Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23


well wrought dialect verses and some very
effective short stories had secured Tor Bret
Harte large and discriminating public;
but he was not by any means the rage.
One day that Jingle Of laughable nonsense,
''The Heather Chinee," struck the earth,
and st once all the air seemed 10 ring with
it. It swept to the fsrthest corner Of the
English-speaking world, and then got itself
translated into know not how many alien
tongues. All the world went merry mad, and
everybody shouted to everybody else The
heather Chinee is peculiarP
Now it is undoubtedly very pleasant for
man TO ind himself 50 famous as thSt. But
at the same time it cannot be quite satisfy
ing to man whose best and most artistic
work has commanded only moderate atten-
tion, when he finds that q careless and un-
considered piece of work has struck the nerve
that reaches everywhere. Still, that is the
way Of the world, and it was 50 in this case.
In Pittsburg, as in most other places, .
goodly audience would have assembled TO
hear the man who wrote ''The Luck Of
Roaring Camp" but the hall was packed
with the people who wanted to hear the
writer of "The Heather Chinee." The great
audience listened with delight to the story
OF the old and new days in California; but Il
was an allusion to the popular jingle that
set everybody wild at last.
sand noW," said the lecturer, "a few
words about the social problem to be worked
out. An element of trouble is there-ths
element which you call the Heathen Chi
nee." The familiar words seemed explo-
sive, and they started such demonstration
of enthusiastic applause as the evening had
not hitherto produced. They gave the oP-
portunity for testifying to the pleasure
which Bret HarJe, the writer, had given 70
those who now listened to Bret Harte, the
speaker.
DUNDREARY AND OTHERS.
But wonder if either of these men who
wrote and talked ever gave so much pleas
ure to US of that time as man who did not
write funny things, and only talked the
funny things some one else had written? Is
there anybody who ever listened to the ex-
quisite absurdities and witnessed the de-
licious antics of Lord DundredTy that does
not laugh in remembering them? 1t was
enjoyment to see the feather-headed En-
glishman come upon the stage with that
queer little hop; and it was a delight IN
speakable to hear him trying TO make con-
versation with Hiss Laura. His muddled
conundrums were delicious, and his sage re-
heetions on the bird with only one feather,
and the birds that had to flock together be-
cause they couldn't flock alone, were not
things to be forgotten.
1t required an actor to give Lord Dun
drearv, and Sothern was actor. No mere
"lunnY man" could have given us the con-
sistent and gell-rounded character We all
loved so to associate with. For Dundrsary
was no mere empty-headed dude He was
sterling English gentleman with strong
fiber of manliness in him. The glass he
held out to us had plenty of froth on top,
but il was full of heady ale. It needed an
artist to demonstrate all that.
That artist we shall see no more. Nor vet
this other whom we remember as lovingly
for the wholesome laughter he provoked in
us-"Ned" Adams, the RoUer, who roll
licked so hilariously through the pleasant
growth of "Wild Oats" What robust,
hearty fun there was in himl he was q
prime favorite in Pittsburg, and his name
is one to cOnjure with among old theater-
goers. He was by no means a one-part
actor; but the character of RoUer seemed to
be distinctiveIy his, and his alone.
COLLINS, THE COMEDIAN.
Another there was whom saw only in
his old age, but who was nightly good,
even then. That was Collins, the Irish
comedian. 1 doubt if the stage Irishman
has often been in better hands than his. All
the loveable, laughable traits Of the eharae-
ter he brought out to perfection. And be could
sing delightfully."-. Even when long past hil
prime he would sing widow Machree" in
a manner to make quick impression on-tha
heart OF that resolute lady if she were with,
in hearing.
Joseph Jefferson is not "reminiscences, I
rejoice to say, but an oft-recurring presence,
bringing perennial laughter and tears with
him to those who remember these others, as
well as to those who remember them not.
He played q notable engagement in Pitts
burg in the old stock days, when Miss
Dargon was leading lady at the Opera
House. She was cast for the part Of Rips
long suffering wife, and objected to the as
signment, as being unworthy of her, 1 be-
lieve But she played it, and with such
effective vim as to make ii star part, fairly
dividing the honors with Jeferson's Rip.
In days past no less than in days present
there were plenty of merry burlesquers to
make us laugh, without much thought of
what we were laughing at. And even that
may be good thing in its way.
THE BURLEsoUE OF ''PocAHoNTAs."
Does anybody remember Brougham's
burlesque Of "Pocahontas?" That was
much Of favorite in Pittsburg years ago,
and with its punning atrocities and its
funny. But its flavor proved weak in COM
parison with some Of the dishes that were
served later.
An apprehensive thrill Of expectation
went through the community when it was
known that Lydia Thompson and her En-
glish blondes were coming. They came,
and then there was q reactiVe thrill OF dis
appointment. The blondes proved TO be
not nearly so naughty as was feared. A
man came along who dressed up elAborately
in female apparel, and took the laughter
loving part of the town by storm one sea-
son. This was Lefhngwell, who played the
principal Wicked Sister in the burlesque
"Cinderella. He was large Of frame and
robust of voice, and to see him aping the
airs of fashionable miss, and to hear him
trying to simper in affected young-lsdy
tones, tickled large crowds Of people inn
mensely. And, indeed, he was very funny;
and even now the recollection Of his antics
moves to laughter. He did no harm with
his absurdities, and, like the rest Of the
merry-makers, he did some good.
JAMES c. PURpY.