The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-09
A MINSING ACTOR.
"eorge Paanccfort, Who Sought tho
seeiusion Of Tea Plantation
in Japau.
Living with Thirteen Wives-A Former Fa-
'oritc OF the stage, and His Adventurous
Career Since Leaving II.
tPhiladelphia TimesI


philadelphia Tlmes.I
Some years ago George Pauncefort was
well-known actor i'm this country. He
was particularly celebrated as John Mild
way IN the play Of "Still Waters Run
Deep" Pauncefort suddenly disappeared
from the public gaze, and perhaps nobody
would ever have known what became Of
nm had II not been for Joseph Arthur,
now In Philadelphia as the business man
sger OF Willie Edouin's Sparks
found him." said Mr.. Arthgr, "away
back In the interior Of beautiful japan.
lie bad thirteen wives-natiyes-and
seemed to be happy in the possession Of
charming tea plantation"
How did you discover him?v
III was purely accidental. Three other
persons and myself went inland 10 visit the
celebrated prehistoric statue Of Buddha, at
DlaDutsa. We travelled by moonlight in
the only conveyance known in that cot,n-
Try, sort OF perambulator. called u "Iiwr-
lcklshaws." hauled by natives. At mid
night the moon was hidden 10y clouds. In
Il snort time we found ourselves in the
midst OF a storm, and sought shelter under
ihe caves OF the first house we came across.
Inc climate was mild, and, being weary.
we ieil asleep. Daylight revealed charm
ing scene. The house, to which | could
lken to but a large bird-cagc, stood in the
midst Of the unduiating rice-fcds. inter-
sected at regular spaces by little narrow
streams OF water, kissed by the overhang-
ing branches OF bush and tree and spanned
by numerous fairly-like bridges.
TIE ACTORS RETREAT.
"The owner OF this house and these
lands was George Pauncefort, the English
actor, whose playing had been witnessed
by audiences in all the .large cities Of the
United States, and some OF your old thea
TRIGGERS here and professionals (among
these being Mrs. John Drew and Mr.. Muir
ply remember him as being in Philadel-
phia."
'And what took this man TO Japan :"
"That," said Mr.. Arthur, "iS something
Of 4 mystery. He is now an oc!ogenarian
and something OF a recluse. When saw
him he stepped TO his door in the early
morn clad In a semi-JapaneSe garb, with
ong, flowing fOO;ong and calash. He wore
no shoes; his form was erect; his hair and
moustache snowy white his cOuntcnance
Of llorid hue. He did not seem to be
invited ourselves in; and as he stood so
silent and grave | mentally said, John
Midway Between him stood his wives.
You have asked me-" continued Mr.. Ar
hur. "whv he was found i'm such an out
)f-the-way corner Of the globe? | cannot
answer that directly. but think domestic
difficulties drove him there. 1t was al
eyed that he had two wives previous to
going there-One in London and one in
san Francisco. At all events, he was n
great admrer Of the fair sex, and he dis
appeared and WAS not heard OF until
Ound him in Japan"
RESCUED BY S,vAGEs.
GLOW did he treat you?"
"Whcn we went into the house he only
Uttered three words: My wives, gentle
men, but during our stay did not, in the
presence Of the other parties, express an
,pinion on any subject or Join in the con-
'crsation. subsequently / had a private
with him, in which he told
ne many things regarding his past life. He
anne to this country from England in 1851
nd made a great reputation as an actor.
When the troubles referred to occurred ne
tartcd for the Orient aS chief officer Of
merchant vessel, and tie vessel was
wrecked or the Island OF Formosa, |
lcar the northern coast Of China. lie was
cscued by the natives, who were not ab- |
Olute Chinese. but 4 sort OF hybrid race, a
ross between the Chinese and Corean-, !
nd were exceedingly savage, so much 50
hat had it not been for Dutchman who
rad located there and become friendly
With them Pauncefort would not have
scaped with his life. This Dutchman was
ngaged on the island extracting dyes from
he different woods there, and interccdcd
or Pauncefort's life when the natives pro-
,osed to Kill him. Leaving This inhOspitable
>land, he went to Japan, and landed there
without money, without friends, having
10 knowledge OF the language or the
UstOms Of the country, lone son OF
rhe,lis from afar, and with heart bowed
Town with Il weight OF woe. At that time
here was no treaty between the countries
nd the japanese took no stock in foreign
RS. However, PauncefOrt felt that he had
.ome TO stay. He was man OF tact ana
and he acquired the language,
n the mean time sustaining himself by
writing sketches OF the Europeans and
iavip~ them translated. subsequently he
earned the language well enough to 20
through the country lectuinS. lie knew
OF medicine, and when lee
turing failed him ne took to d0ct0ring, and
he suggestingly said TO me that he believed
he had succeeded in his medical career IN
japan i'm killing three or four hultired
people.
THE JAPANESE DRAMA.
..Finallv he formed a band OF native ac-
tors. assuming with great power some OF
the leading r6leS in the japanese drama
which ne pronounces superior in cunning
OF plot and subllmity OF IAN
ouape TO either the French or German
drama. Thrice he assumed in the native
tongue the role Of Yurd, the hero OF the
historical drama Of Japan, analogous 10
orr .Iamlct,' and played before the MI
kodo. As result Of the performance, he
received unstinted praise from the writers
and nocts OF that country. At his sugges-
ton 7 was led to secure 4 translation OF
the nlav which is entitled 'RoniuS,' and II
win lie produced in this country next sea-
son." .,,,,
why did he retire to the tea pian'a-
TOM" .,,,,,
His acting led to an accession OF wealth
and fame. He then came TO the cohciusiui
that he would settle down and seaieu 10
himself a wife beautiful japanese Wo.
man of what is known rs the 'Damio
class. or the 'long-nosed class. They are
ne white in complexion as any European
and noted for their beauty. lie then bought
a tea and rice plantation, and when visit visit
ed him he was employing about 100 or 2oo
loborers and living a life of ease. He ac-
cumulated his other wives by degrees, l
presume, but all the women seemed 10 re
Getting along without domestic Jars. Al
al events Pauncefort has had an experience
few Englshmen have had