Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-01
A REMARKABLE CAREER.

me W0rtd remlnQS me or anOlher count, tle
unfortunate LouisTasistero. Twas some time
early in the forties-I forget the exact year
when flaming posters all over New York
announced the arrival Of Count Louis Tas-
stero, and with it the fact that he would
make bis first appearance in the character
of Hamlet" the following Monday at the
Bowery Theatre.
The announcement that Count Louis Tas-
istero was to appear there created pro-
found sensation in the dramatic world, for
noblemen were by no means common in
those days, and live Count upon the stage
was rare bird indeed. Long before the
doors opened u clamorous crowd, which
reached from the theatre door TO Chatham
Square, fought and struggled for admission
to see the noble actor. The theatre was
packed, and the instant the Count set his
foot upon the Stage he received an ovation
that fairly shook the building. 1t was evi-
dent that he had captured the gods from
the start, for more splendid specimen CT
physical manhood was seldom seen. the
performance went off smoothly, without o
hitch, for old Jimmy Anderson was The
stage manager, and the Count WAS sur
rounded by capable actors (among whom
were Forrest, Booth, Mrs. Jordan and
others, each then starr, who understood
their business, SO that when the curtain fell
the audience WAS in doubt whether Mr..
Tasistero was great actor or not.
The first performance being oyer the
Count, in company with Mr.. Hambiin. ad"
iourned to Windust's famous restaurant on
Park Row. Here he met n p. Willis, Geo.
p. Morris, Mayor Noah and g number of
other celebrities. The Count sang most
excellent song and told good story, and
long before the morning light shone in upon
their revel the assembled company come to
the conclusion that if he was not a great
actor he was fgst,rate fellow, aud they re
solved to give him boom. His engagement
in New York was only moderate tinancia!
success, but his title OF Count made him =
social if not a dramatic triumph, aud he lett
town with flying colors. He made the
usual starring round, and while at the cap.
ital he was introduced to President Polk,
and formed the acquaintance Of Daniel Web
ster, Henry Clay, Judge Berrien, Of Georgia,
and number of other great men, whose
friendship for Mr.. Tasistero only terminated
with their lives.
The Count was not only a fac gentlemen
and good actor, but ne waa an eminent
linguist and accomplished scholar. He
spoke most of the languages of Europe, and
at the solicitation of Mr.. Webster he aban-
doned the stage, and on his recommenha-
ton accepted the position OF translator TO
the State Department. He knew Greek,
Latin and Hebrew. Ho had not been long
in Washington before he became general
favorite in society, and no great party was
of nil bn m
of Count Tasistero. He was now on the
topmost round of prosperity, minging with
the best society, and enjoying all the hap
piness and comfort that money and social
position could bring.
This golden dream lasted till the war
broke out, and then, like many others, who
had lived for years in Washington, he found
himself unable to accommodate himself to the
new order of things; for all the friendships
and affiliations Of years lay with those who
were fighting on the other side of the Poto
mac. Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Stanton, how
ever, kept him employed during the early
stages of the war, but eventually his name
was dropped from the rolls of the depart
ment. Old age had been creeping on, and
the proud man who for nearly twenty years
had his regular daily task and his regular
monthly salary, suddenly discovered The
hard fact that he was deprived of his living,
and he had made not the slightest provision
for the future. He was utterly disqualified
from commencing life anew-labor of any
kind looked like degradation, and it was
not till his last penny was exhausted that
he consented to become teacher of Ian
guages, for which he was eminently quail
fed For years he eked out a miserable
existence from the stipend gained in that
way, sinking deeper and deeper into power
ty with each succeeding year. Sickness
and want came, and then the most dreadful
calamity of all, almost total blindness.
One by one the little souvenirs of bygone
years were parted with for food and shelter
he and his poor old wife, who had lived in
the greatest luxury and mingled with tho
noblest in the land, found their way to a
wretched garret, and even this poor shelter
was given them by charity. Helpless in his
blindness, his patrician wife was his main
support. No words can paint the suffering
and poverty that these two old people en-
dured under the very shadow of the capitol.
Their old friends were dead and gone, and
at last Count Tasistero found himself u
stranger in the city where once be had been
regarded the glass of fashion and the mould
of form. His wife was taken sick and died
in the hospital but even in the dlrsst depths
of his poverty his pride clung to him IN.
shaken. Neither sickness nor want could
induce him to appeal to the few living friends
who had known him in his better days.
John Mccullough, the actor, was in
Washington few years ago, and heard
that the Count was in Distress and like the
! noble. hearted gentleman that he was, called
upon Mr.. Tasistero, intending to offer him
pecuniary assistance. Recognizing from III:
bearing and language that he was talking tc
high bred gentleman, Mr.. Mccullough
found himself embarrassed in introducing
the subject nearest his heart. As he rose te
danart he urasned tha Count,s hand and