New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-08
SKETCH OF BRoUGHAMs CAREER.

Those who have known and loved John
Brougham-and of him truly it may be said,
"none know him but 10 love him "-shous1 be
grateful that his earthly pilgrimage is over. For
long time he had been in sickness and sorrow. The
malady from which he suffered was very painful,
and 1t was incurable. He WAS more than seventy
years of age; he had many of his friends drop
away; he had Outlived his brilliant popularity
with the public; he was without being aware OF II.
losing his intellectual vigOr; and the circum-
stances of his fortune such constantly
preyed upoa his mind. He still labored with bis
peu and he still nourished plans for the future but
these abors were mostly frustrated by the weak
ness of age, and these plans We're mostly of an
impracticable character and destined to diSappOint
ment. There seemed to be nothing left for him but
trouble and, therefore, the hearts to whom lie
endeared should find their comfort in the thought
that his toll worm sensitive. suffering spirit
beyond tho reach of earthly care and pain.
"Aivebwe would have changed lis lot-
We would NOT change it now"
The life of John BrOugham, notable for many
things, has been especially remarkable for two
uualities-its brilliancy and its GOodness. Fifty
years of it he passed upon the stage; and. both
actor and author, his influence always tended to
gladden. and sweeten the human experience OF which
he was a part. The reason of this that, back Of
the actor and author there was a true ma. Ills
heart was large, warm and charitable; his mind
was eager hopeful, cheer full. and actively creative;
his instincts virtuOus and kindly; his temper
ament was gentle; aud his consideration for others
which extended to the hunblest of living crca-
lures. was thoughtful of the most minute point Of
lelicacy, found excuse for every fauli, and gave
forgiveness for almost every wrOng-sprang from
the spontaneous desire that everybody should be
happy His thoughts. and very often his talk-m
familiar conversations that we have had with him,
for many and many year--1welt upon the great
disparity of conditions in society, the struggles and
suffernes of the poor and the relation Of evil to the
inf1rmties of human nature. He did not live for
himself alone. but he profoundly and practically
interested in others and this feeling as potent az
1t was genuine animated all his life cOlored all his
work, and Sd commended him to the responsive
sympathy aud good will of his generation that
his NAME on every lip, was the name of "a friend.
In his writings as in his actng-though he was
stronger and moro versatile as an author than an
actOr-the characteristic quality was a sort of off
hand dash and glittering merriment, colnminc-
ling OF bluff, breezy humor with winning maDli-
ness. The atmosphere Of his works was always
that of sincerity bat it had tine ms pdity OF
strenuous goodness. He WIS highly intellectual,
and at times poetic and romantics but he was lu-
man and he gay and lie loved to saturate life
with the Celtic sparkle His rich, rolling voice. with
touch Of the brogue in it, sounds in all he wrote.
and his happy, infectious laughter for all who To-
call bis acting, will ring on in memory as long as
they shall live. The scope and variety of his labOrs
was very great He threw himself with the keenest
Eest into the passing moments; he dreaded no task;
he Stunned no emergency; he attempted all sorts
of composition, to which either his agile fancy
impelled him, or which the need of the hour ex-
acted: and, while he was not equally successful
In every line of literature or every walk of the
stage. he produced surprising quantity of sterling
dramatic work, and he acted many and diversified
parts, in q most admirable During the first
twenty years of his life-whlch were pas ed IN and
around the city of Dublin where he was born, May
@. 1S10-he was provided with ample Opportun-
ties of liberal education and these ne improv ed
acquiring knowledge, however, as he Once said of
himself. rather by absorption than application and
all his life he was reader and a student; 80 that
his labOrs were based q solid foundation Of good
mental discipline. In other words ne was scholars
aud the operations OF his genius however lmpusive
and cratic they sometimes may have been, were
usually guided and restrained by that knowledge of
the intellectual field, and That sense of proportion
and harmony, of fitness and Of TASTE which only
scholarship can give.
He began life as q student Of surgery, and for
eighteen months walked the Peter Street Hospital;
bus sudden stroke of adversely deprived him of
all prospect of the fortune to which he had been
born. and threw him upon hsown resources. and he
thereupon went mp to London. and by chance be-
came au actor This was the merest accident; for. |
when quite destitute Of money he hat offered him
self as private in tho East India Companys ser
vice, and had only been restrained from enlistinG