New-York tribune., 1881-07-17
STRANGE PLAYERS
From Bel1rdpi1

-. From BeLqrdpia
Charles Mathews the elder thouub no ala "a
incur the loss of a limb thrown from lis co.,
riage and lamed for life. When he was enabled ~
return to the stage, he reappeared leaning npon :
crutch stick and persopating lame harle9nif in =
comic extiax entitled, Hocus Pocns or
his naturalization to the public. Some few years
since Sgnor Donate, a one-leeged dancer Appeared
surprised the audience by the grace and agility he
displayed, his mutilated state Notwithstanding He
wore the dress of Spanish bull.lghter and 10 tho
stump of his leg tassel affi xed that it re-
sembled somewhat an old-fashoned sofa cushion
IN hls " Retrospections of the Stage" Mr.. bernard
WIN age and afflicted with gout i'm all his members
q4ehehted TO represent the heroes of light comedy
imnr33uehout ~ the performance had TO remain seated
a. ans, ms easy char. his lower limbs swathed in
the ,,os &c Oh anu on t,ie stage as
0fcd to compensate for these drawbacks by taking
p,Jhes ip,nSls OF snnt very frequently, and by
pocket-handkerchief In this way he would repre-
oi Of suEn characters as Plume the vivaoous hero
1h ~. tarlunars Recruiting Officer" 10 audiences
.,. o Mofc @ certainly indugent and tolerant If they
Onc OF Mr George NandenhoTs Dramatic Remi-
~ndsvehces ~ relates TO one-armed tragedian he en-
G9untercd IN 1910 on the stage of the Leicester
Inca htneatre. The poor mans left arm. il seems, had
Deen accldentally shot off, never, helesss he ap-
peared as lcilius, Pizarro and as Ban0uo. con-
ccaiing his deficiency now with his toca. now with
H his mantle and now with his plaid. Mr.. VanJen-
"x nw wratus had really not noticed the poor fell
seemed rather one-sided in his action tll plsye3
Othello Ia his lago; and then what was INV horyyor
on SelLing HIM IN the third act TO find that I had
eot nold OF an armess sleeve stuffed out ia mockaru
vi hcsh' lor ne did not a cork armi | was
anpost struck dumb. and il was only by a strong
CioiI that recovered myself sufficiently TO 20 on
with the text Poor fellow he was a remarkably
SGD iplc man and good reader; but of coutsc he
couId never rise ia his profession with ouIv one
arm. Art might have helped hun. however as it
helred the late NJ. Roger the admired French tenor
70 mecnanlcai hand when by the accidental
bursting OF ms gun his own natural right hand Was
so shattered that Immediate amputation above tbe
"rist became absolutely necessary. BY touching
certain springs with the left fingers the artificial
rlght hand performed several useful fuDcfions
ana even drew a sword from its sheath Those nm
informed upon the subject might have witnessed the
performances of The original John of It,vden in
Mcyefbeers PrOphetc and never have sllsDecfed
the loss he had sustained
In Anthony Pasquins Life OF Edwin the comedian
tere ~ an account OF barn-doo- actor" boastinp
'ne strange name of Gcmea. who having lost an
eye wore glass substitute. aud was further
troubled in that he had been deprived of the use ~
down uselessly al his side. Nevertheless he con-
trved To play Richard thetThiri occasionally when
ne endeaNoTed to keep his lame limb ont of The wav
tucked under his cloak behind him Rut as he
stalked about and spoke his speeches tho pendant
arm SHIFTED Its position, came into sight swopp
forward and incommoded him greatly TO be in.
stantly and unkindly slapped back into is place by
the rlght hand" Throughout the performance
indeed, his right hand was found 10 6e CONSTANTLY
engaged in keeping his left ia order: the specta,
tors, meantime greeting with laughter and an
pause tins curious conduct the part of the
strangcst Richard that could ever have been seer,
upon the stage.