The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-06-21
How Pref. Henry Missed Being an Actor.

Ihuriow weed has written a very inter-
esting letter the N. Y Tribune, describing
how the late Prof. Henry just escaped be-
ing an actor. He says:
My acquaintance with Joseph Henry,
commencing in 1915, ripened into warm
friendship. He was then an apprentice to
John +. Doty, siIyersmith, in State
street, Albany. Twas a journeyman in
the office of the Albany Register, published
by Henry G. Southwick, and edited by
Solomon southwick. During the war with
England, which had just closed, the Green
Street Theater, with strong company.
literally patronized by the officers of the
army stationed at Greenbush, awakened
much enthusiasm among the young gen.
tlemen OF Albany, several of whom formed
themselves into an amateur theatrical COM
pany. They fitted up hall formerly used
for dramatic Representations, then known
as the Thespian Hotel, on the corner of
North Pearl and PATRON streets. They
attracted large audiences. Joseph Henry
became "bright particular STAR His
young Noroal, Damon, and even Hamlet,
were pronounced equal ia conception and
execution to the presentations of experien-
ced and popular actors. His friends.
charmed with his talents and genius, urged
MN to adopt the stage as a profession.
His own thoughts and inclination rendered
him willing listener. Soon the manager
nf the Green Street Theater offered him a
permanent engagement with a liberal sal
ary. With that the young aspirant for
dramatic honors was greatly delighted.
But DR.. T. Romeyn, Principal of the AL
bany Academy, believed that there was a
way opened to the young man promising
greater usefulness and more enduring hon
ors than the drama could confer, After
consultation with the trustees, DIR. Beck
invited young Henry to enter and complete
gratuitous academic course. While any
lousiy considering these conflicting offers
three Of his intimate friends, James Dexter.
a law student, James Hunter, o printer.
and myself were called into consultation.
hunter and myself saw for our friend in
dramatic career assured success, fame and
fortune. Dexter, less enthusiastic. pre-
fefred academic honors to those of the sock
and buskin. He urged, calmly but forci-
oly, that1ifthe stage was to be ultimately
adopted as arrofession, an academic edu-
cation would increase our friends chance
Tor enduring success, and that after COM
pietlng his education he would be quite
young enough to beco me an actor. This
argument, after long and anxious mental
struggle proved effeetual The following
day "Joe" Henry rejected Manager Ber-
nard's dramatic offer, and took his seat in
the Albany academy. Mr.. Doty, when in
formed of his apprentices desire to become
student in the academy, generously sur
rendered his indentures. 1t was only
few weeks before the Young Roseius -
became so absorbed in and delighted with
his studies that the theater with all it's at
tractive associations was f.s~rott en Long
years afterward, when we met in W ASH.
ington or on his visits to Albany, when
we recalled the scenes of our youth, the
grave Professor Henry, with worldwide |
scientific reputation, remembered this epi-
sode in hs life as partaking more of a |
dream than as q reality. E&