The Sunday herald., 1881-03-06

John Brougham gives the following intel
esting account OF the celebrated Counsellor Punket;
"'There was an individual then living whom all
who can recall that period cannot hut remember,
Counsellor Punkett, u man OF excellent family cmi-
nent In his profession, possessing ample MEANS and
rational as the majority of human beings upon all
other subjects, but amonomaniac upon that OF acting
Although beyond middle age, he had an enormous
chest ruddv face, bull neck and Hercnlean limbs,
contrasting rilicuousy with thin, squeaky voice,
and strong liibernian accent: Hewas under the ha
ucnaton that he possessed the united powers OF kean
and KemDe. What Is there, Ia like to know, In
this Masther Kane, that everybody's maxim such
uss-about poor, wizen-f faced, handy -eggedpig
OF a creature !! Now, sir am two Inches and half
taller than that solemn iackass kemble, and have
some brains In my head, white he's nothing hut
the meaning of half the words that's crammed
int, him. Now d,-thc sense as well as
the sUund-whCh Is moro than any of the consated
parrots can brag Of have no doubt there was not
an aspiring youth among us who ll not entertain an
exalted opinion of his own theatrical talents but we
had sucen, prudence to keep 1t to ourselves Mat.
tiers went peaCeably enough until the time arrived
to prepare our next representation the play chosen
being Richard III rather a modest selection Tor
youngsters utterly ignorant OF stage tradition AS
we were proceeding In our usual way to allot the sew
era parts, Punkett, who had Just stalked In, III
qured what hocus pocus We were up to- Finding
out who Is to play Richard, said one. 'WhoS,
pounding pounding himself hin % on his brawny chest Why, who
but the only In the three Kingdoms at this mo-
ment has the requisite qualifications, both physl-
the rest Of them among yourselves, but shall enact
Richard! Yes, and by the Lard, sir, IN show them
tue tlOStef, llSt greatest vi
| tasenets, symmetrical in figure casting COM
placent glance at his goodly proportions, not the
wretched Lancastran libel Shakespeare, degrading
his genius and perverting history, drew from his
Imagination simply to curry favor with the vixen,
ish, red headed grandd,aghter Of Richmond ni Ond
of the meanest and most treacherous of
kings. Upon somebody venturing TO suggest that
Il was one Of our rules, he became furious. lues
he screamed out, what are your conounded rules to
meP Can you determine the degrees of mental
capacity by throwing dice, or point ont the brightest
Counsellor Punkett, to be dictated TO by litter Of
pup monkeys! To the devil with you and your rules
Genius breaks the letters and eniancipaes itself.
am free. Go your own way and III go mine suck
to your dirty Tattersall street nursery. Walt TIL You
see me coming out at the Royal, and cramminE 1t
too from the cellar To the cockctt; then, maybe,
youl treat me with respect But 1t serves me right
for wasting my time with such a beGgarly crew OF
ontempuous snap of his fingers, tile learned COUNSEL
lor dismissed the society And, strange to say that
daring prediction was, to certain extent, verified,
for many time have seen the mad lawyer, as he
was called, upon charitable benefit nights illl the
theatre to its utmost capacityappearing always In
laughter accompanied every word and gesture, cu-
minating In perfect tornado of ronical applause at
witnessed, and an indescribable death which was
| many times recalled. Yet such was his egregous
| vanity that he accepted the demonstration as a
tribute to his superior talent and gracef y rising
| from the field of the dead, would acknowledge tile
complaint and tho renewed acclamatons, and &c
| through his moribund contortiUns once more. III
order to give the people idea Of his versatility he
| would sing between the play and farce, Scots wha
kae in character-whCh consisted In going on In hi:
shirt sleeves, with his pantaoons tucked up to tht
knees, Scotch scarf twisted round his waist, and
| tremendous bludgeon In his hands. The fun of this
part of the entertainment lay between him and thu
band, not understanding note of music and totally
Independent of time or tune with his violent gesticu
lation and thin but high and penetrating voice, h
singer was In constant discord with the musicians
| You may he sure jimmy Barton improved the oppor
tunity, and the further the counsellor strayed from TIN
| proper key, the more Justify Jimmy ratified ava.
against him, making altogether combination of ear
| distracting sounds to which w-hling would "
scraphic and yet this chaos Of discOrd had to be re
peated and over again. until some nerciful han
| would send down the green curtain