The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-04-18

and family of kemble have honored
the st acc. From Mrs. Siddons, the
oldest child, to Fanny krmble and
Adelaide krmble, twelve brothers and
sisters comprise the original family,
and all were more or less dramatic
characters. 1t is very evident this
family was most influential in helping
on the name and fame of John Howard
Payne.
After his great success with "Clarl
he wrote "Charles III -" a very popular
play; but fortune still refused to smile
upon him, and he returned to this coun-
try almost penniless-everything he
touched turned to ashes. When in
New York benefit night was given, in
which he appeared as "Brutus." 1t is
said to have been the first compliment
ary night ever given by the citizens OF
New York. During the evening, Mr..
Cooper, the distinguished actor, recited
"Alexander's Feast
In 1871 Mr.. Payne was appointed
Consul to Tunis by President Tyler,
and we are very sure the friendship Of
the Coopers must have played some
hand in this. 1t will be remembered
that President Tyler's son married the
daughter of the distinguished actor,
Mr.. Cooper. She had from childhood
been surrounded 10y the best society
in New York, and was girl of culture
and refinement. The Presidents wife
was in delicate health, and Mrs. Robert
Tyler was called upon to take the posi-
tion of the first lady of the land.
Where Mr. Cooper sometimes i'm
personated the characters Of Mr..
Payne's plays was in a theatre on the
corner of Eleventh and d streets. 1t
burned down, and was rebuilt in 1912,
and was call d"The Assembly Rooms"
Mrs. Priscilla Cooper Tyler has left
graphic description of one of these
gatherings:
Il went to the Assembly last night:
matroniz;ng five young ladies, all
dr., ssed in rose color, all so lovely too
-Clementina Pleasonton, and Belle
Stevenson, the pretliest of all. Belle
has the most perfect figure and face l
ever saw, and Miss PIeasonton has
style about her that makes her the
most attractive of the two.
1.-The ball was brilliant one, admir-
ably lighted, and not crowded, the
ladies all we'll dressed and showing to
Advantage. spent a delightful eve
ming. AS declined dancing, had
the pleasure Of talking to many grave
Senators, and among the rest had
long conversation with Mr.. Southland
Samuel j. Southland was Secretary of
the Navy during John Quincy Adams
administration
GAS We stood at the end Of the room,
which is the old theatre transformed
into ballroom, he said: 'On this very
spot where We stand | saw the best
acting l ever witnessed. | came into
the theatre and took my seat beside
John Quincy Adams. There were
never two more delighted people. Mr..
Adams said he had seen the same play
abroad--iE France and in England
John kemble and the great Talma in
the past, Keen, Cook, and Macready,
but he had never seen it so we'll acted
as then. l entirely agreed with him
in his admiration, though | am not so
capable Of Judging by comparison as
he
"Mr Southland here paused.
Though my heart told me to whom he
was alluding, could not help asking
him, what was the play and who was
the actor?' The play was Macbeth,
and the performer Mr.. Cooper
81 could not restrain the tears that
sprang to my eyes as heard my dear
father so enthusiastically spoken OF.
l looked around and thou2 Int not only
had papas Footsteps trod these boards
looked down at the velvet dress of
Mrs. Tyler and thought of the one
wore there, six years before, as Lady
Randolph" when we struggled through
a miserable engagement of few rainy
nights"
Curiosity still queries how much
these sympathetic people had to do
with the appointment of John Howard
Payne to Tunis. 1t is very evident
the same influences were not at work
when Mr. Polk stepped into the Presi-
dental chair, for Mr. Payne was re-
called.
1t was during these years that Mr.
Payne tast' d the very dregs Of power
ty. The time had not yet arrived for
a prophet to be known in his own
! country. In the course of years he
was again returned to Tunis by Presi-
dent Taylor, a position be reluctantly
accepted because more congenial To-
cality could not be obtained. After a
short illness he died and was buried in
E, a foreign land. He laid at rest thirty
! years in garden of carnations, roses
and heliotropes, but not at home; his
, memory was tenderly cherished by
Europeans and the native inhabitants.
! A marble slab was erected to his mem
DRY 10y the American and English resi-