The morning call., 1894-06-24

made COurIalne an object OF such general
attention and of women's gossip. In the
first place he was blessed with a good
figure, and, when at his best, had an aris-
tOcratic air and manner. 1t was a
pleasure to see Courtaine walk on the
stage and his bearing while there, even If
lie did not utter line of text He had a
nice singing voice. and as an actor was
equally at home in both genteel and &C.
centric comedy. He would occasionally
take an operate role, where he acquitted
himself with mo re than average ability
He would support Mrs. John Wood on
occasions as DR.. BOtcherby in Tom
Taylor's THE Unequal Match" in
way that made the actors
talk, and again would sing the Count d.
Luna in I'll TrOvatore" to Signor BIanchIs
Manrico so artistically as to cause operate
artists to marvel at his fine. virie barry
tone voice and the almost perfect manner
in which he managed it. AS Figaro in
III Barbere di Seviglia" he was never
eXcelled here.
On the other hand Courtaine was cursed
with the liquor habit 10 such degree that
drunkenness might have been called his
chronic condition, marked by sobriety at
rare and brief Intervals. In the first years
OF his career In this city the ''sprees"
used to be looked upon and tolerated as
one of the eccenrlcities of gay young
spark: but gradually ii was discovered
that whisky was a concentric proposition
with the poor fellow. and then lie was ar
rested on sight and sent TO the County Jail
as common drunk ana a most iutOlera-
bic nuisance. He had his own cell, or one
that he used to call his own, In the Broad
way strong house, and il is not too much
TO say that he spent ten years of his San
Francisco life inside its walls as an incar-
cerate.
Harry Courtaine arrived here about the
year 1868. He was accompanied by his
wife, Emma Grattan. pretty. TRIM look
ing, typical London actress, with the high
brldged nose. transparent DoStrils, short
upper lip, and in figure, the slopiug shoul-
ders claimed TO be an arlStocTatic mark
COurtaine and his wife were engaged in
London by the first Mrs. TON" Mcguire 9.
and sent to San Francisco for an engag e.
ment at the Washington-street Opera
house together with low comedian
named Sims, and his wife who was quite
figure in spectacular pieces. Mrs. Mcguire
No. was woman of affairs. and when
she died the ship that bore her husband
and his fortunes lost Its helm.
The name Of the play in which Cour-
tame opened cannot be recalled Just now.
Ii was of light, amusing character, and
the house was crowded to see the new
actors from "Lunnon." From the APP
plause with which he was greeted, and the
laughter excited, the newcomer thought
he had made hit that could not be chal-
lenged. He was mistaken. Among those
in the crowded auditorium was the late
Mr.. James Nisbet, then dramatic critic of
the Evening Bulletin, a hard-headed, OBJ
servant old Scotchman, who looked closer
into the business going on before the foot
lights than did the thoughtless crowd
about him. In his criticism, which an
peared the following afternoon, he pro-
nOunced the genteel light comedian-all
the way from BOwbells-a Jack-pud-
Ding" an old-fashioned phrase, which
Webster defines as "a merry-Andrew, a
buffOon. a zany." 1t was an unexpected
and, to the young actor. cruel blow.
Perhaps be deserved it, in degree, as he
took unwarranted liberties with his part,
presumiDg, no doubt, that San Francisco
was what has been called of late years by
disappointed actors, with not a 1.-THE of
COurtaine's ability, "Jav town." and
that everything would go from a London
man. He felt Nisbets comment keenly,
and was more careful Of his stage business
thereafter. Some said the critic drove him
Hardly. The little brown Jug" and
Harry Courtaine must have been friends
long before he saw San Francisco or read
Nisbet.
Contradictory statements are made in
regard to Courtaine's parentage aud peo-
pie. 1t was given out that be is a natural
son Of the eccentric Marquis of Waterford.
who almost beggsred himself in PLAYING
practical jokes both in the United States
and England. CourtaiDe might have been
one of these jokes. Further, that the
Marquis had given him thorough general
and professional education and then
launched him on the world TO make or mar
his fortune. Against this was set the
statement ofthe late John Allen, musician