St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-11-28
Charles II. Hoyt Dead.

Charles H. Hoyt, the well known play
wright, died at his home in Charles
town, N. H., Tuesday, Nov. 20, from
paresis, with which he had been suffering
for several months. Ever since his re-
turn to Charlestown after his release
from a private asylum in Hartford by
order OF the court, early in August, it
had been known by his attendants and
nearest friends that his condition was
serious, and that there was little or
no chance for his recovery. Charles H.
Hoyt was born in New Hampshire about
forty years ago. When young man,
about twenty years ago. he was a writer
on the staff of 1.-THE Boston Post" and
attracted attention by his witty style.
He began writing pieces which resembled
vaudeville performances, but bad a thread
of continuity in them. The first of these
was "Gifford's Luck" and the next was
"a Bunch OF Keys" 1t had successful
career, and was followed by "A Parlor
Match" In this farce Evans and Hoey
made tours season after season. Then
there were "a Rag Baby" "a Tin Sol
der, ""A Hole in the Ground" "A Brass
Monkey" "a Midnight Bell, ""A Texas
Steer" and "a Trip to Chinatown"
which had run of 656 performances at
Hoyt's Theatre, the longest consecutive
run on record in New York city. After
this were "a Temperance Town" "a
Milk White Flag" "A Black Sheep" "a
Contented Woman" which he wrote TOR
his wife, Caroline Miskel Hoyt; IA Stran-
ger in New York." "a Day and Night"
and IA Dog in Manger." In early life
he began to read law but gave this up
and chose journalism as a profession.
His journalistic career began at St. AL
bans where he was connected with a
local paper for short time. st. Adams
society was not exactly to his taste and
his witty comments on the aristocra ic
element of that place attracted attention
even beyond the borders of the state.
From journalism he dritted into writing
plays and won fame and fortune as a
playwright. Mr.. Hoyt's plays were, for
the most part, satires on various phases
of American life, his Vermont experiences
furnishing material tor some of them.
"A Milk White Flag" is supposed to be
the result of his stay in St. Adams.
There were two military companies in
| that town, known as the Ransome
Guards and Barlow Greys, and from the
rivalry which existed between these or
CARNATIONS Mr.. Hoyt got the idea of the
play. "A Temperance Town" illustrated
the workings of the Vermont prohibitorv
law in small town in this state and
many features of the piece were founded
on actual occurrences. Mr.. Hoyt was
twice married. His first wife was Flora
Walsh, an actress, who appeared in some
of his pieces; she died in 1898. In 1894 be
married Miss Caroline Scales, known tC
the stage as Caroline Miskel she died il
October, 1898. The death of his second
wife was loss which was irreparablt
and since that time the playwright wa:
changed man. A portion of the last
TWO years was spent in the south, anC
for a short time he was in a sanitariun
in Hartford, but was removed last sum
mer to his New Hampshire home wher
the remainder of his life was spent. Mr
Hoyt was exceedingly popular with al
his acquaintance The fight which hi
old neighbors and friends made last sum
mer against his confinement in the SAM
tarium at Hartford, and the enthusias
tic reception which his townspeople tend
cred him when he came home for the las
time are well remembered. Mr.. Hoy
was during several years a member G
the New Hampshire legislature.