The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-10-06

and opened his way TO Thrift. The Chatham
theatre was the third. II auctuated between
ring snd stage, and was eminent for a superb
clown, named Myers, who contested the palm
for glory with the most renowned performers
on the stage. There was also Mount Pitt cir
Gus, on Grand street. These were the places
Of amusement al that period.
AT the Park theatre the stock company was
a literal combination Of stars Of the first mag
nitude. Three comedians the peers Of Gar
rie!. and Liston-performed nightly during
many years. These we're Barnes, llilson and
brother, was also Of the company, but Tom
was a sad dandy and spendthrih. lie was
rarely up in his part and presumed nightly on
the public indulgence, which was tempered by
a sense Of his latent powers as an actor. II
was many years after that Tom was counted
in, aud made quartette Of the masters OF
comedy. Then the Two Dromios were pre-
sented on the Park stage as never before, or
since. Tom, in his later life, atoned for all
his errors which were but the venial sins Of
boyhood but, in the meantime Harry, whose
professional pride was exacting beyond
bounds, was sorely tried. "IIary," said
Tom to him, "lend me $40" "Yes," said
Harry, kindly, con one condition, Tom"
"Name it," "That you will not speak to
me again till you repay the money"
agreed" said Tom, and the money was
handed over. And the sum was repaid long
after on the FIRST nights performance Of the
Comedy of Errors by Dromio Of Ephesius, at
one of the side wings Of the old Park stage.
The Cooper festival came OF at the Park
theatre on a December night Of 1899, after
the cholera had closed its fearful ravages, end
the public relish was keen for theatrieals.
The old veteran had himself suggested the
desperate innovation Of introducing ladies into
the pit This project closed in a sensation.
At the first notice seats were secured with
great eagerness, at the liberal price Of S., till
the whole house had been gulped as a vast
dainty. For the first time in America it was
announced that ladies would occupy the pit.
In those days pits were not partenes nor par
QUOTES, but-pits. The seats did not traverse
an inclined plain extending from the base of
the dress circle to the orchestra, but were Of
access underneath, with tall, perpendicular
columns many feet in height supporting the
first tier Of boxes, under which the pit spread.
Yet the innovation was a splendid success,
and hundreds Of ladies were auayed in all
New Works loneliness, delighted with them
selves and with all they saw and heard on
that triumphant night.
The old veteran was greeted with tum-
ultuous uproar lie appears as lago to the
Othello of Booth. 1t was the Iago Of the
time, and never exceeded; or, il ever, only
when Macready, years afterward, made the
part his own as the crowning triumph Of his
trionic art. The festival was great success
and, in the description we have given, our
contemporary will note much OF which he
was unaware. The proceeds of the entertain
ment relieved the old actor from the pains Of
penury, until, amid the infirmties Of age, he
passed to the silent house of rest, crowned
with the honors due to a gifted actor, and &c
a life of usefulness and effort.