New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-18
THE MAN AND HIS SURROUNDINGS.

dialect comedian, and indeed be is such master OF
tho Yorkshire and Lancashire dialects that many bets
have been made that he was born In England. Three
times he has been compelled by incredulous men
TO 10 before notary public aud swear that
tine place OF his birth was New Hampshire and not Eng
land His knowledge Of dialects, however was picked
up In main from actors ana from one, George An
drews 10 particular Since those days Mr. Browne has
made critical study of the dialects so that now he
writes them well as he speaks them' He l0oks 'ke
an Engishman and welcomes his customers with gen
niue English hospitality His chophouse is kept Gu the
English pan and is requented by actors singers the
arica aud operatic managers and literary men, "There
isnt an Engshman that comes TO THIS country, SAID
he "who doesn't right to my house. and thinking
am Englishman, give himself right away and IND
oil the fault he wants to-"
The walls OF the room covered with valuable pic
lures Of famous actors aud in costume form
Ing most interesting collection. For the last twenty
years Mr. Browne has acted in Waacxs stock company
and until within three years he member Of the COM
pany He therefore takes great pride in the portraits OF
the walack family which hang the walls of his house.
Here can be the picture OF James W. Wlack, Jr,
the only one OF its Find extant, the negative hav.
ing been destroyed. Near by is the portrait
of Henry Walack. a white-haired, hne-looking
old man. who in Mr.. Brownies opinion was nearly az
good an actor his brother, James William Wallack'
Lester Walack's father He was tho original Robert
Mqcaire in England. he managed tue Chestnut Street
make the reputation OF the old National Theatre at
Church and Leonardsts The portrait of james William
Walack the founder Of Waaeks Theatre was given to
Mr.. Browne by the original in 1862.
He was probably OF the best general actors in
Europe or this country" said Mr. Browne. " He was
man of great versatility and could name many parts in
which no actor has ever been equal He was superior
for instance as BeaedlcE In Much Ado About Nothing,
which was probably his best part Among his other
celebrated characters were his Don Caesar de Basan,
Martin Hdyrard in The Rent Day. ROttG in 'PIzarrO
Atcssandro IN THE Brlgand, ShYoek in the Merchant
Of Venice and Dick DqShdU ID My Aunt He was
equally clever tragedy light comedy, and had few
equals in meodramatio parts. Indeed think he has
probably done elevate the drama in this country
and England than have any other ten actors. AS
actor manager and man his name will live forever
James ". Wallack jr who named after his famous
uncle was a very great actor and will be remembered
for his wonderful performance IN the king Of the Com
mons He capital too, as Fd9cn the Je1, and was
the only man who successful in the Man OF the
ron Mask which he played for years and years He
was good, TOO, ia the title role Of Henry Dunbar"
BY the side Of these pictures hangs that OF Lester
Walack, with whom Mr.. Browne played in February
last during his engagement Grand Opera House.
ne Is Represented In the costume which he wears In
In looking tuength portraits Of the actresses
one 9SS O Hds e "a sSs sppeS ar IN
Lester Wailacks comedy Of ROsedale wore hoops so
SF S az sS s ys sRs Bneg
wife, whose sister married Mr. Browne, and Of william
Rufus Blake. "There's a fine portrait" broke In Mr.
Mary am clever HS
lar faces 1ss' Of John GILBERT, Miss Nelson,
nn Re who ito london and made
fortune Burton the character of ToOdles. and Isa
dress looks strangely oldashOned, also pictured,
and r Browne claims to have the best portrait Of Ed
hang hang also pictures Of ,sGtGern and his son.
Stirling as Mrs Tataprap, Of the elder Booth and q
CoudOck who is nov playing in Hazel KTke at the
secret meeting 1s PT
sss s al ars 10 Be SnnS the &c faces Of
actors and actresses who ~ are dead: Among
s issS SSs Bk Se na oe Of Jcp
Jefferson. and we'll known IN such characters as Scion
Laura Keene, lucille Western, Charlotte cushman,
JglIaDean. E Davenport Anna Cora 1Cwatt, Edwin
portraits In all. On tho opposite Of the room are
grouped together the heads OF fty-One famous people
poets noblemen actors aud others
FROM THE CIRCUS TO THE THEATRE.
The Life Of the man who has gathered together all Of
these and many other valuable souvenirs Of the dra-
matte history Of the country has been angular and
eventful one Browne was born in 1919. While lad
his taste for rowing life led him to divide his time
between the theatres in Boston and "od Aaron Turn
er's Circus" 70 was callboy in the theatre, and
finally became clown in the circus. being the first to
introduce shakespearean clown into the "sawdust
ring" He made his first appearance on the stage
ct the fremont Theatre in Boston, Franco In the Or
Mrs Woods English Opera Troupe. His connection with
tho circus between the theatre
and when PUTNAM, the IRON Bon Of 70" was written
S e @ IN @ P snd 2nS sre a
good actors and gCGd horsemen enough but
such s1pi plays as %PStna%. "Massppa %serseaSt
Joseph" and Dick Turpin," carrying his sagacious
marc Gazette all over the country with him.
played those parts until '5O' he said, from Maine
hs For the ve Years before s date ss
son every year q from three wsekT to SIX months o. the
TOW SSss'y where ' becsus acquainted with WEB
%s valuable ietters ny bOEse fell when in PSS
6elphis, and that was how bought my mare Gazette
trained her at the riding school the day. and sau
day evening after the 2srtOrImanGe led her on the
All the noise they could 90 as to aeensO% her TO tie
could be- s0 Wished and on Monday evening she
carried me through the, play. Fur years-u0-
sSs never dssOyed s s4SSee s9c
most saRacious anmal-my god next 70 my family
SSS abe sGs wsS hs wy
my rcoh. and used to ride in the same car with the
Sslrss be Was ny trsssaSer. and lent him to Par
. Ta Ssl one %ssn BSSn1n and Jenny
S her asa m.usser sba e
Catherine Hayes The Irsh singer whom ne
married. Both died aDIVa0. Wen, aItef 1SOu got
tired Of bsirbroadth escapes horseback and up
those parts.7
Then Mr.. Browne became stage manager IN one city
alter another Philadelphia, st. Louis and ROchestef
beiog among them, and finally began 10 act 10 light
comedy parts. Even 80 long ago as ls42 ne
Played with tho elder wallaek at The
nstiOnsl IhsstEe at Church and .,,, Leonard s
=. John, where he sppeascd IA comedy parts. From
, sS. within sT Tsofs Mr. Brown has
iAEess and comedies. He has appeared as NltI
HesHespen IN the Heix ct Law" Dandy DiaBsoHt
Guy aaBnerfng" T0xcltsI0Rc IN "As You Like IT." and
the Cowas In "TweiIfh Might and - winters Tale"
ne was the second that played Cousin 10 In the
Rogh Diamopd,s and among his other fareical carae