Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-14
MR.. MUMFORD'S STO3Y.

MR.. MUMF0RD'S STO5Y.
Mr. T. W. Robertson, author of /" Ours and
Society" although ne has made his chief success
as dramatist, has long been fayoTably known as a
contributor 10 the light literature Of the day
The name of Mephistopheles Mumford is
too familiar to the British public to require
introduction not that my Christian Bame
is ephistopheles-but John. Mephisto-
pheles is ''sohriquet" bestowed on me,
after my great success in the year '2S, at
Tutbury, liz the drama Of the Fate of
Faustus; or, the Fourth of February and
the Midnight Hour" My Mephistopheles
was the rage in Tutbury. | played it at
least SIX times during the sesson-an IN
precedented run. l afterwards acted it,
with similar results, at lexington, Bun
borough, Stockton lie. Clay, Fagthorpe and
Quesfham, and was complimented by Lord
Landstraddlin, on the occasion Of the be.
spsak Of the East Loamshire Yeomanry
Cavalry, Of which his lordship was Colo
nel-Commandant, at the T. Il. Butterfur.
row.
According to custom, seldom departed
from in the dramatic profession, | married
young and according TO another equally
established theatrical precedent, the lady 1
married was possessed only of the treasures
of youth, beauty, AID amiabiIity. l once
scorped the idea of marriage for money,
but my views upon that subject have con-
siderahly modified. My salary (my wife
did not act) was small, but as a compensa-
ton my family was large Six precious
but expensive pledges of affection were
born TO us in as many years, and had to
work hard to find the necessary boots and
batter buildings. Rehearsal in the morn.
ing, study 10 the afternoon, the rheater at
even, and often study all the night, such is
the laborious life which the enemies of our
profession stigmatize as lazy.
Evil days fell upon us fever swept away
my children. l had toiled to maintain
them; had to toll to bury them. They
died OF terrible epidemic that ragged in
the year that the "Brigand was brought
out at Drury Lane. l was studying Mas
saroni at the time. I'll not endeavor to
say how we felt it, My wife kept all their
little shoes-she has them by her now.
-Four months after the interment of our
last darling, my wife was again confined.
had my little daughter christened Evadne.
bad played Colonna the night before.
Evadne, need hardly say, was educated
for the stage that is, she was made to act
as soon as she could toddle. Often as Rolla
have borne her on my shoulders across
the bri6Se over the cataract, while the ap.
plause was Numbered in my ears. Often
have L wep5 over her, as l gently repudi-
ated Mrs. Halter; and often, when | car.
ried her home at night beneath my cloak,
the darling would warm her little hands in
my breast, and by the time reached our
lodgings have fallen fast asleep in my arms :;
in short, as my friend Tom Tearlungs (poor
Tom was trsgediau az the east end of
London, and died Of delirium tremens)
said of her, "She was graded in helmet,
nursed en- rose.pink, and weaned on prop
critics"
/ have remarked that, generally, the
fathers of actresses arc absurdly Preiudiced
in favor of their daughters. They think
no other girls can be SO handsome, fasci-
mating or talented. l remember reading .
very humorous description in a work writ
ten by gentleman who, in my poor opin-
ion, would have done more service to his
country had he constructed q tragedy
rather than mere novel It was one Cap
tain Costigan. father Of Miss Fotheringay,
and l laughed heartily at his ridiculous
doting. l need not say that am superior
to that sort of weakness, and that la assert.
ever seen, and she finest actress in certain
parts that ever graced the stage, am not
influenced by Partially, but utteriDg o
simple fact that would be Endorsed by every
check, taker in front of the house. You
should have seen the box plan on her ben
efits; you should have heard her recep-
tions you should have read the verses
in the Poet Corner OF the FdmtdttletoR
Free Press and the SLocum AdUertiser and
you should have seen the child herself. My
dear old friend Jack Madigag, who played
the low. comedy in the Cwymrymwymwy-
geiddon circus, used 90 say, "Fad" The al
ways called her Vad) "has the sort OF eyes
that go right through man like gimlet
and come out at the back of his coat in the
shape of brass buttons - We worshiped
her, Mistress Mephistopheles and |. We
had lost six, we had to love her for seven
When Evadne was nearly 70 years of
age, we were acting in small town in Ire.
land. | had played Nirginius that night,
the child, of course, playing Virginia. We
were walking home together, when young
man, an officer CT the barracks Il recog-
niZed him from having seen him in the
boxes, came up to US, and asked Egadne
if he should have the pleasure of seeing
her home.
saw that he had been drinking, and
told him positively bat politely thas | was
my daughters escort.
"Never mind, old fellow" said he, you
can walk behind, yoa. knew"
He advanced towards the child. | held
out my diseugaged arm, which carried a
short Roman sword, wrapped in gun case.
The young man ran his noae on to the hit,
which peeped out of the case, and l dare
say hurt himself very much be swore an
awful oath and cried
"You inferno! Old vagabond, I'll wiring
your neck eff p
Evaane threw herself between us, just
as the hcrGiaes do il dramas and believe
the drunken Tutiian would have attacked
me but for the arrival of another young Of
ficer, in uniform.
Halo what's the row! ?" asked the
newcomer.
The tipsy fellow swore. I explained
and Evadns tremblsd violently.
"Look here, Hops" said he in uniform
you've frightened the young lady. You'd
better 90 to barracks"
The tipsy fellow was the son of AN emi.
rent English brewer (if eminence can be
obtained by brewing beer, which / doubt),
and in the regiment was called Hops"
To cut short long story, Hops was with
difficulty prevailed upon to leave US, and
the stranger asked permission to accom-
paDy US as far as our door.
The young man, whom found to be
perfect gentleman, bnt lamentably ignorant
of theatricals, walked by Eyadne's side,
and when we parted we both expressed our
sense of obligation.
Don't mention it, was the reply.
with your permission, l viii call to-mor-
row, and bring the man who left US to
apologize"
"Oh don't bring him again." said the
child. az couldn't bear the sight of him p
"Tben l must hope to bring his written
apology"
"At all times, sir, shall be most happy
to see YOU p
We went in, told our adventure TO Mis-.
tress Mephistopheles, and were so excited
By the event that we could eat no supper.
The next Day Lieutenant Lyssrt, for that
was the name of our escort, brought au
apologize note from "Hops," and stayed
with us to tea. After that be called upon
us every day, and watched Evsdne from
his box every night, to such an extent that |
Miss Parker, who had a pretty wit, and J