Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-20
Daily Asnuebee SournaL
CHARLES MATHEWS rOwER OF PER.
s0NATI0y.

Mrs Mathews tells sons extraordinary snec-
dotes Of her husbands powers Of personatlon on
the stage, which were 60 marvellous that he could,
without change of dress, assume character so
completely TO deceive his most intimate irends:
Ihe parsonage thus assumed went bg the name oil
Mr. Pennymsn once he was expelled from behind
the scenes Of the Liverpool Theatre, where he
was acting at the time, as an intrusive 81 anger.
More than once he played OF the same TICK IN
the green room of Drury Lane am est his brother
actors, without his iden iiy being suspected. To-
deed, the ecceptricities of thi. suPposltOus gen
tlemsn became so celebrated. that one night the
Duchess of Devoushire came from her box into
the green-room to have peep at him. tie sat
down beside her. entered into convcrst ion, com
plimented her upon her beauty, while sbe was
all the lime convulsed with laughter. No one
knew who he was or whence he ctme, bnt as tue
habitues of the theatre had the eniree be AMI the
scenery at the time, stranger more or less wa
not remarkable. As no gentleman, unless be
were performing in the plsv, permitted 10
enter the geeen-ro, m except in evening dress The
costume afforded 70 guide to his detection:
mo one" to continue IN the writers own
words, could tell how the gentleman got adj
mittapce and therefore there was no mode OF
excluding tin. Eve,y night he alta acted incon-
venient numbers TO the green-room; and on the
mig hts when my husband perforated 1t was "A
matter of much regret to the performers mat
Mathews always came to the theatre too early or
too late to see a subject whom he OF all others
ought TO see il was. really surprising that no
suspicion arose of the truth. How long this in
posture lasted forgot, but it was at length re
vesled by the imDostor himself. Ole night, ~ the
midst Of greater excitement than was usually
created by him, be suddesly stood before the as
sembled crowd as Mr.. Mathews. A set of village
clowns or a group OF children gazing at the
mouptebank at q fair. could not have expressed
more wonder, nav, something approaching TO ter
ror. when the imperceptible change took place,
than was manifested in the features Of all
around"
When Goodwin was writing Cloudesley he wrole
to Mathews the following letter:
Ny DEAR SIR; ! am at tbi. moment engaged
In wiring work Of fiction, part OF the Incl Tents
of which consist In escapes in di.guises IL has
forcihly ST. uch me that If icoud be INDUCED in
the pleasure Of half an hours conversation with
you upon the subject 1t would furnish mo with
some hints, &C.
A day was appointed for him 10 dine at Mat
hew's house, and the great mimic gave him ocu-
lar demonstration Of the possibilities of disgui e.
By and BY, while Goodwin was wrspt "in The
wonder ont" there entered M eccentric gentle
man, q ncighbor.
1--WE are embarrassed" to continue in Mrs.
Mathews words, "aud Mr.. Goodwin evidently
vexed at the interruption. However. there was
no help for il, the servant had admitted him, and
he as introduced in form to Mr. Godwlu. The
moment Mr.. jenkins, for such was hi, name, ois.
covered the distinguished person he had dropped
upon, he was enthus aslicaly pleased at the event
talked to Mr. Goodwin about all his works, in
qured about the forth coming book-in fact,
bored him through ard through. At last the
thor turned to my husband for refuge, and dis
covered that he had left The room. He therefore,
rose from his seat, and approached the window
leading to the lawn, Mr.. jenkins oticIonsly fol-
lowing, and insisting upon opening II for him, and
while he was urging provoking obslioate lock,
the object OF his devoted attention waited behind
him for release. The easement at length flew
open, and Mr.. Goodwin passing the gentleman
with devoted look of thanks, found TO his aston
ishment that Mr.. jenkins had disappeared aud
that Mr. Mathews stood in his place Tempts
Bar.