New-York tribune., 1894-01-21
AN ENGLISH DRAMATIST.
HENRY PETTITTS STRANGE CAREER

HENRY PETTITT'S STRANGE CAREER.
Among the numerous melodramas and other plays
given to he stage by Henry Petttt, whose death
recently recorded, there many strange sltua
tions and amazing turns OF fortune, but scarcely
any remarkable than some Of the events Of
his life. 1t is pity he never wrote an auto
biography or some book Of "reminiscences; though.
to be sure forty five is early age which to
think Of such thing. But If he had II would have
teemed with such picturesque incidents COM
monty associated only with works of fiction.
He came Of Birmingham family whose members
nearly all of literary. artistic scientific
turn OF mind; the sort OF folk who have made the
smoky Midlands capital real centre Of intellectual
culture. His father, Edwin Pettitt, is best known
Herbert Glyn,' under which pen name he wrote
a number OF novels. He also civil engineer
and an inventor Several of his inventions were Of
decided merit and turned him snug fortune. But
one was failure. 1t was a device intended to
revoutonze the whole cotton spinning industry.
Had 1t succeeded Pettitt would have ranked with
ArkwrIght. and been a millionaire But he spent
his last penny in vanly trying to make 1t work.
1t wouldn't work; and so. ruined man. he left
England retrieve his fortunes, II possible, else
where.
Henry Pettitt this time thirteen years
Old. He taken from school and literally turned
| loose in the world 10 make his own way. His first
move was 10 call upon the manager OF Sadlers
Wells Theatre. determined to try his fortune at
|
pearance in a small Irish part in a pantomims
called The Rose of Barney or. Danney-man-
oranyotherman" But he got too realistic over his
part, and hit super the head with such
force that he nearly broke IT, For this display Of
energy he discharged. After this he endured
many and strange vicssitud.s lie soon began to
devote his spare time to writing for the various
boys periodicals then being published; and numer-
| short stories and poems written by him APP
peared in THE Boys Miscellany" and other papers
for which, however, he never obtained any re-
muneratlon but once and that when micro
scope offered for the best Christmas story and
he won the prize 1t proud noment when he
and another lad of about the same age now .
well-known and successful artist left the publish
er's Office with the mlcroscope-whch however.
not long to remain in his possession. Pettit;s
taste not scientific. but theatrical and he ard
his chum promptly pawned the literary prize for
ten shllings. and after sumpuous repast Of
chops and tea at the Adelaide Gallery. went TO the
Strand Theatre, and spent the balance in ginger
| beer and cakes on the road home.
| The next thing the playbili was clerkshp
| in the London offices Of Messrs. Pickford & Co.
But there he spent most OF HIS time in writing
songs. essays and loveetters for his felow-clerks
while they did his work for him, his promotion
was not pdpid He remained however, for two
years: but afternoon the head OF the depart
ment. happening to return suddenly. found him CIV
ing burlesque lecture on the advantages OF higher
| I"
csvry S ad tS bs, o t5e dparment Pet
coming You exceedingly, well Informed,
subjects. and have am told. considerable literary
capacity besides being yery resdy deoa,er anu
and remained silent. But. unfortunately for
Messrs. PIckford & Co.. and perhaps for yourself:
genial geni employment before my monthly report goes
You see" he added. in friendly manner. III VIII
during his say at 'P
had made many friends. ana among them had or.
snS Tse T c ' Of Which
btously named coterle he was secretary ana after,
evening was one OF the classical masters Of the
North London Collegiate School at Camden, Town.
ward Ward defend his views in the debate that followed
conceived friendship for him and ,s most Hndy
ofrer was at once accepted by Pettitt and his obi:
to wen 9s S xas to
Williams headmas,er OF the North iondon ,ntnr SC
ssas Esssh maser hnu IN the eOS caSsca Of
college As there were 800 boys In the ssnooi r ana
rndsses s s a's5y soon that his
and d, the next ne sSy sTC ssp,
arabic from sehoolmas!ers i fe I He ne howSyer. eyer
who mae h% the Sny Of the college
and took great interest In his subsequent advance
S9nt odsmh Se S,' was very fond Of telling stories and
| giving the one touch OF romance 10 history geog-
| raphy and Other SUBJECTS tHat intue tHeiH
ing and attractive to boys. During six years STAY al
the college he wrote numerous short stories; stories;
by several friends to write for the stage He dld
so and sold his first piece which was suggestively
| entitled Golden Fruit" for the sum OF So.
But soon after this he formed dramatic partner, r,,
| ing with great success for Mr. Conquest. manager
| OF the Crecan Theatre Thereafter his course was
and for the last fifteen years produced an average
| OF three fu-sized plays year besides innumerable
| sketches songs, etc He several times visited
| America and was we'll known here. On one occa.
| sion he came over secretly 10 testify IN a sut
| which his counsel had brought against another
dramatist for. as he charged plagiarizns his piece
| THE World" The secret of his coming was 80
! we'll kept that his presence in America was not
known, save to his counsel. until the moment when
| he was called to take his place upon the witness
| stand