The morning call., 1892-04-10
htfNdIIt f1III,
From her sincere friend,
Rrlghton. MAY. 1893,

-" ~ -H'htA sofC W thc
Gloucester apG Chetenham theaters aud became
tie lessee OF The Ibeaier Royal, Brighton. re-
member thai We stopped in London on our way
10 witness the grand procession at the corona.
tion of the Queen. Mr.. Lee MoretOn accom-
panied US and IA fact, lived In the same house
(Rutland House, Marine faraae) with us DUNG
his stay in Biighi Oh, which musi have peen over
a year, during which time lie played, once only
| think, Rory OMoIe in the drama of that
name. He may have repeated Sir Giles, but |
am not certain.
WHEN YOUNG.
"He was handsome youth. with piercing and
expressive eyes, raven back hair biushea ca re-
lessly from high forehead, mobile features and
an expression OF rare Intelligence; always fault
lessiy dressed, the only w akness perhaps being
nouBced scarf. My father was in constant core
spoudence with his guardians aud he must have
been W u supplied with pocket moDsy. for he
was wOfuly exirayagant. My mother was ever
scoldlng LIN Tor that, aud many bag OF peaches,
graz es and OiheT hothouse luxuries have helped
him to demulisii because my mother had refused
Them and my sister had followed her example.
LONDON ASSURANCE"
&" remember that he was constantly writing
and one day he brought 10 my father a three-act
comedy. lhc lille of which ! have forgotten hut
IL was las Ersl draft Of his famous comedy Lon
don Assurance My father suggested certain
alterations which lie declined 10 make, and my
father then advised him TO go with IL TO London
which he did. His acquaintance with Charles
Matthews and The production OF his comedy at
Covent Garden Theater aie well known, but the
following fact is not:
len Mr. Matthews accepted the play there
were but two female characters in H. Grace
Harkaway aud Pert. her maid. To Mr. Chem
Boucicauips amazement the part OF Grace
Harkaway had been cast 10 Nine. VestrIs,
leaving tie celebrated Mrs Nesbit out OF The
bill.
LOVE FINDS THE WAY.
Now, tie young author had become. ike hun
dreis Of others, Violently enamored Of Mrs
Nesbit. aud wanted her in his new comedy. Mr.
Matthews suggested that he write part for her.
and Dion BOucicaut carried off HE manuscript
and IN lew DAYS returned With Il. altered into
five acts, wi h lie characters OF Lady Gay aud
her husband Dolly, Introduced. and the comedy
thus made perfect. To the young authors In.
faiuaton We owe that great creation Lady GAY
Spank er aud lhe famous Hunting sreech.' That
John Brougbam assisted him IN preparing Lion
don Assurance for The stage there Is no doubt
but tie above account is true, and Dion BOuei-
OF his birth as -lS22-must be an error
lie was certainly Is OF when he appeared as
Sir Giles Oyerreach, AID 1 saw him play that
part Ia 1887.
JANET PRIDE"
at Is also an error TO state that he came to
this country III 1852. file came III The spring of
1881, while i was at the Broadway Theater In
New York, for / saw him Then. aud the follow
Ing year was not Ia that city. The next time
we mel, L tbiBk. was at Buffalo, where lie came
10 play an engagement with lis wife, Agnes
Robertson. singular thing occurred then
which has never, l believe, been chronicied
lie brought with him The manuscript in rough
sheets OF Janet PRIDE and desired to produce
IL before taking IL 10 New YORK. IL was put iD
rehearsal lof which we bad but very fewl and
we never Iehearsed the last act at all, nor did
we even get our parts in that act given to US for
after keeping us rehearsiDg until s 30 o'clock
we were dismissed without reaching the last aet
and told TO return at 80. which We did. Bouci.
cault did not come until nearly an hour after
ward, when we were dressed aud ready TO begin
lie came into our several dressing rooms, read
the last act TO Us, asking US TO remember as much
as we could and Ia facf,lmproyise the act; accord
ing 10 his directions we did so and the audience
was none the wiser. The next mornings papers
were loud In their praise, and Mr. Boucicault de.
cared himself satisfied. For ourselves we
thought IL an extraordinary proceeding"