The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-06
AN ECCENTRIC ACTOR
SHE CAREER OF GEORGE JONES, eEr-
TER KNOWN AS "COUNT JOANNES."
A Lawyer, Lecturer. Writer and Histrionic
star-For Many Years the Butt For Rid
icuIe-His Suit Against sothern-Died at
Last In Poverty.

icule-His suit Against sothern-Dieu ht
Last In Poverty.
One of the eccentric characters of old
New York, familiar figure TO its citizens
during most of the interval between the
early thirties and his death in December,
1879, was George Jones, or, as he styled
himself, Count Joannes." He was one
of those persons occasionally met with
now as then whose idiosyncrasies marked
him out for almost constant public atten-
ton and ridcule. To the attention he was
by no means averse, but he was an in
tensely solemn individual when consider
ing himself, and there is no doubt that he
often suffered keenly from being made the
general butt for New Workers amusement.
1t became the fashion when he appeared
on the stage in his later years for audi
ences to boot, howl, jeer and almost mob
the poor old "count," in their ferocity OF
ridicule. He usually bore it all with much
courage, exhibiting concern more for the
supporting members of his company than
for himself, fearing lest they should be in
yolved in his own disaster. Unquestion-
ably the public had socle excuse, too, for
its behavior The 'oo'u'" grew to be
very bad actor as he advanced in years,
and his personal appearance was grotosque
in the extreme. He was tall and large,
with scholarly stoop. His face was long
and showed the traces of age, though he
always dyed his heavy mustache.
He wore wig which fitted execrably.
The elder Sothern said of it that you
could put two fingers between it and his
head and twist it all around. One lock
was carefully arranged to fall upon his
forehead and the hair at the back hung
Il. Ia rVNfr
but neat in his ordinary dress. A heavy
| felt hat and clothes of black broadcloth,
decidedly shiny, were his usual costume.
For u necktie he wore red ribbon with
| his "order" of nobility attached to it. His
aged black kid gloves were carried in one
hand, and the other was thrust melodra-
matically into the bosom of his coat. His
attitudes were always studied and tragic,
and he resented the least attempt to trifle
with his dignity.
The counts" career was remarkably
varied one. He was of Welsh descent and
was born in England in 1910 He Is said
to have begun his stage life in that coun-
! try. but his experience there must have
| been short, for he was playing in America
in 1881. He had secondary parts in vari-
Gus plays, most of them Shakespearean
tragedies, and his reputation as an actor
at that time was creditable. An incident
which happened one New Years night at
about this period proves that the count,
or Jones' had q good share of courage. He
| was playing at the Bowery theater IN
Orchard III" with the elder Booth
Booth was the king and Jones had the
mart of Richmond. Booth had been drink
ing heavily, and as the play proceeded
fancied that he was the actual King Rich
ard. Under this delusion he came upon
the stage in the last act in frenzy and
made desperate efforts to kill Richmond
in fight. Jones saw the condition OF al
fairs, met Booth coolly and by his excel
lent workmanship succeeded in disarm'
ing him and bringing him to the ground.
The public applauded wildly, not compre-
bending the situation, but knowing that
they were witnessing a splendid contest.
While at the Bowery theater Jones mar
ried Melinda Topping, the daughter OF q
New York builder. She was an actress oil
some ability and played many engage
ments in this city and through the coun'
try. She afterward separated from Jones
and took their two daughters, Avonia and
Caroline, to live with her. Avonia became
herself an actress, and on one occasion re
fused to support her father In play In
which he requested her to take part.
In 1S41 Jones left the stage and went &c
England, where he delivered a series oil
lectures on the Bible He subsequently
travelled about Europe, and 1t was In Ger
many, according to his story, that the title
"count" was conferred upon him for his
literary achievements. This was never
proved and few believed him. He wrote
several books on historical subjects al
about this time.
Upon his return 20 America began an
other phase of Count Joannes' career
his legal aspirations. He was admitted Il
the bar in Boston, and, coming from ther'
here, was admitted to the New York bal
in 1866. He became constant attendan
at the courts. frequently for the purpose o
bringing suits for. libel. In these action