Telegram-herald., 1891-12-17
A RETRoSFEcT OF PARK ROW.


Where Ken Fa,nous the World Over Meet
to Get Their Luncheons.
Mrs. Sarah Z. Windust who died IN her
quiet home in Hoboken, n. j., at the ad-
vanced age CT eighty six years. was wom-
an noted for piety aud practical charities.
Much OF her past career was to q certain
degree identified with this city from the
fact that she was the wife OF Edward VIM
dust. The name recalls host of interest
ing ussociat.sns which belong TO New
York's local History. Numerous silver
haired citizens and former residents can
Yet remember the quaint, uniiapos:nG res
taurant that was once kept by Edward
Windust in the basement of what is now
II Park row. The place crept quietly into
fame by its adjacsncy TO the old Park the
ater and its Gdherence TO the good old Eng
lish custom Of preparing food In noiseless,
wholesome and comfortable methods.
"Shall l not take mine ease in mine
inn?" was always answered afiirnstively
in its busy days.
For many years the place was noted 40 .
sociablc haven fer persons more or less
celebrated. but particularly for the great
or prominent actors OF the time; still,
statesmen, lawyers, editors and politicians
would there mincle on a common ground
in easy interchange of brief or extended
co,panionship. The casual visitor was
always repaid by seeing some notable per-
son on the premises Daniel Webster,
Henry Clay and Washington Irving were
not infrequent guests. Horase Greeley for
long period took his luncheons in the
dim but coxy room below the sidewalk.
Truly, it was rare place wherein to
Ia In hot nj " pa ~
theater, bu. all the other ones contributed
to its special reputation. From time to
time there would stroll in Kean, Mscready,
Forrest, Hambhn, Scott, Burton. Wallack.
Power, the two Placides, Brooke, Fisher,
jefferson. Gilbert, Ritchings, Hackett and
a score Of others. not onitting Cooper, who
was always spoken Of with sadness by bis
contemporaries-he left the stago to take
orders for the church, was not accepted,
and drowned himself.
Now and then member of he Parks
company might be seen coming his lines
in retired corner, assured Of safety from
intrusion or Interruption.
A peculiar influence always seemed to
pervade the air Of the place: 1t was al easy
matter to fall iHss musing that would con-
jure up visions OF Falstaff. Prince Hal, Sir
Toby Belcn and other comfort lo> Ing char
acters OF the stage, or start into memory
noble lines of tragic emphasis or poetic
beauty. Frcn this tie dreamer could be
aroused snd amused by the repartee Of
somo star who the night before had be-
guiled his tears. Mr.. windust was an
earnest dramatic student and possessed
acute perception Of merit This made Kim
influential with managers in his day and
many actors foand their success FASTENED
By his kind efferts in their behalf II is
said that Charlotte Cushman was indebted
to him for recexn ition OF her ability.
II might be presumed that the surround
ings Of Mr.. Wirdass would have put him
in possession Of wealth OF souvenirs Of
the stage. This seems not to have been the
case--at least ia any systematic inclination
or management. A reporter recently had
an interesting talk with two OF hts grand
daughters and bis ward daughter Of the
trsgedian Hamblin. He learned from them
that numerous articles of the kind had
been in the family. but not retained TO any
extent, "a tte owner was an easy man 70
beg from, and consequently the bulk OF
such things had become indefinitely scat
tered They recalled oniy two pieces which
were 10 him really tressurnbae--ere the
silver plate that had been inserted Into the
old tablet Of the Park theater. This tablet
Is yet 70 he s-en in the wall Of the old re-
taErant. The plate bears this inscription;
The FIRST performance. June y, isss.
Burned on the night of the benefit ten
der~d 10 Nine hestpiaiser. Der is is4s =
The csser Is a fne copy Of Nichols sna
Royael's illustrated Shakes2eare. The
fspasly nestien With great desiebs the Ia
cidest cf ioog svesinx spent in the e1-
arninatssn ef this volume hy Hcrsne
Gre.sey ~ eeapany with ie swnsr--Sev
York fr1bxse