New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-29
RELIC AND REVERIE.
A TRAVELLERS DISCOVERIES.

FAMOUS ACTORS-wALXS IN LONDON Old
LANDMARKS GOLDSMITH AND GREEN
ARBoR CoURr-CURIoUs AUTOGRAPHS.
London, June 25
In the visitors book at the old Black Swan In
York | read the following comprehensive and
significant words. appended to his name by
previous guest: Arrived at g. LET: at sos.
Found all correct" There Is rapid way OF
looking at the world with which many travellers
appear TO be contented but It may be doubted
whether the rapid way Is always the wise way.
Places doubt there through which the
pilgrim should pass with all convenient speed.
but. a rule. every place. in an old country. Is
a place Of interest. That is especially true OF
England. where 80 much has been lost and won.
SO much don, and suffered. such hallowing
charms OF poetry and such wealth Of historic
action difrused every hand that every coun-
tryslde has It's traditions every temple It's relics.
and every city. town. and hamlet It's legends. as
sociations. and subtle and mysterious romance.
And certainly every place has It's surprises-as l
could not choose but think when. In the Course
OF lonely walk In old Southampton. I found.
In what they denomnate Back Of the Walls"
the bura-pace OF that paragon Of humor, John
O'Keefe. No mcrrier soul ever bore the burdens
OF earthly life. and even to come near his ashes
was 10 be reminded OF the Joy and sunshine
and innocent pleasure that are IN the world
and how foolish II Is not 10 rejoice while yet the
light endures. John O'Keefe was the pioneer in
that movement against the sentimental drama In
England which eliminated in the success OF
Goldsmith. Colman the younger and Sheridan:
and as disciple Of the dramatic art / felt that
| had come upon the shrine Of benefac tor.
Everybody remembers wild Oats" but few peo-
pie know that the author Of that fine comedy
and Of about Nifty others.-rests In an almost
squaiil corner OF Southampton-that picturesque
but sighted port OF entry through which every
body rushes. and In which nobody is supposed 10
find pleasure or n thought. He was an Irish
man. born IN Dublin in l746: he had his career
as actor and author; he went blind about 1900;
he enjoyed small pension during the last few
years OF his lif ana he died In 1885, In hts eighty
seventh year. and was buried in All Saints
ground. In the parish OF St Lawrence. had
passed many days In solitary rambling about
Southampton. an1 had thoroughly explored II;
yet then stumbled upon novelty; and
many novelties | doubt not. still remain to be
discovered
II was a surprise 10 ind the grave OF OKeete
In that obscure nook In Southampton; and yet
II should not have been surprisng-for the
graves Of English actors are scattered far and
wide over the innd. Susanna Cibber, Anne Brace
girdle. Anne Odfeld. Anne Street successfully
Mrs Dancer Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. Crawford)
Thomas Betterton, Spranger Barry. Barton
Booth Samuel FoOte, David Garrick and John
Henderson were buried In Westminster Abbey,
I'm its coisters: Mrs Siddons and Miss Murray
at Paddington, near the old parish church: Est
court TIaines. King. Kynaston. Macklin and
Wilks at Covcnt Garden Church; Nell Gwyn and
John Bannlster ut the Church OF St Martin-in-
the-Fieds; Suett in 81. Pauls Cathedral pre-
cinct; Edmund Kean at Richmond (his grave is
Immediately under closet. In the church porch
In which are now kept the brooms and dust
pans): the elder Mathews at Plymouth Mossop,
Egerton. and Blanchard at Chelsea; Powell and
Mountfort in the Church OF St Clement -le- Dane;
Nine. Vestrls and Macready at Kensal Green;
John Edwin In 81. werbughs churchyard; Mrs.
Bland In ST. Margarets. Westminster: John
Palmer at Wooton. Liverpool Quin. at Bath
Abbey: Elllston at st. Johns Church. Waterloo
Road. London Mrs. Crouch at Brighton: Laura
Honey at Hampstead; Tom D'Urfey In the
ground OF 81. James's. London. the Jermyn
street gate; Mrs. Davenport. Adelaide Nelson,
Benjamin Webster and Harry Beckett at
Brompton Cemetery: Dora Jordan at ST. Cloud:
John Kemble at Lausanne: and George Fred
erick Cooke In the churchyard Of st. Paurs. at
New-York. These are but a few Of the once
admired and honored soverelsns OF theatrical
popularity. Each year adds TO the dismal record:
and yet Il Is not altogether dismal.--for however
much those fading names may bespeak the
evanescence OF all achievement In art at least
they teach u.s. since each succeeding period
brings its princes OF the hour. that the line Of
genius runs unbroken through all the ages. and
that art can never die. All the mediation to
effort that man has devised serve only 10 en-
ploy his active faculties. He stl keeps doing,
and that IS a-for In this world there are no
permanent results. All Is change The spirit.
the vital spark which passes away. the some
thing for which art IL at once occupation, ex-
preston and sustainment-that alone endures;
and there alone will any permanence be found
Many a week in London has taught me that
same lesson and much have I written about
those London walks-as the kind reader Is aware.
Not many days ago went into Cough Square.
to look for tho last time upon the home Of DR..
johnson. One side OF the square, had already
been demolished. and the busy hand Of improve
ment was even then vsibly at work The house
OF the great scholar will soon disappear. and
with II will pass away a spring OF many memo
ries, we'll calculated to please and exalt
thoughtful mind The past cannot. in material
things. withstand the present. This IL very
vital age. and one by one the London places as
ISOLATED with great names In English literature
changed beyond recognition and utterly de-
stroyed. The sumptuous new palace hotel which
has just been opened near the end Of the Broad
Walk at Kensington star ds on the site Of that old