Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-29
MRS REBECCA M. DYKE.
Biographical sketch Of the Life or an
Actress or the Old Times or the
stage, now Living I'm Hum
BILE Retirement I'm
Memphis suburb.

cinnati, Ohio. The play was Btdck-Eyedl
Susan, Dan Marble playing William,
and Mrs. Rebecca NJ. Dyke, the subject OF
this narrative, playing Susan" But few
of the other characters are now remembered
by me. Two of the other actors in that play
| remember, one being Jonathan Porter, who
was a very good leading man. and one Van
Camper, who was called Ivan Camp for
short, who, at that time was quite young
actor, playing general utility. He was
bully boy among the firemen. He be-
longed to the Rovers, and for many years
never failed to miss a fire, except during his
performance, and the old fremen of CIncin-
natl will long remember Ivan Camp.
About 1847 Lennox landed In the city OF
Memphis with a floating theater Not
wishing to go any further, he established a
theater on Washington street. Ivan Camp
was one of that company. Theatricals was
rather uncertain in those days. He quit the
stage and became policeman m the city OF
Memphis, and remained in that occupation
until within few months of his death. HIS
remains lie now in Winchester cemetery,
near the graves Of Harry Grattan, Mary
Duff, Oliver E. Durivage, Ed LAWYER, ano
several others of his once associate actors ana
actresses, who latter hfe's ftful fever sleep
we'll Grandmother Dyke. as we call
her. was born on the second day February,
1904, at Utica, New York. Her maiden
name was Rebecca NJ. Chaddock. About the
year 1917 she married Samuel Dyke, sad
der by trade. They were married near the
place OF her birth About the year 1922 her
husband, with several young men OF the then
town. but now CITY of Buffalo, New I ork,
started a dramatic association. Dyke became
leading spirit of the association, and Mrs.
Dyke assisted him In memorlzlng his parts.
She soon became familiar with the plays they
had selected, and could recite the whole play
book before one-half of the members had
learned their parts. She says that was about
the happiest part of her career as an actress.
She had her two babies to attend to, together
with her homework and aiding Dyke IN
stitching saddles. She was as merry as a
cricket, reciting young 'Norvell ana reed
ing his flock on the Grampian hills" She
almost fancied that she was young "Norvell
himself, much to the amusement OF her
neighbors, who always fanced her beside
herself Her aptness in dramatic scholarship
went far to the encouragement OF the young
disciples of the dramatic muse They soon
proposed to Dyke to give public perform
ance, and that Mrs. Dyke should be cast IN
some important female character: She was
quite nonplussed at the idea, for she had
never seen two plays in her life. But she
nerved herself up and became master OF the
occasion. She was reminded OF the words OF
Cardinal Richelieu," that Sin the lexicon OF
youth there is no such word as fail. The
hall in which the performance was to take
| place was In the business part OF the town,
! fitted up without much paint or tresco, but
answered the purpose very well for the pieces
they had selected to play. The hrst night
| they played Lore la Mode and FIRE ana
| Water. The second night they gave The
! Spectey. Bridegroom and Blue DeUits. The
| third night, by request, they repeated the
| first nights performance. At each of these
| performances Mrs. Dyke appeared as the
| leading lady in each play. Their perform
ances created no little excitement IN the town
of Buffalo. The hall was crowded to Its ut
most capacity, standing-room being at pre-
| MUM The newspapers, IN commenting
upon the performances, SAID much OF the
success Of the amateur efforts was owing to
| the fact that they had secured the services OF
! Mrs. DYKE, who had been educated upon the
| stage, and for some years had been star OF
the brightest magnitude. This was, indeed,
very flattering to herself and husband: They
Immediately began to build castles IN the ar,
for the company, in aGknowledg-
ment of her great talents, pre-
sented her with the entire proceeds
of the house for the three performances, which
was no inconsiderable amount. The Dyke
family was at once stage-struck: One young
man, attached to the regular theater, mag.
ined that he was the best young NorVeli
in any country, and that Dyke would make
the best manager of theater. Soon. by the
exertions of Dyke and James Powell, the
aspiring young "Norvell," company OF
regular actors was formed, consisting of Jas.
Powell as leading man. Alexander Samu-
els as "heavy man." Phlnetlus Pierce as
walking gentleman, and three other men
whose names are forgotten; and Mrs. Dyke.
When organized, they went to Ere, Pennsys
vania, where they presented Douglass for a
week, Young Powell playing "Norvell, Dyke
in ''Old Norvell," Mrs. Dyke playing Lady
Randolph" and the other characters by the
company. Now, there is where she needed
courage. She was to face strange and
fashionable audience while personatlng
character which required the most brilliant
talent that the profession could produce. Hel
success and the success of the company was
beyond their most sanguine hopes. Time
after time she was called before the curtain
and presented with bouquets. The last night
OF her engagement at Erie she was rendered
a benefit, on which occasion she was pre-
sented with fine casket of jewelry. Now
this was in 1922; how many now are living
who witnessed Lore la Mode, at Buffalo
New York, presented by the Dyke dramatic
association, or who witnessed the performance
of DOUGLASS, at Erie, Pennsylvania, giveI
by the Dyke company? The sue
cess was not only encouraging, but it wa!
bewildering to the mind of the company, anC
more so to Mr. and Mrs. Dyke, because t
them it was remunerative. In two prom
nent places Mrs. Dyke had been hailed by
the press with complimentary notices ant
| applauded by audiences that would MAKE
the hearts glad of the most experienced act
} ors or actresses. Dyke thought his FORTUNE
was made; that he was good for at least {
/ few hundred thousand dollars. He would
/ have his herds all over the "Grampian hills,
and establish country sites by the Lake o
Como and ''build palaces lifting to eter
nal summer" But he had partaken OF tn
cause theatrlcals in history is like true love
its course never runs smooth. But OF tina
g hereafter They went from Erie, Pennsylva
! MIA, to Meadsville, Pennsylvania: Meads
. Vile was small place then. They playeC
three nights, repeating their same pieces t.
good houses. They then went to Plttsburg
there some of Dykes men got on ''bust,
and put the serpent in their mouth to stea
away their brainss Dyke there disbanded hi
company. Himself and wife, and Powell
81 Samuels and Pearce joined the company c
Moses Fuller. then playing. in Pittsbura
Mrs. Dyke taking the part of first walkin
They remained there for nearly two years
Powell became good comedian and lived u
to a few wears ago John Harper was th
Heading man. and Mrs. Harper was tn
s ''leading lady They were yer
g gTSae a sa1 his WIFE rfe 0 once ia WR
; played star engagements in Pittsburg. TroW
4 bridge was the father of Mary Trowbridg'
: who, about 1889, married Yankee" Silsb.
3 Ellen Tree, afterward Mrs. Charles Kear
# played star engagements at that time. Cha
v Kean and the elder Booth also starred Their
. An incident with Mrs. Dyke and tee eide
:. Kean will not be out of place. She was ca
i with Kean in By'utus, to play "Tullia.
v Kean's appearance upon the stage was I
Il terrible to young actress as The wal. to I'll
,e audience. In the fourth act ''Brutus" ceas
!. to become an idiotic fool, and becomes Il
Il leader of a revolution. After battering dow
Is the gates of the place, in the midst of Fl
and flames, the soldiers and populace rus
over the ruins where "Tullia" is. "Brutus
appears in the midst of them, and advanc
10 to the front.
e Brutus-Seize the parrIcide! CThey advance al
surround herr
q, Tullia-Avaunt! l am your queen.
IL Bru.-Tarquins! we cast you from US.
id Tul-Give me sword, and let me fall like II
! liza.
/ Brr-No We reserve swords for nobler US
n than TO make war with woman; TO the Tarquins,
L your adulterous son, we leave that shame.
a. Tul-If then, twill better safe thy cruelty, pl