The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-08-07

| MISUNDERSTANDING on tho hallouH'N
aud Diplomacy In Aftairs of State BEIng
RSwHTd',
John E bruce IN BO,tOn Transcript
There have besn many negroes in
Europe and the Weat Indies who have
received distinguished consideration in
tho way oil decorations from tho
crowned heads Of the old world, Tho
Black RosciuS = Ira AldrIdge - who
created such a Juror in Europe many
yeNra ago as q tragsdlan, and who was
frequently carried from the theatres in
which he performed upon the shoulders
OF his enthusiastic auditors to his hotel,
was loaded down with medals, the In
signals OF various royal orders, tho
gifts OF kings and Queons whom no had
charmed and delighted by his maguil'
cent impersonallonS OF the characters
he assumed.
AldrIdge was a Maryland negro aud
first went 10 Europe come time In tho
fortiea IN tho capacity OF valet to q dis.
tInguished American tragedIan, who,
discovering his talents and bent oil mind,
| NHCuuENkbu ulu w "pNSuNuu hh NSbV's
He performed in the principal cities oil
Europe, and 1t Is recorded OF him that
when he played Iago in the City OF
Moscow In RUSSIA q uumbar Of students
who had witnessed the performance un.
hitchcd the horses from the actOr's car.
riage after theplay was over aud dragged
him in triumph to his lodgings. In
Sweden and Germany and England his
name was household word. He stood
ia the front rank among the greatest
actors OF his day, aud tho nobility oil
Europe held him in the same regard
and treated him with the same consid-
Grafton that Americans bestow upon
Keeno, or Barrett, or Booth, or any
other great actor who has made himself
famous.
Ira Aldriieo gave no performances in
Europe which wero not witnessed by
one or more members OF the royal fam.
lily OF tho country he was in. In per.
sonal appearance no was very dark in
complexion, with full, round face,
which was covered with q closely shaven
beard. He was nearly ak feet in height.
He had large, luStrous eyes, and roSo.
nant voice which he kept under perfect
control.
As Aaron in Titus AndronIcus," aud
as the Moor in "OthelIo," he established
his fame as the most realistic actor who
up to that period had ever essayod
those roles. The newspapers OF that
period showored unstinted praise upon
this remarkable negro, and he was
llonlzed in fashionable society and
feted by the nobility; the king OF
Sweden kulghted him and tho emperor
OF Russia conferred decoration upon
him. His medals aud decorations from
other poraonages were estimated at the
time OF his death, 1867, to be worth
over S250,000 Aldridge owned nine
villas, situated in various parts OF
Europe and zach OF them handsomely
furnished. His principal residence was
in the city OF London, England, where
he entertained in royal manner the
legions OF friends who sought his com.
pany and that OF his charming wife,
Swedish baroness, by whom no had
three children. He died in 1867 as Sir
Ira Aldridge. X, Z. NJ, and host OF
other titles given him mt various times.
An article ia WilkeS Spirit OF the
Times for 1850, among other things, in
speaking Of Allridge, says that "ho was
one OF tho most polished aud modest Of
men, thoroughly refined, transformations,
and unobtruSive in speech and man.
ner."
In 1877 Edward Wilmot Blyden, full.
blooded negro, born in the Danish WeGs
Indies, was appointed by the president
Of tho republic OF Liberia minister plGn.
ipotentiary Of that government at tho
Court OF St. James and was received
with marked confederation by her gra.
cious majesty, Queen Victoria, ut o..
borne, July 80 1878. The Marquis OF
Salisbury, at that time secretary OF state
for foreign affairs and now prime miniI.
ter Of England, introduced DR.. Blyden
to her majesty. Dr.. Blyden was soon
after elected an honorary member OF tho
AfistocrAtiC Athennum club OF London.
He 10 an author and linguist OF world.
wide reputation.
Queen Victoria has recently conferred
the Victoria Cross upon a coal black
negro. q corporal In one OF tho West In.
dia regiments, for having saved tho lie
OF his commanding officer by throwing
himself In front OF the lattor and rocov.
ing in his own body the bullets that
would have found Judgment in that Of
his captain. Peter Salem did something
like this during our Revolutionary war.
In 1878 or 80 tho president oil tho 70.
public Of Liberia conferred upon tho
American minister, tho Hon. John IL.
SmYth, IN consideration Of friendly scr.
viCOB TO tho republic, tho title OF
Knight Of tho Ordor OF African Re.
dOmption."
ltn letter dated at tho palace Of Nal.
rid, February II, 1882, King Alfonso OF
Spain, writes to tho president OF Liberia
rs iollowa:
GREAT AND Coop FmESp:-Dosiring
10 givo'yOu II public testimony Of my
royal appreciation and my particular
esteem, ] have had special pleasure in
nominating you Knight Of tho Grand
Cross OF tho Royal Order Of Isabel tho
Catholic, am pleased by this action
also to furnish now proof OF tho dosiro
which nnImNtOs inc to strengthen moro
aud moro tho friendly relations which
happily exist bOtwUOn Spain aud tho
republic Of Liberia. And with this mo.
two ropOat to YOU tho assurance Of tho
affection which onlorLniu towards you,
and with which am, grOnt aud good
iriond, your great aud good friend.
ALFONSO.
Palace al M1drid, FEB. II, 1882.
lhOtOarOtOw better lawyers anywhere
than RrO to DO found among tho educated
blacks Of tho Britain West Indius. Tho
attorney general Of tho Island OF
jamaica SoDo yCarA ago was n negro, By
nRmO burke, who was sOid TO bo ~ Oo.