The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-03-14

STAGE MANAGER VINCENT AT THE AGE OF 35.
always sorry afterward and willing to
repair any mischief he might have done.
Still, to me he was n lovable fellow
Beneath his uncouth exterior there beat
as true heart as man ever carried, and
must admit that / never suffered from
his violent temper during my connection
with him as the stage manager of sew
eral of his most important productions
His greatest fault, which not oven his
warmest admirer could fail to observe,
was his intolerance.
In the opinion of Fechter, no one who
hold different view from him on any
matter connected with the stage was en-
titled to the slightest consideration and
the temerity of others in differing from
him was something which was always u
source of genuine surprise to this pecul-
lar individual Those who met Fechter
in the usual professional way knew prac-
tically nothing of the mans character,
except perhaps its worst phases, but in
my intercourse with him-a necessarily
close ono while it lasted--I had the OPP
portunity to study him like book,
which l did, for even his enemies adj
mitted that he was remarkably inter
esting figure.
1t is not generally known how Fechter
was induced to visit this country.
Charles Dickens, who was warm ad-
mirer and personal friend of the great
French actor, had for years been trying
to get him to accept one of the many
engagements which were offered for an
American tour. Fechter however, for
some reason or other, was under the inn
preston that he would not be so great
n success here as he had been in Eng
land, and every offer was declined. FL
nally in 1869 Dickens succeeded i'll in
ducing Fechter to sign contract to ap-
pear in this country under the manage
ment of Harry Palmer, who was great
friend of the novelist. / was then the
stage manager for the firm of Jarrett q
Palmer, and | was sent over to arrange
the preliminaries for the productions
which were to be made in this city.
When l arrived in Paris, l hunted up
Mr.. Fechter, and he insisted that his
opening in this country should be i'll
the role of Jules Obenreizer i'll No
Thoroughfare, " l did not like the selec-
ton, but beyond few mild protests l
said nothing. / hurried over to London
to see Mr.. Dickens, who was rs much
opposed to Fechter's choice of an open
ing play for America as had been. He
communicated with his friend, and it
was finally decided that the first bill i'll
New York should be Victor Hugo's ro-
mantle drama, 'Ruy Bias. " In this
piece Mr. Fechter made his bow TO an
American audience at Niblo's Garden
in this city Jan. 10, 1870, and scored
an instantaneous triumph. Despite a
few discordant notes from some of the
critics, the people were delighted-elec-
triied.
Dining with Dickens
Apropos of my consultation with Mr..
Dickens concerning Fechter, descrip-
ton of the great novelist as host might
be of interest to the thousands of adj
mirers whom he won i'll this country.
The fact and result of my visit to Mr..
Fechter had been reported ut Mr.. Dick
ems newspaper Office i'll Wellington
street, London and he invited me to go
TO his home at Gad's Hill, Kent, where
he expected Fechter on visit. Natural
lyIwas not slow to avail myself of this
opportunity When l reached the place
In Ia sf4eeeF4aaa4 s ts se44tAe
found, to my great delight, that Tom
Taylor the author Of scores of really
good plays, was also a guest there. A
dinner for three, plain but well served,
lasted from until after 8 o'clock
What a. feast Of reason and flow of
soul" that c,nner was for mel / ate lit.
tie or nothing, although was very hun