Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06

.
JHftsaa1. Miss Cooper. On the 18th of De-
cember, 1884, they played The Gsmes.er'-
NJ. Beue'ty. Mr.. Cooper: Mrs. Bereriy. Miss
Cooper--and verify believe l was in the thea
ter thas night 1 saw the Coopers in that
tragedy and my memory of il is perfect
subsequently. years afterward. saw Hamlin "a
M. Bereriy. Mrs. Hamlin Mis- Shaw as Mrs.
BereTty and Edward Edly "a .Siaieis. and [
don't remember ever TO have seen this very
gloomy old tragedy except on those two occa-
SONS.
Mr. Jefferson announces on the ID January.
1885. the appearance for one night of the
Warren Dramatic Company in Rob Row :"
hoo hoy by young gentleman-that's Pat
Cation. who was our beau ideal of the character
The rest of the characters are in initials but
recognize some OF them-Capt. Thornton. Mr.
P. II. B., Patrick Henry Brooks: Battle Nicol
yGrrie. Mr.. ". L. X. VIM. +. kennauyh The
rest can't recall. Mrs Hughes, that sterling
actress. played Helen McGreaor. On the 2o,h
December. 1888, Tyrone Power played the
"Irish Ambassador" and Paudeen o'Raffertv.
Mrs. Austin. an English vocalist and actress
and Mr.. Walton played an engagement. and the
Tempest produced with DIR. Arne's
music, Mrs. Austin as Ariel Here's a bill
The Wife, Tale of Mantua''-John r. Scott
81. Pierre. and Mrs. Richardson, Mdriand.
and afterward BLACK Eyed Susan," WiNidm
Mr.. Scott: Susan. Mrs. Richardson. Here's an
old drama never heard of now. "Ambrose
Gwinnett," Ambrose. Dave Ingersol. n capital
actor; Ned Greyling (the villain of the play.
Bill sherwood: Lucy. Mrs. Richardson. Here's
more of the old delightful plays: The Beau's
Stratagem'' with Mrs Chapman as Litifid
Hardy;" ..CIari. the Maid of Milan" Howard
Payne's musical drama, in which she sang
Home. Home. Sweet Home" On the 18th of
November, 1884 Charley Burke makes his ap-
pearance as Master Burke.
THOSE OLD PORTRAITS.
In an article of mine some time since, which
appeared in THE STAR, l spoke of the Washing
ton Theater, when remodeled. being embellished
with portraits by Sam Charles, and a corre-
spondent, Pacific" corrected me and said Mr..
John Cranch had painted them. l find. on
September rs. 1885, Mr.. Alexander Mckenzie an
nounces the opening of the theater. ''remodeled
by VIM. p. Elliott. esq. architect. The
paintings on the second tier of boxes were de-
signs i'll oil from Shakespeare by Mr.. John
Cranch. and portraits in water colors on the
lower tier of distinguished actors BY Joseph
Wood My memory of the portraits after so
many years Is perfect-Warren rs FGlstdr.
Jefferson q Nepperkin, Forrest and Scott. &c.
have ofhn wondered what became of them
They would be priceless now. The few pictures
extant of Wood are heirlooms We have one
painted by Wood. Of Mrs. Coyle's grand
father, Major Joseph Wheaton of revolu-
tionary fame. which is masterpiece of
portrait painting. and in every panel
vandal destroyed them when the thea ter was
remodeled for the assembly rooms. Here's a
bill announcing the first appearance of Mrs.
hughes "a the Widow Chaertey in the Soldier s
Daughter" in 1884. These bills were printed
by Jonathan Elliott, Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Sd and AZ streets. This announcement
IL made at the foot of the bill: The wines and
liquors furnished at the bar are of the best
quality and supplied. under the terms of our
lease, by Maj. Thomas Harrison" Maj. Har-
rison was an old army officer who lost leg at
Lundys Lane. retired and kept wine store in
the Willard building just beyond the Owen
House. Tickets for sale at the book store of
Mckenzie Hartwig. corner 18Th street and
Pennsylvania avenue" Those were indeed.
primitive days. In Mr. Moxlevs collection,
and he hasa very fine collection of photographs.
paintings. &C.. is an engraving of view of
Washington taken from the Capitol in 1894.
The fence around the Capitol is evidently a
wooden paling and near the hill, and the ave-
nue.. which then run straight through the
White House grounds, had four rows of
Lombardy poplars on the avenue. There seems
to be no houses between the Capitol and the
City Hail. and the south side il very sparsey
settled. and the grounds look as if laid off for
market gardening.
l find here a bill of the Boston Museum of
September 10. no year. unfortunately. ANNOUNCE
ing Mr.. Booth ms Richard and Edwin Booth as
Iresset, Ibis first appearance on any stage. and
as stage manager. Here is old bill of The Phila-
delphia Theater. 17S6, .'The School for Scan
dal. l could fill columns with the memories
awakened by these old play bills. when the
theater was my dream of happiness and when
Charley Burke used to take US boys in to see
the play. Alas, with the exception of Mr..
Hendley Of the War Department and Capt.
klopfer. all who participated in the enjoy
ments of those days are gone.
JOHN W FoRyFy's sr .yr
have found among my old papers a curious
document, which will create some surprise
among those who remember the late Col John
W. Forneys repugnance to slavery, to find him
acknowledging in a legal document the owner
ship OF slave. The circumstances are these:
had for some years most excellent: servant.
who wns general favorite. not only il NV fam
lily, but with all who came in contact with him.
One morning he came to nv room in the deep
est distress and told me his wife. who belonged
to a Maryland family. had been sold on the
division of the estate to Owen Sheckles. ard
that she was then in the pen as it was called
and going south. 1 went Immediately TO Mr..
Sheckles establishment and told him l wanted
to buy her and requested he would keep her for
me few days, until | raised the money Take
her now, he said. land pay for her when you
please. paid $500 for her and you shall have
her for just what paid" In an hour she was
in my house with her husband. started sub
scription and went to Col. Forney and said: Here
is a chance for You republicans to show the
faith that is in you. l headed the list with a
hundred dollars. and L want you and Gen.
Cameron. Mr.. WIlmot. John Hickman. Mr..
Sumner. Mr.. Wilson and the rest of your friends
to make up the $500" And they did. and before
night had a bill of sale made out to John W.
Forney and the deed of manumission executed
by him.
THE DEED OF MANUMIssIoN.
This instrument, almost the last of such trans
actions in the District of Columbia, is some
thing of a curiosity nowadays. 1t was drawn by
the late William H. Ward
$50 all whom it may concern: Be it known
that l. John W. Forney of Philadelphia, in the
state OF pennsylvania. at present temporarily
residing in the city of Washington. for divers
good and valuable considerations me thereunto
moving, and for the further consideration of
81, in lawful money. to me now in hand paid
have released from slavery, manumitted and
set free, and / do by these presents release
from slavery. manumit and set Free NV negro
slave woman Matilda Mackal. the wife of SAM
uel Mackal. aged about forty years. of dark
complexion and medium size. the said Matilda
being able and capable to earn and gain for
herself a sufficient livelihood and support And
do hereby declare said Matilda to be from
henceforth free and discharged forever from
all manner of servitude to me, my executors
and administrators.
I'm testimony whereof have hereunto set