New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-26


De kept his spirits bright and thought
America not merely d land az promise
hut already a land Of fulhlment To his
surprise II seemed 10 be as dificult 20
SET into the army as surgeon as IL was
% get into the theatre as an actor. There
was ElUt Of mediCos al the recruiting
Offices Wvndham had already seen the
sights OF New York. and as they could
not be inspected gratis his NS5 dwindled
10 meagre figure.
Tse went 20 Washington and haunted the
War Department. on the hrst day ques-
toned every military man he could ma.
from generals 10 corporals. but surgeons
appeared 10 he a useless luxury. on the
second day he had an Inspiration. Taking
a large book on surgery. he placed himself
"a chair IN room where excited soldiers
and politicians congregated. and, poring
over the volume in a pretentious fashion
suited 10 The occasion. he hopsd that some
body on the watch for genius would ap-
proach him and reward his apparent zeal
with an appointment on the army medical
stan Nobody noticed him. on the next
day be repeated his solemn performance.
and in the course Of the afternoon he saw
"a kindly looking man. whose face he
thought familiar. but whose identity he
could not recall He had seen the mans
portrait somewhere but where Was ne
some famous statesman. some warrior. some
eminent clergyman Everybody seemed
20 know the newcomer. who had for every
body a pleasant word. Wyndham screwed
his courage 10 the sticking point. accosted
the gentleman, explained his own position.
showed his diplomas from the Dublin Col
lege Of Surgeons. and asked advice con-
rR- -
an appointment as army surgeon The
pleasant parsonage could not seem 20 help
him. and though HIS manner was the kind
est imaginable, he had nothing new 70 offer
IN the line 81 advice.
II was the beginning q winter and there
was little prospect Of any great demand
for army surgeons for several months 70
come This was not enlivening 10 the
doughty young man who had Just crossed
the Atlantic IN search Of fame and fortune.
bat II did not depress him. although his
money had almost disappeared. though he
/ had parted with his watch and a board
3 bin Was growing az WIZARDS Hotel
wyndham turned up again the next
morning with a bigger book than before
Again De waited. And now he saw the
. pleasing parsonage OF yesterday approach
4 with cordial recognition. I have been
. thinking over your case" said the celebrity
/ of course he must have been celebrity
. something ought 10 be done 7 viii give
YOU letter 10 General Banks Where
/ upon the pleasant gentleman wrote 10 the
/ general setting forth as briefly as might be
Tie story Wyndham had related. BY this
time the young Englishman's curiosity was
Z keen. He watched for the writing OF the
/ signature, and almost shouted when he
/ saw the pen write p. T. Barnum And
so Barnum was his first friend in America.
Nyndham sought out General Banks az
/ headquarters The "Bobbin Boy" quickly
/ Endorsed Bamum's letter. and told the ap-
/ phcant 20 take ~ 10 the surgeon general.
! ON the following day the Dublin graduate
/ was appointed a medical director His
duties were 10 begin al once He was
! ordered 70 proceed 10 Alexandria and report
/ upon the condition Of the contra hands.
/ Here thought Wyndham. lis my chance
1 for distinction He seemed 70 see the
] Congress Of The United States discussing
! his forthcoming report with a vigor and
/ purpose unequalled IN the history Of the
. Republic Great was his disappointment
/ upon learning that Alexandra was only
( few miles from Washington. and that no
/ hostile country lay between IN which n
/ seek heroic adventure
His next disappointment came upon ar
4 irving al Alexandra. He found no officer 70
! whom he could report, nor any one who
would have anything 10 DO with him or
who knew anything about oont-abands
lie found a few stray negroes pulling a
stable 10 pieces Tor dndling wood. but as
. they could not furnish material for re
f port he returned 10 Washington. For
. fr-s Ia
without being assigned 20 any duty By
and by be was appointed medical examiner
. az a couvalescent camp After this various
posit0-s were assigned 40 him, bur they
amounted 10 little or nothing lie vas
rusting away through inaction
But the bright hour came. bringing Vith
. n Leonard Grover. who had taken the Ma
tionsl Theatre for the winter Of lss8-si.
/ I'm Growers company John Wilkes Booth
was the principal actor. And IN this COM
Iany Wyndham obtained an engagement.
FIRST resigning his position IN the army.
he now had his FIRST experience with the
professional stage. And his first part
was Osric 10 wilkes Booths Hamlet What
. thar Osric was ike history recordeth not
and Wyndham has never confessed. Other
parts came 10 him. but IN three weeks
- was discharged for inoompetency. He
returned 10 the medical staff OF the army.
but fate in the person ~ Mrs John Wood.
interviewed Mrs Wood was 20 open a
season ~ The olympic Theatre. New York
She offered Wyndham an engagement
Again resigning his military commission,
tie hoTeful Briton started for New York
Here for i've weeks he valiantly prepared
himself for his debut He was 10 have a
sentimental part Ills elation was great
The night came. Wyndham appeared on
The next morning he was discharged for
incompetency. He took the first train for
Washington. and was a. once enrolled
again a. the army 8 medical headquarters