The record-union., 1892-09-03

the elder Macready, John Kemble, Foote
and Garrick. 1t was here that bluff old
Dr. johnson, who professed profound
contempt for actors, surprised the world
WIN one OF the neatest compliments ever
pald TO an actor. Mrs. SiddonS called
upon him in his apartments in the Peli-
can Inn. There was some confusion in
cIdent upon Frank, the servant. not be-
Ing able TO Immediately furnish Mrs.
Slddons with chair, whereupon Dr..
Johnson instantly remarked: you see,
madam, that wherever you go there are
no seats to be had!''
Macready's presence here is embalmed
IN more savage but no less witty re-
JoInder. The John Dories'' and port OF
the PeIlcan Inn had been too powerful
Tor an actor who was supporting him rs
laSo. An amateur was necessarily sup
Piled. Macready's agony was intense.
On returning To Bath some months later
as visitor To the baths, the mournfui
Iago, VINO had supported him, sought Il
renewal OF the great actors acquaintance.
- had the honor Of playing Iago to your
Othello at the TEeater Royal: don't you
remember me, sir?'' Remember you,
sir? remember you?n Numbered The irate
tragelian. "How shall L ever forget
your"
John Kemble while visitor at Bath,
and when bestowing farthing on beg
gar, gave TO literature this inIperiShable
satire upon the parsimOny Of the nobil-
ty: Friend" he said, with the dignity
OF Coriolanus, we give but seldom,
but when we do give we give ike
princesr'
Garrick wrote some of his finest satires
at Bath. The great mimic, Foote. was
nearly always to be found in his compa-
ny. Sheridan, when but a youth OF -,
was one OF the lions Of Bath. He wrote
and contributed the same to sorC OF lit
erary Fair of Parnassus" instituted by
Lady Miller, 50 admirably described to
US by Horace Walpole, those exquisite
stanZas beginning:
Dry be that tear, my gentlest love
and Gainsborough's celebrated painting
of Sheridan was also done in this city
Quin lived longer in Bath than any other
OF his profession. When the famous
comedian for the last time played Fal-
staff and retired from the stage, in 1853,
he came TO Bath to pass his remaining
days because, as he said, he did not
know better place for an old cock to roost
in" He lived for thirteen years and
died in his lodgings at Chesterfield
House, ElerrepOnt street. and in the north
aisle OF the choir of Bath Abbey is a mar
bic tablet with a striking likeness of the
great comedian. Underneath is q mask
and a dagger representing comedy and
tragedy and characteristic epitaph by
Garrick, the closing lines Of which are
IN Natures happiest mold however east.
10 this complexion thou must come at last.
In addition to Mrs. Siddons some OF the
famous women who made Winsome the
society OF Bath during this brilliant pc
Rod were Queen Charlotte, wife of
George III, Mrs. Piozzi, the celebrated
companion Of DR.. johnson, Lady Miller,
Sarah Fielding and Madame D'Arblay.
Mrs. PiozZi was one of the most beauti-
ful and accomplished women Of England.
She first married a rich brewer named
Thrale The couple lived in great splendor
at Bath. and DR.. johnson was the Iady's
acknowledged greatest admirer. Shortly
after the death of Mr.. Thrale the spright-
ly widow, tired of the ponderous devotion
OF DR.. Johnson, became the wife OF a
music master named PioZZi. A COM
plete rupture with Johnson was the con-
sequence, and the famous photographer
was ever after misanthrope regarding
all Womankind. After brilliant career
IN Italy, Mrs. PiOZZi returned to Bath,
where, in 1920, she celebrated her SOth
birthday by one of the most famous balls
and Suppers ever given in England, where
the Sprlghtly female antique led off the
dancing with her adopted son, Sir John
salisbury, with astonishing elasticity"
But she died the next year. Her "a n
ecdotes Of Johnson and her own Liter
airy Remains are among the most
piquant tidbitS OF biographical literature.
Lady Miller was conspicuous figure
at Bath in these good old times. Walpole
and Madame D'Arblay both charmingly
describe the Fair of ParnaSsus,'' a sort
Of literary tournament instituted at her
noted residence, Batheaston Villa. A
Roman vase, dressed with laces, costly
ribbons and myrtle, received the poetry,
which was drawn at every festival by six
judges who read all the compositions
and announced the successful competitor.
The latter was crowned with myrtle and
permitted to kneeI and kiss the tat and
| freckled hand OF Lady Miller, who was
coarse, plump looking dame whose aim
it was to appear a woman eff fashion and
a patrOneSs Of letterS.n 1t was Garrick
who slipped the following etfusion into
the sacred urn:
The ' ase speaking:
For Heavens sake bestOw on me
a little wit-and that would be
Indeed an Act OF Charity"
In the residence of famous literary men
Bath was immensely fortunate. Chris
topher Anstey. the poet, lived nearly all
his life in Bath. William Beckiord, at
one time the richest and most luxurious
man in England, who expended nearly
million and a half dollars on Inflated
EOnthill Abbey alone, but whose endur-
ing fame Will rest on the authorship of
that most wonderful Of all oriental tales.
"Nathek," was for many years a citizen
OF Bath, and built the palatial tower on
! Lansdown, beneath whose shadows his
! body now lies.
The memories of DIR. Johnson are so
rife in the old Pelican Inn that IN pass
ing through its Oaken panelcd rooms one
can almost scent the musty aroma of his
candie-scorched wigs, and see the lu-
dicrOus picture of Frank, the servant, ly-
/ ing IN wait to clap a fresh one on his
hard, old head the moment caller was
announced below.
| Samuel I. Coleridge often preached at
the Sawclose Chapel here. 1t was, when
/ referring to those days here, he said TO
! Charles Lamb:
Il think, Charles, you never heard me
preach"
My dear boy" replied Lamb, "Inever
heard you do anything else"
! Alexander Pope lived on the bounty of
! the rich plilanthropist, Allen, here for
years, only leaving, like the ugly little
! wasp he was, when his host refused to
/ grant him his manor house at Bathampton
! tor the occupancy of his paramour, Martha
! Blount. Thomas Gains borough finished
many OF his most famous portraits III
! Bath, and Sir Joshua Reynolds not only
! used his marvellous pencil here, but re-
covered from paralytic stroke through
/ the use OF Baths thermal waters Tobias
! Smollet was, for Il long time, one OF the
literati gathered here, and every reader
| OF 'Peregrine Picllle'' and ''Humpnrev
/ Cllnker" Is favored with pictures of
I Bath associations, customs and habits OF
! that time.
/ Oliver Goldsmith visited Bath in I771.
with the literary result of "rhe Life OF
Richard Nash, hardly a fitting subject
| for the pen OF the author of 1.-The Vicar
OF Wakefield" but through this event
Beau Nash's memory became more inn
| perlshable than through all the monu-
ments, epitaphs and paintings to be found
to his honor in the ancient city, and if
you tire of identifying the great Of olden
times with their ancient habitations here,