The New York herald., 1877-10-29
OBITUARY.
ADAMS. TIE ACTOR.

Mrs. Gardner and MRS. Jarvis of Boston, a cousin OF
Mr.. Adams, were present At the moment OF dissolu-
tion Mrs. Adams was lying upon sofa and Mr. Gard
ner held the dying actor in his So peace fui
and quiet were his last that his wifo did not
know Of his death until Mr. Gardner laid the mani
mate body down upon the bed.
The announcement long expected has at last come.
Death had lost Its terrors eternity doubtless be-
camo welcome exchange for tho suGerings he on
dured. Yet In parting with life and to him its many
pleasant associations, he permitted to realize tho
worth OF true friendship; that he had not lived alto
geher In vain. and was leaving behind memories fresh,
green ana monumental la the language Of a lady
member Of his profession It was but
One of tho heart strings yearning look
AZ faces he loved. and the great Judgment Book
Lay open before him.
Dickens somewhere makes one OF his characters
say:-"Whcn he had walked rivers brink In the
peaceful moonlight for some half hour no put his
hand in his breast tenderly out handful OF
Perhaps he put them to his heart; perhaps he
put them to his lips; but certainly no bent down on
the shore and gently launched them the flowing
river. Pale and unreal in the moonlight, the river
foated them away. And thus do greater things that
in breasts and hearts low
from to the eternal aeasn II was 30 with poor
Ned Adams He diod in his prime, his ambition
checked and his work unachieved
He was born in Medford, Mass. in the year 1884,
State. AS schoolboy he among his fellows
for his warmth and generosity OF nature and at
early age began 10 develop those lne personal and
artistic tastes which made him popular in later years.
While he close student his extraordinary
memory helped him out Of many schoolboy's diff
Guilty secured TOR him the cCInmendatory marks
OF his teachers On exhibition days the fire and force
Of his elocuton, the beauty OF his reading his tine
power OF mimicry and his sweet, penetrating voice
never failed TO win the applause OF the attendant
throng. On leaving school he entered store IN Bos
ton with the intention of becoming merchant, but
from the first no out Of his element The
and its tools Of trade had attraction for young
Adams, and seeking the earliest opportunity make
a change, he found excitement ana pleasure in the
amateur performances Of the Boston Mechanics Inst-
tute. Then he sought position as q supcrnumerary
the National Theatre subsequently at the How
ard Athen@um was given tho small part OF Stephen In
The Hunchback," julia Dean Hayne being the julia.
Here, even in this unconsequential part, he made
hit The manager the bud that afterward truc-
titled. The boy had announced his intention
OF beginning at the bottom of the ladder.
but he climbed round after round with
rapidity that astonishcd his bost friends. He was
wont at this time TO give limitations OF Gustavus v.
Brooke, and his manager, W. N. Fleming. The latter
caught him in the act one day while entertaining the
company with his own mannersms, and for the mo-
enraged and lined young Adams for his im-
pudence 'Piease donl.'' sand the youth. with ex-
Quisitey comical action; ''lf you do must the
nanagemenL" Tho hne remitted.
Leaving the Howard Atnenseum Adams went to the
Boston ssshsa Inc ,or Imam
did excellent work Still ambitious, however, he
sought Other spheres and like Poor 10, moved on''
until he reached Richmond, Va, where he enlisted in
the company OF Kunkei Moxiey, with whom were
engaged J. W. CoIcr, George Boniace and other
young men, who were then, like himself, striving 10
obtain u front place The profession The incident
IS related that during the early period in his ex-
ILL, F" who says to Richard ''Stand back, my lord,
and let the colin pass" The old joke had been often
told in his presence, and when The time Tor
the lines came II was 80 much Impressed
his memory that he invountarily ex-
claimed, "stana back and let the parson cough"
Adans' next success was IN the Walnut Street
Theatre, Pniladepnia where he other laurels
stock actor, became an important leading man and
recognized member OF the profession throughout the
country.
Wniiam J. Florence says Of him :-"His limitations
were simply superb. went TO initiate
Jerry C,ip IN the Widows victm.' The audience
applauded him uproariousy aud everybody turned 10
look at mo IN the box while was enjoying my own
burlesque." 1t about this that he
hit upon the play OF "Dead Heart" and sucn
was the strength Of character he threw
the remarkable run ior Philadelphia OF i've or
weeks "ADout 1852 or 1868, says Mr.. Harry Wall,
IL went TO hiu aad was Impressed by his per-
formance that immediately made arrangements to
engage him the starring business Tor tne following
season. We were both dead broke hadn't cent III
The world and minimum oil credit Ned. too, seemed
10 have no confidence either IN himself or the
play. ieit, however, that the man was
iuli Of power and resources, had curious
and indescribable hold ON the public sympathy.
DON'T know how 10 describe II, but there was some
tn ng In his voice ana manner that seemed TO
with grip on his audience, and knew that II he
played well elsewhere AS he had done in PhadeI
phia we should make a success We borrowed some
money and went Buffalo. There he played his nrst
star engagement-I think about August 1868. The
| engagement lasted two weeks aud our profits wero
$4l2, amount which surprised both oil Us Alter
tnat travelled together and he became recognized
drst class star HIS iavorite characters were
| Vn.l.
dd piece OF acting; Raphael, In the Marble
Heart;' Edwin Middleton, IN the Drunkurd,' and
William Black Eyed Susan.' These our pieces
were our capital, being The staple plays Tor week.
Subsequently hc purchased 'Enoch Arden' and, un-
der his administration, u became very strong play
| we're commenced about 1864 ana he pcror rmeu with
much success Richard Ill Macbeth, Romeo and Ham
let his Mcrcutio was particularly line piece oI acting
| lie was also excellent The Robbers In iact
the talent OF the man was SO versatile that he could
do almost anything, and II uncommon dur ng
travels 10 produce now piece every night in Tho
| week.
NIl we're called upon to crit else his character as
an actor should say that II he not genius It
| his own iault because NO had the dramatic IN
stnct the voice, tho figure, the ability to make up,
power to catch and hold the attention OF his audi
| ence, and the peculiar magnetism which you can't
describe, ana yet which makes the ootliahts KIND
oil invisible equatorial line between art, actor and
people. II Ned Adams had fault IL IN tho shape
/ OF careless generosity. lie absolutely threw ms
| convent burned Gown He was drawing we'll and gave
/ the Sisters $3,00O-eveTy cent OF his roccipts-
help them rebuild their home. On another occasion
/ q poor actors family distress IN OF tho
cities which We visited. Nod lound II out and
closed 10 thom i've hundred dollar bills. These
incidents were common. Hc seemed TO live only tor
his frends-gave them the days when he should nave
bcon his studies and trusted to his good luck
al night As al actor he was emotional and unique.
lie rarely did the same thing twice IN the game man
ner; fact, depended less art ana more the
spirasion OF the moment than any member of the
! profession have mot 1 think tnat is the reason
| why he so often used to eiectry his au-
diencoa 1 asked him once why he trusted to
these accidents, and altered the character OF his
previous nights performance. On cant help II, !
ne answered. Il have TO act as | feel. ! read tho
eyes OF tho people in front, aud they give me new
thought And tnat's tho reason" SAID Mr.. Wall,
swhy think there little Of nero art about
Adams and SO much OF genuine INSPIRATION
All OF Edwin Adams associates, professionally and
socially, pay tribute TO his nnc character similar
manner. Mr. Florence says ''My first recollection Of
| hlm whom ne IN The Howard Atheneuin, Bos-
ton, where ho was playing lgho comedy parts and
giving limitations OF famous actors. Afterward met
MIN IN many places ana was struck by the peculiarly
that he never seemed to be tired put out In fact
IL Wag 40 O I'M " aq