New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-21

era months rom bis own stage and from yowYork and
,rtcrserons Illness reappear, ct WaacNs Theatre. on
Wednesday night
Among the comedians vino graced the British
stage in the years Of the present century John
TOMBSTONE II1-hman, and an excellent and popular
Of Irish chGracters This gentleman was the son OF
an officer Of the British army, retired from the serice
and established in the County Wicklow ireland
Here Jack tombstone born. and here in his yOuth
he educated 10 he n soldier But his tastes and de-
srcs took pacific turn: he presently discovered
the possess fine voice for singing and. nj last,
discarfng the pursuit ~ arms he appeardat the Crow
ST. Theatre. Dublin. as C1pi0i Aacheoh In "Tbe Beg
gas Opera" entirely successful, and 80 became an
actor.
This avocation he possessed advantages
His ngre above the middle sze his face wac hand
some and il wnningly indicative OF buoyant and
sparkling hunOr; and his versatile mmetc talent had
that wide range OF faculty which enabled him to pre-
sent equa y WE'LL the refined Irish gentleman and the I'M
Sophisticated shrewd and roguish irish peasant His
manners frank cordial aud agreeable His singing
was delicious He could impersOnae. with adequate
skill, such opposite and contrased characters as Sir
Lncius OTrigJer and Dennis B,7dgrufSrry. He the
original representative Of InFe in COman's operatic
comedy Of Inkle and Yarco" Among his characters in
which he reputed TO he above rivalry were M9W
OFah>ytn Foddy ORaFrrhy, and Te1,ie. He sang the
melody OF Sayourneen Deellsh with the sweetness OF
the nightingale No singing comedian Of the time could
compare with him; and it was not until ncledon aroso
that his supremacy IN lis line was In the least disturbed
Jack tombstone in London OF fOryOne years
favOrite the stage, and during the Wild days OF
the Regency, n fayOrte in the circle OF tho
Princes companions. His residence was in COvent
/ Garden, over AGAINST the Market, and for this
place his partiaty great ne often heard 10 say
that the cabbages gave sweet and Wholesome odor to
the morning air in that region. He thrifty man.
and he saved large sum OF money 50 that, on his
daughters wedding day, he was able to give to her
dowry OF 100000 That daughter married James william
Waack in 1917, and Of that union John Lester Walack
was the first child He was born in New-York on the lst
of January. 1920 His mother died in 1851 hsf>AArm
1864
MS seldom that an actor can look back such a
dramatic lineage IA that OF Lester WallacR On the
maternal aide would naturally inherit the sensitive.
sprighty temperament the romantic fancy, the tender
heart and the elegance and lash that
acteristic of Celtic nature NJ ts best In the grand
son Of Irish tombstone" these qualities would be ex-
pectcd; AMI those VINO know Lester WalaCk aware
that he possesses them On the piternii side his inner
tance was even richer in all the attributes that c0ns
tltc chara3 sturdy and brilliant, command
inc mind and noble person. His m.her was great
actor IN both tragedy aud cOmely Ills patcfAal grand
father distinguished on the stage. both a. singer
and a comedIan and his paternal grandmother (Eliz-
abeh Field good actress mat she had playe'
leading business with GarIick
FROM HE DICK TO DRURY LANE.
The career Of the elder Wstlack is one OF the proud
memories Of the stage, and part Oft gives ono OF tne
brightest chapters the history of the theatre in Amer
lea James william Wa!lack was born at Hercules Bald
mg Lambeth London, the 2ith day OF August 1913.
His parents intended him for the Navy, AM he obtained
a mlshipmnS berth but he wished TO be an actor Ike
his father and compliance with he boys wish, he
at an early age ttacled the Academic Theatre" in
Leicester square London which had been established by
Queen charlotte, for perform by English and Ger
man children. There he attracted S)7 Ae attention Of
sheridan who presently red for aim an engagement
at Druy Lane Theatre remained FOR lrY two
ycarst the burning OF that famous house, February
81 1909. After that he lived for time in Ireand but
returning to London he became attached to the New
Drlry Lane reOpeued October II, 1912, and there,
little later, acted the Hamlet OF Robert Will
EIstOn, aud Likewise LIgO, Ed0ar, Rcha3d MdcduT
and other seconds 10 Edmund Kean.
His performances bore the criticism of Hazlitt. His
talents rng qualities the friendly noticed
Lord ByrOn-then OF the ling directory OF
Drury Lane. With ElstJn he became special favorte
His brilliant faculties for acting thus educated in
thorough school and in stored and IN stirring times To
have kembe and Kean, EllstOn, Marden and Ban
MISTER Mrs Jordan and Mrs SddODs and to have listened
to the talk Of men who had known Garrick and Mackin
was, surely to have enOyed great educational privilege
This the fortune OF Lester allacks father The
books OF the day in his time, the novels
OF Scott and the poems of Byron. From influences TIN
potent and nyIgoratng he could not and ne did not fail
to derive a splendid impetus in the art which he had
chosen He remained upon the stage for than half
cenuryhis final performance (tnat Of nedick) hay
ing been given i'll New-York at his theatre
on May H. 1359-and to the last he
maintained the cury and galliard spirit and manner
the brilliant period which his youth had been cast
and his character formed.
His first visit America made in 1915 at which
time he out September at the Old Park Theatre
NeW-York. Macbeth; but it not till about 1851
that he finally settled here. and made this his permanent
home During the interval he several times crossed the
Atlantic. the in both
America he travelled far and wide. AT one period
from September l. 1897, September %, 1s39-he
MANAGED the National Theatre" the first " Wal
lacks" although 1t did bear his name.
at the corner OF Church and Leonard sts in
New-York and II this house had been destroyed by
fire. 1t the date last named. hares Kean TO
have appeared in it that night Rihard HL, It
probable that his permanent residence here would have
established much earlier than it. After the
burning of the National Theatre he removed his company
to Nlbo's Garden and maintained himself there for a
short His opportunity OF founding theatre In
NewYOrk did not come for many years; but at length
reared upon the wreck OF Brougham's Lvceum" which
had gone to pieces after brief aud unsuccessful career.
extending from December23, $780, to March II, 1852
walacks Theatre. situated in Broadway the south
west corner Of BrO0mest was Opened,-on September
g. 1852 This theatre, steadily prosperous, and having
undergone two removals. has ever since remained Of
the favortte institutions OF the American capital.
CAREER OF THE YOUNGER wALLAcK.
The early life of Lester waack passed in England
where nc carefully educated The profession chosen
for him the army; but after Hitting himself for mill
tary duties and receiving a commission, he determined
his mothers request, TO rehnquish military
life. and he then resolved to become actor Being
member OF a theatrical family. reared among theatrical
associations and influences, and accustomed TO the
from bOyhood. this resolve surprising At about
the Of twenty-five he came In Dublin, aud during
several successive he acted there and IN Elm
9TH
Once, while playing in a stock company 1t Manchester,
no n En.el nf LLlI.nILa CLshman-