Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-09
THE STAGE
And Some OF lis VOtaries-Tbe Singular
Career Of George PauneefOrt
Among the japanese.
The Once Favorite Of the American Stage
the Head Of Harem-Charles Wynd-
ham as q Comedian.

The Philadelphia Times recalls once
veII.known actor named George Pauncefort,
| who was particularly celebrated as John
| Midway in the play OF Sui WdteTS hun
| Deem. Pauncefort suddenly disappeared
| from public gaze, and perhaps nobody would
ever have known what became oil MIN n, had
| il not been for Joseph Arthur, now IN Phlla-
| delphia as the business manager OF Wine
! Edouin's Sparks.
81 found him. said Mr.. Arthur, "away
| back in the interior OF beautiful japan. He
| had thirteen wives-natives-ands seemed 10
| be happy in the possession OF charming
| tea plantation"
Chow did you discover him|
SIT was purely accidental. Three other
persons and myself went INLAND to visit the
celebrated prehistoric statue OF Buddha, at
Diabutsa. We Travelled by moonlight in the
only conveyance known in that country, a
sort of perambulator, called 1l"rlckl-
shawn hauled bv natives. AT midnight
the moon was hidden by clouds. In short
time we found ourselves in the midst oil
storm, and sought shelter under the caves oil
the first house we came acro-s. The climate
was mild, and being weary, we fell asleep.
Daylight revealed a charming scene. The
honse. which / could liken to nothing but a
large bird cage, stood in the midst OF The
undulatiug rice field, intersected at regular
spaces by little narrow streams OF water,
kissed by the oyerhsnging branches OF bush
and tree, and spanned by numerous fairy
like bridges.
"Tbe owner of This house and these lands
was George Pauncefort, the English actor,
whose playing had been witnessed by andi-
ences in all the large cities OF the United
State, and some of your old theater-goers
here and professionals (among these being
Mrs. J ohn Drew and Mr.. Murphy remem-
Der him rs being in Philadelphia"
Sand what took this man TO JapauP
THAT" said Mr.. Arthur, sis something OF
a mystery. He is now an octogenarian and
something of a recluse. When l saw him
he stepped TO his door in the early morn,
clad in a semi-J apanese garb, with long,
flowing footong and calasb. He wore no
shoes; his form was erect, his hair and mus
taches snowy white, his countenance OF
horid hue. He did not seem to be either
glad or sorry to see US, and we rather invited
ourselves in, and as ne stood so silent and
grave mentally said, 'John Midway Be-
hind stood his wives. You have asked
me- continued MIR. Arthur, "why he was
found in such an out-of-the-way corner of
the globe? l cannot answer that directly,
but / think domestic difficulties drove him
there. 1t was alleged that he had two wives
previous to going therefore 10 London and
one in San Francisco. AT all events, he was
a great admirer of the fair sex, and he disap-
psared and was not heard of until found
him in Japan"
How did he treat your"
"When we went into The house he only
uttered three words, MY wives, gentlemen,
but during our stay did not, in the presence
OF the other parties, express an opinion on
any subject or join in the conversation.
Subsequently had private conversation
with him in which he told me many things
regarding his past life. He came to this
country from England in 1857, and made a
great reputation as an actor. When the
troubles referred TO occurred he started Tor
the Orient as chief officer of merchant
vessel and the vessel was wrecked off the
island of Formosa, near the northern coast
of China. He was rescued by the natives,
who were not absolute Chinese, but sort of
hybrid race, a cross between the Chinese and
Coreans, and were exceedingly savage, so
much SO that had 1t not been for Dutch
man who had located there and become
friendly with them, Pauncefort would not
havesescaped with his life. This Dutchman
was engaged on the island extracting dyes
fromithe different woods there and interceded
for Pxunceforps LIE when the natives
proposed to kill him. Leaving this inhos-
ia h MONEY SsS, sh0GGs l igs ls4 Gss
ing no knowledge of the language or the
customs of the country, lone son of Thes-
pis from affair and with head bowed down
with weight of woe. At that lime there
was no treaty between the countries and the
Japanese took no stock in foreigners. How
ever Pauucefort felt that he had come 10
stay.i He was a man OF tact and intelligence
and he acquired the language, in the mean
time Isustaining himself By writing sketches
OF the Europeans and having them trans
lated. Subsequently he learned the Ian
guase we'll enough to go through the coun-
try lecturing. be knew something OF medl-
cine, and when lecturing failed him he took
to doctoring, and he sugges'iDgly said to me
that he believed he had succeeded
in his medical career in Japan in kill
ing 300 or 400 people. Finally he
formed band OF naive actorP, assum-
ing with great power some OF the lead
ing roles in the japanese drama, which he
pronounces superior in cunning develop
ment of plot and sublimity of language 10
either the French or German drama. Thrice
he assumed in the native tongue that role OF
Yura,' the hero of the historical drama OF
Japan analogous to our Hamlet, and played
before the Mikado. As result of the per-
Torrance he received uns.inted praise from
the writer's and poets of that country. At
his suggestion 1 was led to secure transla-
ton OF the play, which is entitled Ronius,
and it will be produced in this country next
seasoR."
"Wby did he retire 10 the tea plantation?"
"His acting led to au accession OF wealth
and fame. He then came to the conclusion
he would settle down and sealed to him
self . wife-a beautiful Japanese woman of
VII at is known as the sDamio' class or the
long -nosed' class. They are as white in
omplexien as any European and noted for
heir beauty. He then bought a tea and rice
planl alton, and when L visited him he was
Employing about $50 or 200 laborers and
living life of ease. He accumulated his
,ther wives by degrees, presume, but all
he women seemed to be getting along with |
'ut domestic jars. AT all events Pauncefort |
las had an experience few Englishmen have |
lad.p