Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-30
PROF. HENRY ALMOST Ak ACTOR
A Letter from ThurIOw Waed-Tha
axe Sscret-ry of the BmIthsOn-
ian InsIiiutiVn on the Point Of
Choosing the stage.

Letter from ThurIOw aed-Tha
IHse ~scret-Fy "T the smIthaOn-
ian InsliiutiOn on the Point Of
Choosing the stage.
To the Editor of the New York Tribune:
SIR was alike gratified and
relieved by the letter in this morn
ing's Tribune, recently written by
Professor Henry to Mr.. Patterson.
| had fears that Professor Henry,
like many eminent scientists, had
drifted away from his early religious
moorings. This letter recognizing
with such clearness of perception,
and with such a wealth of illustra-
tion, the power, wisdom and good
ness of one, by whom all things
were created, and by whose proyi-
dence animate and inauimate ma
ture is harmonized and utilized, is,
therefore, a qualification and re-
lief. While Professor Henry's let
ter was before me, my esteemed
friend, Robert 9. Winthrop, of Bos-
ton, called. lie had just read and
was much pleased with the letter.
Mr.. Winthrop had known Professor
Henry long and intimately. Being
in Washington recently, and hear
ing Of his friends illness, Mr.. Win
throp called upon him. The pro-
fessor explained the nature of his
illness "a partial paralysis of his
right hand and army, but expressed
Il confident belief that he should be
able to make his annual tour of OBJ
servation along the coast in a small
vessel which the government pro-
vided for him. In the course of
their conversation the Darwinian
theory was spoken Of. Mr.. Henry
remarked that novel and bold theo-
ries, even if fallacious, were pro
ductiye of good, because in the
research and discussion they oeea-
stoned, the facts and arguments
educed tc expose error serve also to
confirm and establish the truth.
I'M the sketches of the life of
Prof. oHenry an incident is omit
ted, perhaps, because none but N.Y.
self survives to relate it. As that
incident gave to the practical SCI
ences one Of their most distin-
guished ornaments, it seems worth
Ny acquaintance with
Joseph Henry, commencing in
1915, ripened into a warm friend
ship. He was then an apprentice
to John f. Doty, a silversmith in
State street, Albany. l was
journeyman in the Office OF the AL
bany Register, published by Henry
9. Southwick and edited by Solo
mon Southwick. During the war
with England, which had Just closed,
the Green Street Theater, with
a strong company, literally patron
lied by the officers of the army
stationed in GreenbuSh, awakened
much enthusiasm among the young
gentlemen of Albany, several Of
whom formed themselves into an
amateur theatrical company. They
fitted up hall formerly used for
dramatic representations, then
known as the Thespian Hotel, on
The corner of North Pearl and Pa
troon streets. They attracted large
Joseph Henry became
. "bright particular star" His
young Noryal,' "Damon" and
g Hamlet" " were pronounced equal
in conception and execution to the
presentations OF experienced and
popular actors. His friends,
with his talents and ge-
MUS, urged him to adopt the stage
as a profession. His own thoughts
aud inclinatiops rendered him
willing listener. Soon the man
nger Of the Green Street Theater
offered him q permanent engage
meut with liberal salary. With
that the young aspirant for dra-
matte honorS was greatly delight
ed But Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, !