Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12
LONG AGO ACTORS.
"reminiscences of Theatricals in
Washington in Early Days.
THE JEFFERSON FAMILY
When They Managed the American Theater
in This City-Stories Of John Howard Payne
and His "Home, Sweet Home'-A violinist
alta Party-Actors in the Speakers Chair.
Written for The Evening Star.

Il death OF Florence o lew weeks ago re-
vived the memory of an old theater-goer, whose
recollections of the past antedate my own.
Meeting him on my return from q few weeks
absence he expressed some surprise at my not
mentioning the amphitheater, which was To-
Gated where for years Walker & Kim mel's livery
stables stood. The stables still stand, but all
trace Of any previous occupation Of the site by
a theater is obliterated. Ny memory Of the
circus, which was known as browns circus"
was going there as boy to see 'the cataract
of the Ganges with real water" obtained
from the spring in the square opposite
and next to the tavern kept by Harry
Sweeting, but my friend Capt. X. says, as
a theator it was one Of the best and there he
saw Mr.. Jefferson the eldest and the great
comedian Barne, play the 1.-TWO Dromios,"
and there Madame Celeste and her sister Con-
stance first appeared. Previous to this period
the Wood and Warren Company, with Mr. and
Mrs. Francis. Mr.. and Mrs Wood, Mr.. and Mrs.
Duff, Mr.. and Mrs. Rowbotham, and others of
equal celebrity played at the old American
Theater. In 1887 the National Theater opened
under the management Of haywood and Row.
botham, with "The Hypocrite" haywood in his
great characters of Md,corm and Sir PertiadI
Mc.SycOphdnt in the MAN of the World" in
which he had won fame on the other side of the
Atlantic. Mrs. Rowbotham was q vocalist of con-
terludes.
THE AMERICAN THEATER.
The American Theater under the Jefferson
family remained open at the same time and
Edwin Forrest played there for some weeks. l
am indebted to my friend for some incidents
occurring when James Sheridan Knowles played
an engagement here at the American Theater.
He was supported by Miss Riddle, an admlra-
BILE actress. and on the night of her benefit
vIaot IN hov MI cfo IrHo 20
her Julia in ''The Hunchback,' his own play,
but he had accepted an invitation to attend a
supper given by the typographical society on
that Saturday night and could not appear, apd
her friends-she was great favorite-deter-
mined to resent what they regarded as an insult
to an American actress and on Monday night
they appeared in force, but the printers Of
the city Outnumbered them and Knowles was
allowed to proceed without interruption Miss
Riddle however, getting all the applause. My
friend recalled most admirable actor who came
later, James Anderson. He played The Stranger
to Mrs. brakes Mrs. Halter. A great actress she
was and subsequently Mr.. Anderson the leading
character in the ''Patrician's Daughter" sup
ported by Josephine Clifton. remember Mr..
Anderson q most admirable actor. Mrs.
Drake was for years the leading tragedienne of
the American stage. She married quite late in
life Capt. George W. Gutter. whose Song of
Steam entitled him to be enrolled in Girls
wolds Poets Of America" At the time that
Treasury Department.
Another actr,ss of that day whom my old
friend recalled was Mrs. Farren, the aunt,
think, Of Julia Dean, who for years held lead
Ing position on the stage. ConversinG with
the old playgoer was like reading q file Of old
play bills. His memory teemed with incidents
Of those old days and those who trod the
boards, the Kembles, the Coopers, the Wander
hoffs.
VIM. E. Burton, to whom alluded few
weeks a man of nuch Efararv ability
He edited 1.-THE Gentleman's Magazine for
some years and was a scholar Of erudition, and
if he had devoted his life to literature would
have made a name in that pursuit. He was
a learned and devoted student Of Shakespeare,
and died possessed of several very rare copies,
which were purchased by Mr.. Forrest at the
sale of his library, very fine and extensive
one. am reminded that the Jeffersons re-
sided in the house on 9Th street now occupied
by Vim. B. Webb and others as law Offices.
SCHOLARS AS WELL As ACTORS.
The actors of eminence of that day were
scholarly men-students- Of learning in
the drama. like Burton, Murdoch and Forrest,
who, before he played Richelieu, read his
life history, fifty-seven volumes, in French
What actors OF the present day make such
preparation to enact a character? Murdoch
studied Charles De Moor in Schillers .'Rob-
berry for years, and made it one OF his great
presentations.
DtautlIul trlDut0 10 the eluer Joseph
Jefferson which marks his resting place at
Harrisburg was written by the chief justice of
Pennsylvania John Bannster Gibson, and it is
as just it is beautiful.
Judge Gibson, one Of the most eminent
jurists that ever graced the Supreme bench,
was Shakespearan scholar, profound and
thorough, an authority never questioned.
Judge j. s. Black was chosen to deliver the eu-
logy upon him, and it was one of great power
and beauty. Chief Justice Gibson was the
h-~% -
here, where for many years he was cOmmssary
general OF subsistence OF the United States
army. Your readers are familiar with Byron's
monOdy on Sheridan ending with the lines:
Signing that nature made but one such man
And broke the die III molding Sheridan.
and with sheridan's monody on Garrick.
Byron said of him: ''Whatever Sheridan had
chosen to do had been par excellence, always
the best Of its kind. He had written the best
comedy, The School for Scandal the best
drama, the best farce, The Critic the best
Grafton ever composed or heard, at the trial OF
Warren Hastings the best address, his monody
on Garrick."
John Howard Payne wrote Home, Sweet
Home in London about 1888, and not in the
Ialburtt House in AnacOstia as has been pub
lished. Mr.. Payne was i'll this city from l849 to
lS5O-5l and left very reluctantly to take the
position as consul to Tunis offered him by Mr..
Fillmore. He had previously held that posi-
ton and returned from there of his own Volt
ton. knew Mr.. Payne very well. saw him
almost daily, as he was connected with the
National Inteaigencer as literary and theatre
cal writer. Mr.. Payne resided in England for
twenty years and more. He made his first ap-
pearance at Drury Lane in 1913, then about
twenty years OF age, as Young NoyUGl in the
tragedy OF Douglas" and was very successful,
being hailed the Young Rosclus." His ac-
quaintance in the literary and professional
world Of Europe was very extensive. Lamb,
Coleridge and the great French actor Talma
were among his intimates.
Prof. Joseph g. Foertseh met Mr.. Payne fire.
quently while giving music lessons to the tai
ented children Of Mr.. Eberbach, then living
on the corner Of and 9Th street, and arranged
Home, Sweet Home" as quartet for the chill
dren to sing for Mr.. Payne. 1t was at this
time, 1S49-5O, Mr.. Payne told Prof Foertsch of
the difficulty he had experienced in obtaining
q suitable air to the words of that world re-
nowned song and introduced it in his opera
OF "Clari the Maid of Milan" The opera
was written in 1882, consequently the
song was written after that. Prof. Foertsch
reminded mo Of another poet who at
that period was well known here Louis F.
thomas, who wrote some very beautiful songs.
There was brother Of Mr.. Thomas, an author
OF some celebrity, who was here at that time
and Louis +. Tasistro came here about the
same period. 1t might be said Washington
abounded with poeticai genius about that time.
lasistro was an actor and an admirable one in
Shakesperean characters. So feeting is the
fame which rests upon contemporary renown
that but few, very few. remember those who
at that dav were couanicuone ap,ao0 xl,a