Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-29
SHATTERED IN MIND AND BODY.
Scanlan's Company Paid or and Discharged
The Actor Growing Weaker.

I Inc ActOr SrOWlnS Ne6ker.
Actor William J. Seaman, shattered in mind
and body, is still at the house Of Augustus
Pitou in New York. The poor fellow imagines
| he has brand on the back of his neck and has
thought for weeks that some one in the audi
ence was speaking his lines in "Mavourneen'
| before he did He is completely broken down
| and his case is regarded as hopeless. His great
est fear is tina. he will be sent TO an asylum, but
Mr.. Pitou says he will never permit that
Mrs. Seaman, the devoted vito of the famous
Irish comedian. is almost distracted with grief.
She Maggie Jordan. the young woman who
was famous in 1873. She was accused of having
aided the condemned murderer VIM. J. ShaI KEY
to escape from the Tombs in her clothing. She
had visited him with Mrs. yves Allen.
Sharkey used Mrs. Aliens pass and part Of
Maggie Jordan's dress, and succeeded in pass
ing the guard.
Maggie Jordan Joined him in Cuba and was
shamefully abused by him until he died in
exile. Then she returned TO New York and
was married to Seaman. Seaman 10 now only
thirty-four years old BE was born in Spring
field. Mass. and opeued his last season there in
"Mavourneen."
At Manager Pitou's residence yesterday it
was stated that the actor was growing weaker
rapidly and more violent in his rawlings.
His physicians believe that his death is not far
off.
Scanlans ''Mavourneen' Company was paid
of and discharged yesterday afternoon.
THE ACTORS FATAL DISORDER.
People are asking if it is one of the penalties
that successful comedians have to pay that
they are likely 20 be afflicted with paresis.
so many actors have been, and as Seaman now
is Seaman WAS on the highroad of fortune.
He had achieved a popularity in his latest play
unequaled by any comedian OF lis class ex-
ceptIng Joe Emmett. Since the last OF Septom-
Der, when he opened with his new piece, he has
been making as mucn money as over Emmett
did in New York, yet it seems, according 10
the physicians. That the fatal disease upon
him while he was gaining this success.
1t is not, however, because there Is anything
in successful acting of itself which induces this
disease, but it is because men who have made
successes have not the moral fiber to resis:
temptations which are associated with success.
Seaman. like the others, had been indulgin8 in
habits in his private life which invite this dis
ease. he was not strong enough to bear
prosperity. Neither was Joe Emmett, but En-
NETS only fault was occasional over indulgence
in brandy cocktails, and this failing alone does
not bring on paresis
Mr. Jefferson is of opinion that the life of an
actor when II is supplemented in private by
rules which any prudent man would adopt Tor
his conduct is healthy rather than otherwise.
He is past sixty and yet he says that SO far as
he knows he is as strong ~ when he WAS forty.
He has only one anxiety, and that is that con-
slant repetition Of q single part may lead to
mental weakness, and 1t III on that account that
he abandoned for 30 long time the pyodu"-
ton OF Zip Van Wrinkle"
Mr. Harrigan. who is one OF the hardest
working men III the profession, Is q man OF
splendid health, because he Cares for himself.
Dixey, since he has abandoned his frivolities,
has regained vigorous health, while Francis
Wilson, De Angels, Herber. Kelcey, Burr
Mcintosh and Maurice Barrymore are fine
types of athletic vigor- These men are capable
of holding their own in decent conviviality,
but they shrink from such excuses as have
brought SO many comedians to untimelv groves.