The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-25
OBiTU AIRY.

Tho cable brings news OF the death OF Charles
Mathews, the veteran comedian, At Manchester, Eng-
land
To the present generation the name OF Charles
Mathews has interest that is at historic and
personal Before the aged player twho died yesterday
in his seventy fifth year, was born tho name was
known throughout the British Isles that OF
complished comedian, and for over thirty years
thereafter Charles Mathews the elder, held his place
in the profession and social esteem by sheer ability
as an actor and geniaty, wit and social accomplish
ments as man.
xLpER MATHEWS.
II is difficult to find the memoirs OF any man dis
tingusned in the world OF letters in England during
tho lrst three decades OF the century which 40 not
contain so allusion TO tho elder Matthew'S, whose
anecdotes practical jokes, droll escapades, unfalpg
good humor and strong sense forced tneir way into
classes OF society which few the stage at the time
could reach. He was tho friend of Charles Lamb,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Leigh Hunt, Sir Waller
Scott, Wilson Croker. Lord Byron, Thomas Moore.
Theodore Hook, John Murray and hosts OF others.
OF his stage is necessary here to speak,
save that played with continued public favor from
1902 until 1885, period OF iorlythrco years. dying,
universally regretted, at Plymouth, England IN June
of that year In 1922 he made a successful tour OF
the United States. and again IN 1884 he came hther
with his entertainment, cat Home" ana mado mis-
las, appearance any stage In this city, on Febru-
airy H. 1885,
THE YOUNGER CHARLES
From these few facts may BIO inferred the advan-
tages which surrounded the opening OF the career
Charles Mathews the younger; but to give the latter
fair start Geographically We must go back 10 the 9th
OF December, 1903, when the elder Mathews wrote
letter his friend "Dear Jack" Lachford from Liver
pool England, saying-It is with the most exquisite
pleasure that inform you that am the father OF
Ane boy" Tho happy father was then welded to his
second vito and playing his first engagement with
great she city by the Mersey and 1t may be
interesting 10 know how he looked at tho
time. Says a local Observation-Disclosures was
slender that he appeared much taller than
he really was Taking to Young ono day
In the world and the ihinnesi. He has no reg
ular mouth, but speaks from littio hole in his
check Fate wilkinson called him "a Maypoe.'
and SAID he too tall tor low comedy You're too
thin SIR said Tate for anything but the Apothecary
ANYBODY should be so thin and be alive But
Mathews was only Ave feet ten inches IN height, SO
James Mathews, father OF the elder Charles, q
Calvinis,ic bookseller OF the StrALd, LONDON. was
also aegntoa =. the birth Of grandson and in
both BOTH but no. William, lest IL nigh. excite your
name OF Charles James. The grandfather also wished
him to be trained for the Church but added that che
might be n good man without being clergyman, but
10 force him to be u clergyman might tend to make
him bad MANI
DESTINED FOR THE CHURCH
The babyhood OF young Charles was the source of
Infinite pleasure to hts parents, who determined before
he month old that he should be parson. Ac-
cordingy no reared In tho most grave and
Gus manner, and portrait OF young Charley dressed
in cergyman's robes, taken In his fourth year,
one OF the works OF art which the comedian carefully
preserved and freely exhibited to his friends in his
later years As early as practicable he was entered
through the appointment Of the Recorder
Of London; put owing to , his delicate
ssa me suburbs Ss o r.. .s
metropolis. Hc progressed fairly at his studies,
but the divine OF four years old began to exhibit ten
denotes toward anything but divinity by the time he
fourteen. There was nothing specially bad about
boy, but be was lIght airy STRIPPING too voIa-
tile TO ABOUT theology. ana capable alone appar
emily Of cuI,ivating drawing with anything like as
sduity.
The design OF having u bishop in the family was
wisely gwen up, and Charles was introduced to the
studio OF The late Mr. Pugin and subsequently that Of
Mr.. Nash. whero he studied architecture. While
thus engaged ne made his 6rst appearance on the
stage on April 20, 1922, inc English Opera House
"ar. f. ,'A,: lie &c cemsasa %E,aaps ss
suffering from sprained ankle, but wa much Praised
He did not pursue the theatrical profession regularly
until thirteen years O ~dsnn s =. as
quaintancc among the men and women OF the world
they were found In London society nf,y odd years
ago.
A TOUR WITH LADY BLEssISGroN
A couple Of years later he left England for tour
Of Ita,y In the train OF the Earl and Countess OF
Blcssington, the famous Irish Countess and
authoress, 60 celebrated Tor her brilliance,
her hospitality and the gatherings Of dissin.
Europe unoer her roof AZ Gore House, and whose re-
istiens aitcrward 10 the celebrated Count D0rsay
her dauxh er's husband, caused some scandal Count
DOrsay Of the travelling party GU that OCCASION
ana young Charles had quarrel with MIN resulting
self in the wrong ma de large and generous dmende
and the matter passed out OF sight Mr Mathews now
studied architecture very closely as his carefully
preserved drawings OF the OF Tia attest
lie passed time IN this way at Rome and Naples.
REARED IN PLEAsAyTSEss.
Talking OF his youth and lis influence upon HIM In
after lilo he said, not long ago, AS young man /
enjoyed the grea, advantage OF spending my tmo in
tho pcasantest company. DOrsay, my momcntnry
Toe, was who stood alone He not pro-
fcssona wit, but the most deiightful OF men, He was
some, ned we'll read supcrDiy dressed
a dandy OF the first water, but tho best hearted
and kindlest gentleman that ever breathcd The
wits too did not like tho later generation talk 10
make points, for they had genuine gayciy. Lord
Aivanley aud George Coman for instance, never
cared to make points, Tor the gaycy o. their tcmpera
mcnt carried them away, and carried you away too,
for their bright fun too ethereal 10 be bottled
up Tor retail IL was not any one Particular hit
but OF manner, which constituted their peculiar
charm. Perhaps their JOKES were not good enough
poured out ther fan 10 pure lirntness OF heart and
dil not wait silently, like wolverine, to pounco
upon you with savage sneer and then relapse into
joyed themselves, and communicated their enjoy
ment 10 Others. IL was peculiar phase OF Wit, Ut
terly different IRON that current for plenty OF
good things arc SAID to-day but of different kind
sydney Smth Tor Inn was equal to any OF them, but
he shonc most IN very small crcic-tnc smaller hts
audience tue better he taikeu-and there more
than fuu In hts jokes. Theodore
Hook too, was wonder. You may think his fun tame
when ovordone with comic matter OF all
kinds, but you must recollcct that the Jokc a
thing In hts time and Tom Aoor's. The wit and
fun OF the older school was, AZ have tolu you, en-
urrly different IN character, and when Hood burst
upon us with his puhs the town rang With them
Hoods iun has been Deprecated OF late and perhaps
OF the best kiud out no person who Witnessed
his improvisations can doubt hts gcDus. IL
veous. rhe Italian ip,p,ocisdtori arc not tor IN
slant 10 be compared with tncm. rb.y are hcmbugs.
They rccite the dullest trash In a language which
affords innniio iaciluy Tor rhyme, but Hook dashed
through the most difficult metres ana the most rapid
tunes without ever breaking down."
ar BUILDING.
ON his return TO England no set 10 work and In
1876 MADE his FIRST essay IN architecture upon coun-
Try mansion In Wales but he was soon out OF sympa-
thy with the practice vi ms profession. lie returned
TO Italy. There lac led guy lie and was stricken
vgtg fron xh oh m nj "A Iv