The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-06-04
BRET HARTE YEARS AGO
Az Dramatic Critic ofthe Golden Era
His Neglect TO Appear at u Rch carsaI
on CIny street.

The winter of go and '6l was n particu.
lmly wet ono--ho memorable humiliation of Sacra-
mcnto occurred that ycarbut before the heavy rains
swollcd tho rivers 50 rs to induce that catastrophe
the lowering clouds and sunless days made home en-
tetalnmcnts essential To good spirits. parlor play
was decided among and full corps Of prosontabo
and Intelligent young men desirable. Col. La w
renee was Mt that time the genial AMI gentleman like
publisher of tho GDiisn Era, our literary paper lilo
was society favorlte and most agreeable man. dead
alas, these three years. and to him appealed for
"a nice romantic sort Of hero. ~
90 DO not you know, ~ said the ready Colonel
~ that we've got the brightest genius going down at
thS office regular Holiness Emerson Lowell Long
fellow, aud all those chaps combined In one ~
Explanations Of establishment and calculations Of
lcpioach for not sooner producing the rarity
part
"Why, yes, certainly continued our Colonel:
land II shows how you read tho Era, not to have
discovered him yourselves Let mo see; have q
cory9 No; well, III send You ONE
" wasn't necessary; there was one on hand, ana
with haste II was produced
:" Read the theatrical notices. directed Col. Law
renee, and we oheycd. a troupe of pantomimiss,
known rs tho " Martinottcs, ~ was then at Ma
guire's' and 1t was to the setting forth of these
ustes, apiiy tho new writer had devoted his charm
Ing pen Nothing brighter quainter, more abaurdy
realistic, and at the same time dclicatey nged with
ms own peculiar genius, ever came from his brain
lie had shaped the crtique into sort OF rhapsody On
the charms of pantOmime Its contempt for reality
Its demands on the Imagination and satisfactory tr
uuph facts ending with frantic culogy on the
pretty girl of the troupe, and Unsuitable cry for
more of her In everything.
" Bring him up Colonel, bring him up - was the
thc iN'tuihp We must STU MIN
at onCe.',
Poor dear Arienus was in his zenith then, and
when Col Lawrence appeared at the parlOr door next
evening with the announcement:
1--WE got my moral and Intelligent kangaroo out
here In the hall; shall show him OF ~
We all knew the star of the Era had arrived,
ana tiat our friend was playing the part of the i'm
mortal Snowman.
As hostess went forward to meet slight middle
sized. pale young gentleman, with fine eyes, sCho-
arly air AMI a soft voice. with something very sweet
and sympathetic In Its tone. His chaperOu had at
taclled zephyr scarf to his arm, by which 10 lead
him about, but waving the Snowman Tor the moment,
presented him to me rs tMy young friend, MIR.
Frank iiarte " and by that name We knew him
believe he told mo 1t wasa family name when asked
him about II.
lie exactly shy but his social talent was of
that knd That shOne best In small circle. His
ical introduction made him at home among us, and
within week the dramatic scheme had so prospered
tllat the Love Chase'' was cast, Mr. Harte Wild
rake, and one OF the loveliest aud most Intelligent
girls In San Francisco a sure he thought sol MS
Constance. The night for the first rehearsal was
named, and our stage manager (an Englishman re-
tred from business and as near millionaire men
came In those pre- Woslce days chosen.
Promptitide was eNpatiated upon, promises given
and-rehcarsa night came.
Seven and half was the hour, aud It found all
the dramatts persona there save Widrake. lie
hau dined with us the day previous, owing to q
newly discovered passion for squash pe--in which
our cook exccllcd-and his parting murmur had been
Mingled euoglum on her skill and promise to be In
season. Eight O'Clock came, nnc followed, aud at
past no slroleu Into party of Icy eNcriors
Ge a, volcanic emotions But lieca itself could
not nave been more refrcshngly cool than he; how
Oileh we have laughed over that night, In connection
Win some OF his later and more important Delinquent
Giles.
IIo glanced half benIgnly, half absentIy, on the
CARING assembly and addressing me, inquired with
sudden Interest IL had ever noticed picture In tho
Rembrandt style In n window Just below INA
gulre's.' "sce 1t, l entroat you, ho oniiuuod
win MS soft, persuasive draw: at Is story a
poem, a-ah, Mss-,f addressing tho eHervescing
Constance, who paybook In hand, had seated
herself on the pano-stool with compressed lips and
lowering brow-'arc you going 10 give the divine
it,
twenty years and more have passed since then, but
now IL all comes back agair and how plainly see
MS dropping cad and absurdly pentcntaI attitude
under tho perfect gust Of reproaclfu words swept
AROUND him. Family Fair.