.
| Hughes died on hearing of the success of
his play, 1.-THE Siege of Damascus;' and
more than one Roman tragcdian is report
ed to have died on the stage.-Errha"g".