New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-10
THE DRAMA--MUSIC.
HENRY IRVING AS EUGENE ARAM.


Another memorable dramatic event has b.,
added to the chronicle of tho New-York stage NJ I.
vng Miss Terry and their associates Of the London L.
ceum appeared last night ut tho Star Theatre and M
sened for the first time In this city, the tragic drama -
Eugene Aram." This performance was tho bceiunt,,
Of the brief series with which Mr. Irving will taka ~
final farewell OF the American theatre. and he ~
greeted with sympathetic kinduoss by great comps.v
of admring and friendly spectators Public nerost \.
his proceedings is manifestly undated. Sincerity -
purpose th0roughness OF equipment aud charm Of an
cution are still puissant and attractive The pero,
ance. last night, of strange ~
melancholy grace, and likewise Of weird, pos4t
CAL and pathetic power; and the respouea
to twas unequvoca and fall ofSnthusiasn. Euss.e
Aram.' being a fresh subject here. would natur,llv
eager attention. Mr. Iryngs impersonation =
the central character is in vein distinctly his own ara
this could not and did not fail TO the veliest -,
miration. More than fifty years ago. just after Buwer
novel on the subject OF Eugene Aram published aa
parsonage first came upon the stage. and his first nss,
ductiOn to the American theatre occurred -
the Bowery. where he was represented by JOB.
r. Scott. He langushed, however, Q dramatic cha,
acter and soon disappeared. and he has remained ava
escent ever since He did not thrive England ncith
TILL in 1873, Mr. Irving, who had then made great e
cess In The Bells, prompted Mr. W. G. Willis to efsst
his resuscitaton in new play. and acted him in nsv
manner. The part then found actor who could play
feeling and romantic grace, and making imaginary
experience OF suffering vital and heart-rendius IN
Its awful reality. Since then though dark and painful
and not popular, Eugene Aram has held place upon
the stage The performance ranks with the best that
Mr. Irving has given-with Matthias LeswqHes D4bse
Louis 4L and Hamlet; those studies Of nght-side Of
human nature in which his imagination and intellect and
his sombre feeling have been revealed aud best eremp
ned. IL is seldom that theme novel IL pre-
sented and therefore glance along the whole line Of
the subject will not be inappropriate
Eugene Aram was born at the village of RamsgiI In
Nidderdale, Yorkshire, In 1904. His father, Peter
Aram' was man of good family, but becoming reduced
In circumstances he took service gardener on the e.
tate OF wealthy local gentleman, Sir Edward Blackett
OF Newly Hail. In ITO Peter Arsm and his family
were living at Bondgate near Rpon, and there Eugene
went to school and learned to read the New Testament
at considerably later period he instructed daring
one month. by tho Rev. Mr. Alcock Of BYndalL This
was the extent OF the tuition that he fecelvsd from
others For the rest he was sclfsaught He
had a natural passion for knowledge and he dis
played wonderful industry in its acquisition When SIX
teen years old he knew something OF Latin, Greek and
Hebrew, and later he made himself acquainted with
Chadaic and Arabic. His occupation, up to this tms
was that of assistant to his father gardener but
about 1920 he was employed In London a clerk to
merchant, Mr.. Christopher Blackett. relative to his
fathers patron. Sir Edward. He did not remain them
long. serious illness Frustrated him. and on recover
Ing he returned to Nidderdale with which romantic 70
gion his fate to be forever associated He now DO
came tutor and not long after this time he was en-
ployed as such at a manor-house, near Rams
gill, called GOwthwate Hail. a resIdencenco built
cary IN the Seventeenth Century by Sir John Yorka
aud long Inhabited by his descendants. While liyips
there he met and courted Anna Spanoe the daughter Of
farmer at the lonely village OF dollhouse and in 1871
he married her. The Mddlesmoor registry contains the
record OF this marriage and OF the baptism death OF
their 0rst child. In 1874 Eugene
Knaresborough. where he kept school, He he'd all
ths whiie seduousiy pursued his Studies and he nov
was scholar Of extraordinary requirements mot only in
the languages but In botany. heradry and many orhsr
branches OF learning His life seemed fair and his future
bright; but change was at hand He had not resided
very long at Knaresborough before he became
acquainted with three persons mos: unlike himself
IN every way These Henry Terry, Richard
HOusenan, and Daniel Clarke. Houseman was q fax
dresser. Clarke was a travelling Jeweller All Of them
were Incorporate ana it Is supposed that the beginning
OF Eugene Arams downfall was the appetite for drink
The confedeacy that he formed with men il NOT
easily applicable and probably it has rightly
explained The accepted statement IL that It was con.
fedeacy Tor fraud and theft Clarke reported to be
the heir presumptve to q large fortune He purchased
goods was punctua In his payments and established hs
credit lie was supposed to be making purchases for
merchant In London. Ho dealt largely In gold and
silver plate and la watches, and soon hs made q
liberal use or his credit to accumulate valuable obect
In i'44 ne disappeared and he was seen OF
heard Of again His frauds became known and thu
houses OF Aram and Houseman as his associates
were searched but nothing found impcate either
of them.
Soon AFTER this Aram left Observation-Disclosures
ing his wIe-and proceeded to London where for two
years he hal employment teacher OF Latin He was
subsequently an usher at the boarding school of the Rev.
Anthony Hinton at Hayes In Middesex and here It was
observed that ne displayed Gil extraordinary and most
scrpuous tenderness and sOlcitude as to the life and
safety OF even worms and insects these he would 10
move from the garden walks and put places of 90
curity. AT later period he found employment
as transcriber OF Acts of Parliament for registration
III Chancery stli later he became usher the Free
sehoo' OF Lynn IN Norfolk, where. among other labors
he undertook to make comparative lexicon and with
this purpose collated over 5000 words In English.
Latin Greek. Hebrew and Celtic. he had OF course,
ample opportunity to leave England; but he never did
So AT length, In 1852 a lsborer who digging for
limestone alta place known St. Roberts Cave Thistle
Bill, near knsIesborough came upon human skeleton,
bent double and buried In the earth Suspicion was
aroused These bones, 1t was surmsed might be thoss
OF Daniel Clarke. His mysterious disappearanes
and his associates were remembered. The author.
itie3 sent forth and arrested Terry, Housenan and
Eugerc Aran and these persons brought to their
trial a. YORK bold front would have saved them for
the evidence against them was weak. Aram stood firm
but Houseman qailed. and presently turned States
eVicenoe" ana denounced Aram the murderer Of
Clarke The accused scholar spoke In his defence
and with astonishing skl but he failed TO defeat the
direct and decisive evidence Of his accomnlce Hous<
man declared that on the day of the murder Clarks,
Aram and himself were in company and were occupied
in disposns OF the property which they had ootaned
that Aram proposed to walk in the fields and
that they all proceeded, thereupon, nghtfa the
vicinity fist Roberts Cave. Clarke and Aram. he said
went over the hedge and advanced toward cave and
struck Clarke timas unop hrsast ana
head and so killed him. II was dark night and In tho
middle of winter but the shining through
drifting clouds. and Houseman said he could tho
movement Of Aram's hand but not the weapon which