New-York tribune., 1879-11-01


dence, in sydenham.
Blackstone came of an old country family,
and was born at HOxtOn, near London in September
1902 He educated, TO some extent, for the law,
but he early Indicated preference for literature and
the stage, and al the OF nineteen lie Joined theat
real company. and came ont at Oakingham. IN Berk
shire, England an actor OF juvenile tragedy and
walking gentlemen. While with this troupe he made
Int Gabriel the drunken servant, in tine Children OF
the Wood" which part he acted at half-an hours
ticc. He sfterward Joined what called the Fever
sham, Hastings and Folkestone Circuit, and in that
round Of miscellaneous industry passed three laDorous
years. At this time lie made the acquaintance OF
Edmund Kean, then in the meridian OF his
popularity. and by him was noticed with ap-
proya ana sympathy. and treated with encouraging
kindness. He made his first appearance in Lon
don at the Surrey Theatre under the management OF
Mr. Watkins Burroughs, January 30. 1928, as Ramsay,
the Matchmaker. In The Fortunes OF Nigel" He is
also mentioned having appeared there as Peter
Smink in Z" The Armistce," by John Howard Payne.
From the Surrey lie TO the Adephi lin 1929. and
while at this house he attracted the notice and made
the acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott-to whom he
introduced by Daniel Terry then of the managers,
who intimate with Sir Walter, who prepared Guy
Mannerng" for the stage, and who wrote for The quar-
terIy the critiquo that " killed Off" John Keats He
presently divided his professional year between the
Adelphi and the Misunderstanding the Winter
to the former and the Summer to the latter bur In
1887 when Benjamin Webster became lessee OF the Hay
market his lot permanently with that theatre.
and there has remained almost uninterruptedy,
since
visited the United States in 1s40, making his first
appearance In NewYork at the Old Park. on October
H. in that year, Peter Pinkey. in his comedy Of
"single Life" and as Jenny Wheedle, IN his
farce OF " Weak Points" Mrs. Vernon Mrs. Wheatley,
Susan Cushman, Mrs. Davie. Mr. c. W. Clarke, Mr.
Charles Fisher. Mr.. W. A. Chapman aud Miss Amelia
Fisher (her first appearance were In the casts with
him. He afterw ards here Henry Dore, and
in miscellaneous plays and farces; but he made
no extraordinary impression. On August 81, $40, he
appeared at the Chestnut, III Philadelphia, IN "Weak
Points" He returned to London In the Summer OF
1912, aud reappeared amid public accamatons, at the
Haymarket. In 1s47 he joined the Lyceum company.
under the of Madame vestris and there.
November IN that year. he first acted the immortal
Bor, In Box and Cox then first produced. Mr.
Harley acted Cor That farce, It will be remembered.
wa. speedily brought to America, where II has always
enjoyed bOnnteous public acceptance w. Is. Chap
man acted Cox at the Broadway, in January. 1S4S the
farce was afterwards given at Mitchells Olympic $.
Parry was BOr. at the Broadway, In 1850 But
the really great OF this peculiarly felicous
tric occurred with Burton Bor and Jefferson Cor
and this OF made brilliant hit Mr. Blackstone
returned TO Haymaket in lsls and in 1853, upon
the retirement OF Webster he became Its lessee and man
ager-Opening bis new career with " The Rivals aud
new extravaganza by Planche, entitled Buckstone's
Ascent of Mount Parnassus." From that time till 1876
he devoted himself assduously to the and laDors
of mauagement-not however. altogether neglecting
those OF actor and Toward the last he began
exhibit signs approaching age and impaired faculties
His memory often failed him, and his hearing became
defective Since 1876 Mr.. Blackstone has given but 1T
tie attention TO his profession. Mr.. sotheu and Mr.
John s. Clarke have both been concerned in the
agenent Of the HaymaTket The appearances OF
nuck cksfn Of "A
tiun. Two years ago it was evident that he
breaking up and that he could last but little while
longer He has died now. In the seventy year
OF his age and the ftyeghth year OF his professional
life
The dramatic works OF Blackstone numerous, and
many OF them possess great merit especially in the ele
ments Of character and Before he nineteen
years old he had written Two ve-aci tragedies and
fve-act comedy, all In which were seen by Ellis
ION thea manager OF Drury Lane. from whom they
elected words OF admiration and encouragement One
of his earliest works Luke the abUrcr, la when
Mr. Terry acted the LdJOrer aud I. +. Cooke acted
Yhig the Sailor with brilliant success. This was 1T the
Adcph the iashlonabs theatre, where there was
an excellent dramatic company. including Terry, Yates
T. f. Cooke. BucKstone JOHN Reeve, Hemming. o.
smith, Mrs Fuzwilliam. Mrs. Yates. and MIR. Honey
After" Luke came " John Street. Adeiph' which Was
written 10 1T the eccenilclfies oi Yates Then came
.. The Wreck Ashore" which ran two se.sons; then
Ylciornc"; then an adaptation from tAe German, en-
rted The King the Alps" AL were produced at the
Adelpli as also were The Rake aud HE Pupil" The
ia, Qlocu"" Ienricitc. The FoIsaken." Isabelle
'rnri' Year. o. u Womars Lfe."" The Dream at Sea-
T.c R.adiug II the VIII" version of Thirty Years
of "a Gamblers Lfe"" PrcGumpiiye Evidence" Poor
-" Tie Dead shot," Damon aud Pythias." "Billy
Taylor" aud crimson Crimes. or the Blood-stained
bandit The last four buriesques or farcrs. lie
wlotc all the Christmas pieces that were produced