The herald., 1893-02-26


little woman, how she suffered in this
world, from fret to last. May the next
world be one more just to her than this
one has been. From 1861 to 1866, she
made over $4,000 above all expensee,
the bulk of which was lost over the faro
table by her worthless husband. She
knew what it was to play to a $3.50 house
at night and, in the morning, to wake
up without dollar to buy food for her.
self or her baby. And if she remon-
strated with her brutal husband, the
answer was 80 word and blow" and,
generally came first.
x*x
In 1860 I rewrote for her Flsnche's
extravaganza of the Two Figaros, of
which the music was a mixture taken
from the Nozze di Figaro, by Mozart,
and the Barbiere di Sevizlis, by Rossini.
| localized the piece to the requirements
OF early Pacific coast surroundings, and
30 equipped she went out with it, with
Harry Courstaine as the tricky barber and
herself as Cherubino. When l recall
some of the duets and scenes
between that couple think that
l have, in the past Is years, seen
some very common actresses and actors.
She was very gifted woman, beyond
my comprehension. She sang ballads
equal to Cathrine Hayes, and Catherine
Hayes had left California before Sue had
dreamed of going on the stage che sang
operatic music with verve that was
almost incredible, and yet fourth rate
opera singer MADAME Bianchi) was the
best in that line she had ever heard in
her life; and as for oratorio singers,
poor old broken down Anna Bishop was
the only one she ever heard, yet she
sang all classes OF music artiatically.
God rest poor little Sue. 1t is lucky
for those who oppressed her here on
earth, that they will meet more merci-
full Judge than am.
x~x
Old Ben De Bar was another straight
line comedian that never stopped to
horse play. once spent winter in
New Orleans and saw The Midsummer
Nights Dream brought out at the St.
Charles theater, then under the man
agement of George Chesley. grandfather
of "our Jim," in the Chronicle office.
II will roar you gently as a sucking
dove" said old Ben. | recall him also
in the role of Falstaff, in which he was
second to Hackett? 81 pray more of
your acquaintance, good Master
Brooke" 1t is generally supposed that
Shingle, but the character was written
for George Hill, who failed in it, and
then Hackett took it up year before I
was born--and the Lord knows, Pm no
chicken: in fact, 1 have been called "a
fine old cock" in the laet 20 years on sew
eral occasions. Hackett's hit in Falstaff
was so great and charmed the English
critics so much that he lay aside Solon
Shingle altogether in 1912 and took up
the ShakepeaIian comedies exclusively.
And 1t was Is years later that the whole
OF America was laughing at John Ovens
rendition OF the Vermont farmer. In
the higher walks of comedy, Owens was
next to Jefferson himself, and second to
him only in Rip Van Wrinkle and Doc
tor Pangloss. In the English DOCTORS
servant man Harry Higgins las it
were") Owens played part that Jeffer-
son never could have contemplated;
and this brings me down to Jefferson's
most intimate companion and dearly
loved friend, John Drew, father of
young John and of the beautiful wife of
Maurice Barrymore.
Nv
Did you ever see John E. Owens?
Didn't know him, eh? Well, you missed
the acquaintance of one of the greatest
actors and most loveable gentlemen that
ever trod the stage. Mr.. Owens was
character actor of very lofty type, as
we'll as = mastery comedian. He did
everything very well but as ''solon Shin
gle," he completely lost himself in the
character, Who that ever heard him
will forget the impressive air OF dogma
tism with which he declared that "any
man who'll steal gold watch will steal
barl of apple sass!" Some Balti-
more man is engaged in writing old
Johns life, and l speak for an artists
proof of it. Bob Galbraith of Koote-
mai, went with US one night to see him
as Perkin Middlewick in Our Boys.
When the second act was over, Gal
braith turned around to me and said:
''Do you mean to tell me that man is
no Englisman On my replying in
the affirmative he said it was the most
wonderful impersonation of middle
class Britisher he had ever seen; and
he was born in the Cheviot hills him
self, within two hours gallop of the
border. T. B, M.