The New York herald., 1877-10-25
OBITUARY..
GEORGE L. Fox.


"Humpty Dumpty" is dead Tho children's friend.
the most comical Of clowns, the genial, amusing
mimic has forever stepped from the stage OF life.
During tho height OF his prosperity hts pantomimlc
ability was almost as much matter OF competition
among managers as tho voice OF tho prima donna and
the talent OF the high tragedan. Thousands OF our
youth will mourn his loss An afternoon or evening
performance witnessed, wherein his droll phrases
and facial absurdties were the principal fca-
lures, something TO be remembered and dis
cusscd among tho little ones for months aferward-
HIS peculiar whio face, cracking voice. Keen glance,
lghtncss foot his facility Tor comforting his body
all kinds OF fantastic and ridiculous shapes and
positions; his manner Of rolling the stage; his
mimicry OF men, animals, machines-al attracted
and pleased tho old and young forming his
audiences HIS loss cannot sbo easily estimated.
IL was hoped that tho cloud which had
shaded his mind for the past two years would
eventually pass away, leaving tho old clown at least
the sccontrol necessary to resume Lis iormer role
II he so desired. But not TO be. He died yes
tcrday afternoon at the residence Of his brothcr-i-
iaw George C. Howard. No. S2G Main street, Cam
BRIDGE Mass, aged ftytwo years, three months and
twenty one days His death was very peaceful, and
he recognized his friends u short limc previous.
George l.. Fox was born III Boston IN the year 1875,
AT the early aye OF nve years madc his first ap-
peaIarce on the Stage o. the Trcmout street Theatre
OF his native city, Quo OF tho children in rhc
Hunter OF the Alps" Mr.. Charles Kcan playing
nm engagement ihere at The tlmo and u was on the
OF that distinguished actors benefit that tho
future Grimadi OF the American stage was introduced
to. the pubiic. Commencing thus early, It may
DO almost said of that he
born the stage. In 1850 he came to
this city irst appearance in "rhc Demon
Of the For s' at the National Theatre, IN Chatham
sirsot As "A low comedian the young Bostonian DC,
came great favorite, especially with 'the boys,
o % ' wSs s
TO tho Olympic, or Jack Winans 10 the Bowcry,
Fox was To the Nationai. He became ''charactcr.n
HIS peculiarly m lid domcauor and wonderfully express
sivc lace made him easily recognizable, but lew
people would expect TO mud IN The most retiring
gentleman who passed them in tho street
low comedian OF the most comic attributes IL
was during M FoX's engagement at the National
that he 6rsl entertained idea 0, undertaking pan.
tomIinic characters. The famous French pantomrn-
isis-tho kavc brothers, Antoine. Jerome and Ga-
amusing tho New Workers al Niblos Garncn, at that
one OF the most popular places Of amusement IN
the city. Mr.. Fox became an attentive student oil
their methods ana close observer Of the way in
which they put subjects ON the stage Ho had the
idea of sono day turning his knowledge TO practical
account The opportunity was shortly. Afforded him,
and he produced after the otncr some OF tho most
popular OF the Ravel panomimcS Itdocs not require
long memory TO call to mind the large painted
signs which lliumned the front of the old Ma
lona, with Mr.. Fox as tho conspicuous hgure
in the pantomimcs OF the 'Rod Gnomo," srho School
master" and .Ihe Magic PiLn Always an indcfat-
gable worker he was known on occasions to play two
comedy parts and then Ego on' and do his panto
mime He was at home on the STAGE gay frolicsome
and iunny oil II, no quiet and retiring, seeking 10
avoid rather than to court company. Fox remained
the National almort To It's close, and after leaving
the old rouse joined his fortune with that Of the late
james W. l. ngard in the Now Bowery Theatre When
tho war broke and President Lincoln called for
three months volunteers. Mr. Fox, who
lieutenant the Eighth regiment gave up tho stage
Tor the and wept with his regiment 10 the seat Of
war.
ON the 10Th OF July, 1861, he returned. and the
following night he appeared on tho stage of the New
Bowcry ana mot with hearty welcome. Differences
arising bet wecn himself and his partner Lanyard,
utter IL time Fox withdrew from New Bow
cry, and attempted 10 win Broadway reputation and
popularity In Wullacks Old Theatre near the corLer
OF Broome street and broadway. The venture proving
unsuccessful ho returned once more 10 tho cast sdc
OF toww and became manager OF the Old Bowery
Theatre Here his old popularity returned 70 him. aud
thousands throngcd the house nightly. IL during
time, and the Old Bowcry reaped rich harvest.
foN, however, Mno was iessee auo nanaseI hude
or nothing, and retired from the management almost
las poor as church mouse" Some were the gain
ers, but whoS Leaving the Bowcry again Mr.. Fox,
on the solicitation OF irend went 10 the Olympic
Theatre His success at this establishment was
marked, and no became as great tavoric at MS new
home on Broadway as he was IN his old homo in tho
Bowery. II was during the early months OF his en-
gagcment at tho olympic that he played q number
OF puresque characters. which showed him in u
new light His performance OF "HamleL' and .Riche-
cl,n IN both Of winch characters he closely followed
the "mako up" Of Edwin Booth, wore remarkable
efforts. The likeness between Mr. Booth and Nj. Fox
in Hamlet extraordinary. HIS appearance In that
character always won for hun enthusiastic aud in
general form which won for Fox tho popularity
awarded him throughout the country. was first pro
ducrd AT tho Olympic and although the panomimc has
undergone many changes since then it Is tho
main the old .'Humpty Dumpty" with
which G. l.. Fox's name Will be associated is Joc
Jenerson's with "Rlp Van Winke." Ancr leaving
tho Olympic Mr. Fox visited few Of tho principal
East aud West. his next engagement at tho
Grand opera House, where ho opened IN Bottom at
the ,imc "A Midsummer Nights Dream" pro-
duccd AT that house. He also played a number of
other .'spcaking parts' during this engagement.
.Humpty Dumptyn rcarrangcd was then produced ut
the Grand Opera House, followed by several other
pantoinimes.
When tho engagement was concluded at this house,
which, by the way, was sudden ana unexpcc ed. Mr..
Fox resolved 10 embark ON his own account in
ture at the Globe Theatre. THIS enterprise proved
fortunate ana he lett II 10 star throughout tho coun
try For the last Two years oil his lite on The stage
slant travc ling, the continual wear and tear Of his
profession. together with The loss OF his brother
Charles to whom he Was much attached,
had told upon constitution neither robust strong
helped to hasten that sad Illness which afflicted hin
during his last gagcmcnt at Booths Theatre. From
the irst night that he appeared there in "Humpty
Dumpty IN Many CImcs' 1t was painfully apparent
those VINO had known him 10 days gone by that tho
poor actor whose acting mad delighted thousands was
playing his last engagements and fast passing
It.kfv stau.f