River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-01

j. II. Siddons, a veteran journalist,
gives in his Memoirs the following
"Reminiscences of Byron, as he saw him
in a Drury Lane Theatre Saloon"
1T was in the autumn of 1915 that
I first saw and was spoken to by Lord
Byron. He was then a member Of the
Committee of Management of Drury
Lane Theatre. AS a boy with theatrical
connections, had the run of the green
room. and thus became acquainted
with Edmund kean, then in the plenitude
contrasting strongly as it did with the
cold classicality of the Kemble school,
of his fame. But, though an ardent
admircr of his realistic style Of citing,
could not bear to go near him after
the first interview, for the vast quantity
of Gin and water which he drank during
q single performance east an offensive
odor about him. One evening, while
he was performing Richard III, Sher7
idan (the author Of THE School for
Scandal, etc came in and inquired
for Lord Byron; and, on being told
/ that he was in the "saloon' of the
( theatre, he was on the point of going
there, when | asked him(for | had
/ spoken to him previously TO take me
with him, to which request he at once
/ asscnted.
The saloon, as it was called, of
1 Drury Lane Theatre, was Il spacious
room at the back of the second tier Of
/ the boxes-a resort of the well-dressed,
painted and powdered demimonde, who
/ made it the market-place of their
/ charms, finding their customers in the
I youth of the classes who entered the
theatre at pm, paying half-price. :
At the time of which | speak, the
'saloon was hung exclusively with
/ Chinese lamps and candelabra, which
/ she'd a dim, religious light over the
whole apartment. We found Lord
/ Byron leaning against one of the pillars
I which supported the roof. | was
/ struck with his appearance. His head,
! which he turned aside to show its form
and impart a scornful air to his physi-
4 ognomy, was covered with thick,
/ dark-brown curls. His neck was
bare, for, in opposition to the fashion
/ Of the day, which favored stiff crayats
and high collars, he wore his
collar over his shoulders. His
coat was a dark-blue cloth with
/ 2lit DuIlOUS-- Il SN liAON TAIL NI1Nh Wv
/ rigueur; his trousers, very broad and
1 long, almost covering his feet,
for he was always anxious to conceal
the club-foot which was a freak of
nature and an of'ense to his vanity.
His hand, of the arm which supported
his head against the pillar, was singular
/ " white and small, and he evidently
/ liked to exhibit it. After a few words
/ of conversation. to which of course /
! did not listen, Sheridan introduced
me Struck by the name, Lord Byron
/ asked if was intended for the stage,
1 because. he said, you have good
low-comedy mug of your own" |
did not feel violently complimented,
for, if had my histrionic tastes, they
! inclined to the Remeos. Jariiers, and
/ Hamlets usual mistake of youth
full amateurs and nursing professionals.
! But | bore no malice to the noble poet,
/ and did not therefore discard the en-
/ ioyment his works always afforded
me.
Among the female members of the
dramatic company was very beauti-
full woman. Mrs. Mardyn, who be-
came factor in the chronique
scandaleuse of the day. Black eyes
of a dazzling character, raven tresSes,
BLOOMING checks, red lips, small feet
and hands. formed an ensemble that
constituted an apology for the absence
of dramatic power--fOr she was very
poor actress. twas currently rumored
that Lord Byron had become bewitched
by the Mardyn, and 1.-The common liar
imputed to the admiration she excited
-,
! Mrs Beecher Stowe, however, does
not accept this excuse for the connubial
breach Quieu sabe?
Mrs Mardyn's beauty was big
card for the stationers of London.
Numerous portraits of the fair creature
in water-calor> photography being
unknown in 1879, decorated many
shop window; and often appended to
the sketch was this line from measure
for measure;
Take, o, take those lips aYsy;
Or this:
Hide o, hide those hills Of snow.
often met Lord Byron in Pail Mall,
after the interview mentioned above,
and he always had friendly word for
me. He gave me a letter 10 John Murray
his publisher, desiring him TO give me
a copy of The Corsair, which copy
Lord B. subsequently decorated with
his autograph. for | carried it about
with me in the expectation of again
eneountering him. :
-<--
l have tried Athlophoros for an at
tack Of rheumatism. and | feel a good
deal better than | lid before using the
medicine have not as many pains
as had before. Please send me six