New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-25
CAREER OF AN ACTOR.

LIFE sronlEs AND Poems OF JOHN 4s sos1an
Edited by WILLIAM "iNf"'' PP w.
James r. Osgood a Co.
II; ,ruch 70 he regretted that Mr.. Brougham did
not fully carry out the plan to which ne was ~
eften urged by his friends OF preparing his memoirs
for publication Fortunately he did make oegih'
ming of it, and the present work has for Its basis tne
fragment of his autobiography found among Dis
nansrs. The sixty-two printed pages comprised III
this fragment bring him TO about his twenteth
year and end tho turning pont in his career when'
after some amusing experiences. delightfully."- tod'
in the way of amateur theatricals, he made the ac
cuairtauce of Nine Yestris. under whose man.
agemert. after n few months engagement az INC
Tottenham Theatre, London. he entered the stock
COMPANY ut the Olympic. The fragment
closes at the precise point where lis memoirs
wou,d have taken OIL the added interest which at
taches to his public career. 1t covers ms scno'iooy
and college days, and Is bright ana livery WIZ"
mirthful remnscence and sparkling anecdote' DO
much Is there in these pages that recals inc pieS
epce. the genial manners. the flow of animal spirits
the esyety and goodness of tue man himself, that
We find In the delight they give US heightened re-
uret that SO little of the work was done when the
MERRY actor laid down his pen. :,
In the supplementary synopsis of bis Career
written of the request of Mr.. WintsT he gives US
perhaps, a cleY to tho reasons why the autoDiogra
phy, put off 80 many times, ana 50 mauy unos
oromised to be DONE was at the last left fragment
,rv and unfinished. This skeleton of sketch re-
reals in its curt brevty and the jesting hall cynlca
and inocking vein with which he sums up hmsel1
and his works, sort of self-depreciaton that
,lIrank from the work OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
He seems to be saying in it all the time,
IL tell you these insignificant ana I'M
important things, not because / think they are
nod In IN
,onse vol have done me the honor as my personal
friend to ask mo for them" He played many parts
before the public, and always with confidence and
assured sef-possession but he never liked TO play
John Brougham to anybody but his intimate TRENDS
lie was naturally aversc to exploiting himseh'
With flow of talk always bright, witty and enter
tsiniug and fund of anecdote and personal
"reminiscences that made him the most charming
of companions he rarely talked about himself OF
his work. 1t is probably due TO This feature oil his
character that the memoirs so we'll begun Jagged
under his hand, were taken up again ana again
perfnctorily Mt the solicitation of his friends, were
dropped readily for almost any other WORK, ana
remained at the last but fragment. 1t IS a
matter of regret that 1t should DO so. with MS
long and varied experience of the stage, his
wide acouaintanee with members of the
DRAMATIC profession of every degree OF fame,
bis intimate relation with MANY OF the
most interesting and important dramatic events
for full half century, his endless fund oil anec-
dote and "reminiscences, and his attractive style OF
narration. his complete memoirs would have been
n valuable addition to permanent literature. There
is some compensation for this loss in the fact that
his literary remains have found an executor in MIR.
Winter, who has discharged that duty with laborlous
devotion and the most affectionate fidelity.
The supplementary Memoir by Mr.. Winter con-
tains sketch of Broughams career, with the titles
of his dramatic works, thoughtful and Just analy-
ais of his character as actor aud man. and loving
tribute to his many excelences. 1t is followed by
tho poem delivered nv Mr.. Winter at the
diuuer given to Brougham in 1867, and the Fare
well to Brougham" by the same writer delivered ut
the Lotos Club dinner to BrOughaIn IN 1874. when
he was Intending to go abroad. There are besides;
an interesting interview of an autobiographical
character taken from the lips Of the veteran himself
by MIR Felix G. De FODtaiDe an interesting paper on
i,rouahan's Club Life by Mr.. Noah Brools extracts
from biz diaries and selections from his ,miscel-
Lannon's poetical and prose writings. The book Is
ledcated to his old comrades of the Lotos Club in
whose society the cheerlest moments OF his latter
years were passed. and to whom his memory. en-
deared by associations of kindness Will always be