New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17

out in q poor part and finished him OIL Dy casbnS
him for Dazzle, which had been played by Charles
Mathews, and by forcing him into contrast witn
such accomplished actors and local favorites as
Farrcn and Blackstone. At the Haymarkct he was
found by George II. Barrett, who engaged him for
the Broadway Theatre in New-Yorlt, and at that
house he appeared-inaking his first professional
stem in America ON September 81, 1s47, as Sir
Charles Coldstream in used Up.' From that
night onward he was identified with the American
stage. In 1850 he was q member OF Burtons
company. He Joined Wallacts Theatre Ibis fathers
bousc-in 1852, and he inherited 1t and became
its manager when his father died, on ChIlstthas
Dav. 1864 and he conducted 1t until OCTOBER
lss7-very nearly the end OF MS days
Wallack's Theatre was opened IN Broad
Nay. near Broome-st, September 8, 1909; In
Broadway, near Thrteenth-st, September %
ss1. and in Broadway, at the northeast corner
Of Thirtiethst, on January 4, lSS2-where, IN
der the name of Palmers Theatre, 1t now stands
Mr. Wallaell's last appearance on his own stage
was made on MAY /. $50. as De Lignv. in The
Cantan of the Watch His last appearance us
an actor WAS made as Marlowe in " She Stoops
20 Conquer" on May 20, 1886, at the Grand
Ouera House. lie was seen for the last time by
the public on the occasion of the memorable per-
Torrance Of Hamlet that was given for his
benefit by Edwin Booth and associate actors oil
high rank at the Metropolitan Opera House. New
York, on May 81, sSs. The last sentence tha'
he ever uttered to an audience was; win these
few sincere words, bid you respectful good
night, and leave the stOge TO Hamlet ana 10 you
His grave is at Woodlawn.
with the help Of Mr.. Hutton's clear and minute
Introduction and instructive and valuable APP
nandix the reader of these Memories will obtain
q TnaAan
one chapter, the seventh. he will find an inter
estine account of the comedians method OF study.
All along the line of the narrative he will come
unon theatrical anecdotes of moro or less point
and Value. At rare intervals be will be pleased
with statement of novel fact, and now and then
with feicitous descriptive phrase or q suggestive
trait of character. William Farren" says Mr.. Wal
lack, was the greatest old man comedian 1
eyer saw he omits TO add that of the stoge he
was marvel Of pondcrous dulncSs. Mention Is
made OF Mrs. Nisbetts tall, lovely figure, her
baby face, her silvery laugh ana MIS-
Nisbett Is described as "onc OF the
most glorious actresses that ever walked
the stage This lady, the daughter OF
Captain Mcnamara, Is said u have been the
original OF Thackerays Miss Fotheringay, In
pendennis7) Helen Faucit is called one oil
the most sympathetic actresses who ever walked
the English stage" The grand figure OF IhdeK-
cray once or twice appears in the stcry' ana
glimpse is afforded OF Lester Wallack and George
William Curtis ss tho singers Of duct DRINK
10 me only with thine eyes7-at supper party
with William Duer Robinson and the great nov
elst and the elder Whllack az lodging IN
Houston-st Many distinguished names come 10
the surface but 1t is rather remarkable that they
are scarcely ever accompanied by even re shght-
est Characterization II the persons who bore them
Il was, however u popularity Of the Wallacks,
both father and son, that, with the exception OF
the Duke OF Wellington, nobody else ever APP
reared remarkable in their eyes, or made very
striking impression upon their minds lhey
were actors OF splendid abilities and they Were
charming companions but they seldom hndled
about other people. Lester Walhck wnS IN,
deed, little enthusiastic about Macready ara
pcrhaps about Charles Mathews he felt special
pride In the fact that his own acting was eonsld-
cred, by that exquisite actor 70 be blending oil
the Mathews style with the style OF the elder
WalIaek He particularly admired Tyrone Power,
who in early life was his model or the Duke of
Wellington no never fAllered IN praise, ond 1t Is
NOT n surprise 10 End him, IN this memorial, de
clarinR that :" the Duke OF Wellington was ex-
nctly my fathers height five feet eight
u
no TO the time when his reminiscent pen
droppeL fiom his hand he certainly had not been
lavish Of description or celebration OF any OF his
contemporaries. His father knew Lord Byron, and
had many recollections OF that great poet and oil
the circle of Intellectual men 20 which b, belonged;
hut no reference 10 the subject appears In TINS
hook lie himself knew Forrest, llamblin, Burke,
Blake Davenport, Booth, and many other wOrtles
OF the American stage; but many whom he knew
are not mentioned mt all, aud OF those VINO are
mentioned scarcely one is portrayed. In faot' the
reader who LOOKS for any reflection OF Lester
Wallacks times, or even for anything ike an
udeauate intellectual porraiture Of Lester Wallack
himself, will read these pages IN vain. The DOCK
IL 4 fragment and relic, precious-but also
melancholy. -,
In few points the record is inaccurate. DIR.
Sothern as Dundreary did not eclipse MIR, Jeher-
son as Asa Trenchard, in Laura heehes
production Of "our American Cousin A. IL.
Davenport's administration Of the hogging TO
Charles Mathews did not take place Just o9tsiue
the stag door OF the Metropolitan tWlhuer
Garden Theatre, but ~ BroadWay, en- inc InS
MIR. Wallacl was mistaken IN thinking himself the
possessor OF the manuscript OF the larewell SPEECH
that Charles Mathews delivered aC hls tneaue' on
taking his final leave Of the American stage-99e-
caI,Se tbat document was, on the night OF It's DC
Gyery. given by Mr. Mathews TO The writer OF TINS
article who still possesses IL lnSfp 70 " tN'-y
iittIc reference 10 the subject Of JOHN Broughams
alleged or pretended share in the compoSltl9n OF
= i5ndon Assurance" john says Mr.. Wallaek,
isos far less oeicious in the matter
than his friends we're" How far the
ofciousnesS of his friends extended Is not now ma
terjai ncr is the question itself material puC Sr
nresent writer possesses, in John BrOlgham'S own
handwriting the following statement: MroGo
. Iopdon Assurance in conjunction WIN pouc.-
CAN'T who claimed the entire authorship aGc0ru-
Inc 10 his usual ungenerousness Had 10 orlnB
an action against D. b.. whose legal adviser sng-
gested payment Of half the purchase money Easep
, ,n"H ever shown toward Dion Boucicault In this
matter il was John Brougham and nobody else
that was responsible for It, Mr. Walaeks com;
rnents on the subject leave it Just where nc ioulu
IL. DIR. Johnson'si characterlStlc re1hirk noie
probably covers the case: Sir the rlSh hre
fair people: no Irlshmau ever speaks wen OK an
other Among the embellishments OF inns Vof
nme the principal portrait Of Lester WalhGK Gone