The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-15
VOLUME XII.
ROMANCE OF THE STAGE.
TRAGEDY WHICH DEPRIVED ONE
PERSON OF LIFE AND ANOTHER OF
REASON.

| n TRAGEDY WHICH DEfhlN Ed oN
PERSON OF LIFE AND ANOTHER o
REASON.
A few days ago | happened TO pic
up scrap of New York paper whic
contained a paragraph to the efiec
that one Julian Cook, formerly a
actor, died in an insane hospital, afte
restraint of two and twenty years.
remember him well as second juvenil
man in old Eagle Street Theater, il
Buffalo, then under the management
of Messrs. Barr & Warren, of who's
company l was at that time member
And the unfortunate circumstance
which deprived the poor fellow of hi
reason are as fresh in my memory
after the lapse of so many years, as i
they TRANSFERRED but Yesterday.
. 1t was the last night of the engage
ment ofthat erratic and talented woman
who. like a meteor, flew with such
dazzling brilliancy around the world
delighting countless thousands both in
Europe and America; ruling at one
time with more than queenly sway the
King, Court and people of Bavaria,
and anon flying for her life before an
infatuated populaee; feted and fattered
by the nobility of Paris; creating a
wonderful sensation in Australia, and
finally sinking into obscurity, degrade
ton and the grave, in small mining
town in California. This was Lola
Montez, Countess of Landsfeldt.
1t was the last night of the old
Eagle. The morning disclosed trans
formation. The stately old building
had. become a chaotic mass of black
and smoking ruins. 1t was the gen
eral belief that Lola Montez caused
the destruction of the theater, which
deprived one person of life and an
other of reason, and every member of
the company of more or less personal
effects. But it was mere supposition,
taking color from the fact that she had
quarreled with the managers, and had
spitefully remarked, !" / wish your old
theater would burn down before morn
ing" 1t did burn down before morn
ing, but let us impute its burning to an
accident rather than to any act of that
peculiar woman who, with all her
faults, had so many, many virtues,
whose hand never refused relief to the
and needy, and who con-
tributed SO munifcently to the various
charitable institutions throughout the
world.
Our company was composed of ladies
and gentlemen of sterling abilities,
some Of whom are still before the pub
lie. Julian was our second juvenile,
4 young man of fine scholarly attain
nents, and an actor of great promise;
put he was also a jolly dog, fond of a
ark, always in debt, bills and duns
brewer staring him in the face, iqui-
hating demands on his empty purse
With a few funny stories, and dismiss
ng his creditors with such puculiar
grace that they felt perfectly content
% wait any indefinite time, sliiting the
of the pleasing young
lctor.
But change came over him, and for
everal months he had conducted him.
elf In the most exemplary manner.
BE had confded his heart to another's
Keeping, and was beloved tenderly and
ruly in return. The cause of this
alutary change was a beautiful and
accomplished girl, occupying the posi-
ion of danse,tse in the company. Poor
Mabel Kindall! hers was sad fate.
1t was Saturday night; large and
audience had retired,
fter witnessing the novel terpsichorean
by Lola and her cory
'hees. The performers had all left
or their respective lodgings, with the
reception of Mabel (who was delayed |
onger than usual, arranging and pack
ng her costume), Julian and the night |
Tatchman. The lights were all extin-
uished, but the large lamp over the |
tage door, and the one in MabePs |
ressing-room, which was situated on |
he o. P. side, in the proscenium and |
yer the tier of private boxes. Itwas
n out-ofthe-way room, and none but |
label (who preferred being alone) was
Wiling to dress in it.
A lumber-roem for the storage of
"props" and "set was on
he ely" gallery. and in close proxim-
" to the young lady's dressing-room. |
his lumber-room was full of light and |
nfammable material, kept under lock
nd key, and very rarely entered. Jul
an was sitting on the step of the stage
oor, waiting to escort Mabel home.
he night watch was impatiently pacing
p and down the stage, and all was as
reary as a theater invariably is when
8 seats are vacant and its many lights
xtinguished.
Julian had just risen to his feet, call
~ to Mabel to make haste, when a
lid shrek and a sudden illumination
the theater nearly paralyzed him
18th an overwhelming sense of danger.
.ushing wildly on the stage, where he
ould command view of the situation,
e beheld most appalling sight. The
was on fire, and there, in
ne door oe her dressing-room, like
ableau of despair, white and notion
IS as statue, stood Mabel.
|
Seeing at once that the only sure
,eans OF escape was by her jumping
rom the gallery, Julian placed himself,
4 conjunction with the Waterman, in
osition after the manner of acrobats,
eady to receive her, and cried to her
D jump but she was like one in a
rance; the horror of the situation had
eprived her of the power of motion.
The fire by this time was devouring
he flies, which extented above and
cross the stage, and thesrigging aloft,
ill higher up, was one Kissing, crack
ng canopy of fame. Fierce red
,ngues were licking the rail along the fly
allery to the proscenium, closing the
My opening of escape to the unfortu-
ate girl. Julian finding that she was
eaf to his cries, determined to save or
erish with her, and dashed madly up
he stairs leading to the fly gallery. The
re alarm had been sounded through