p. 358

109.
There was but one original American piece
introduced during this season. It was entitled
"The Return from the Camp" and was written
by a lady of Philadelphia. The english plays
brought out for the first time were as follows :
"The Hole in the Wall;" "Peter the Great or
the Russian Mother ;" "The Camp" a comic
opera ; "The Renegade" by Frederick Rey-
nolds ; "The Students of Salamanca" by Robt.
Jameson ; "The Miller and His Men" by J. Po-
cock ; "The Turn Out."

The Company was composed of the following
principal performers : Messrs. Warren Wood
Duff Barrett Hardinge Jefferson Blissett Fran-
cis Steward Entwisle Abercrombie Durang
Sr. F. Durang Leigh Waring ; Mrs. Mason
Mrs. Wood Miss Abercrombie Mrs. Duff Mrs.
Green Mrs. Francis Mrs. Seymour Mrs. Jeffer-
son Mrs. Waring (late Miss Caroline Placide)
Miss Jefferson Miss White Miss Seymour.

The new names in this last are those of Ent-
wisle and Stewart. A word or two in relation
to them.

Mr. Entwisle some time after his introduction
to the Cesnut street theatre married that clever
and sprightly actress in comedy Mrs. Mason.
As Mrs. Entwisle she remained a member of the
Chesnut street theatre until 1817 when on the
28th of March she took her farewell benefit.
The Entwisles had become dissatisfied with
their situations in the theatre. Mr. E. orga-
nized a company at Philadelphia and went to
Pittsburgh. Mrs. Entwisle as an actress may
be likened to the celebrated Mrs. Abington the
first Lady Teazle who was distinguished for
spirit and humor rather than for high breeding
and elegance. In Estifania she was matchless
the part demanding vivacity and humor with-
out the necessary refinement of the polished
lady--and the former were qualities that Mrs.
E. possessed pre-eminently. To our mind her
Beatrice was enchanting and it sparkled with
point and brilliancy ; wit and pertness prevails
more in that character than good breeding. It
was said when she came here that Mrs. Mason
imitated Mrs. Jordan. She always spoke in
raptures of that lady's acting and has told us
she took her as a model. We did not like her
in tragedy yet her performances were respecta-
ble and not deficient in force and impressive
reading. Mrs. Mason came to this country in
company with Edmund Simpson in 1809 and
made her first appearance at the Park as Mrs.
Beverley in "The Gamester." Why she com-
mitted that act of folly we cannot divine for
she did not lack good judgment in theatrical
affairs. Of course she did not fail. Her tragic
powers secured fair approbation. On her se-
cond appearance she played the Widow Cheerly.
As no one else could play the merry-hearted
widow her triumph was then most decided.
She reigned thereafter in the opinion of the New
Yorkers as she did everywhere else the queen
of comedy. It was as an epilogue speaker that
she received her crown of laurels. Her method
in such compositions was a development of
comedy in its most fascinating aspect. She
archly wooed and bewitchingly won her audi-
ence. From every line she spoke an irresistible
spark of radiant beauty issued and the vapid

language could only be discerned by the most
skilful. Poor Molly Entwisle as she was fa-
miliarly called whatever may have been her
foibles was a generous creature. Her heart
was like that of the merry widow whom she so
often represented to the delight of all. Her
society was cheerful entertaining and instruc-
tive. We have often shared a social hour with
her and shall ever revere her memory. Simp-
son and Mrs. Mason came to this country to-
gether. They met with good fortune and ac-
quired money (the gebtleman especially) thea-
trical fame lived long and happy but both met
adversity in their declining days and died
poor.

When Entwisle married Mrs. Mason it was
supposed that she had realized and well kept a
handsome sum of money. This postulatum was
not clear to the world. Yet we think that the
widow had something very comfortable. Pro-
perly nursed it would have made her latter
days easy at all events. Jemmy in the union
saw a desirable speculation in perspective.
But unfortunately James Entwisle was not the
most prudent and energetic man in the world.
He was a good actor in the line of country boys
and sang a comic song very well--a class of
business that now seems sunk into oblivion.
He was often in the Falstaff mood delighted
with his boon companions and merry jest when
acompanied by that which it is said brings
forth the natural qualities of man's heart. Imbi-
bation with the curling grace of the light cigar
formed the acme of his ambitious aspirations.
His marriage with the excellent although not
handsome actress and the command of her
dollars afterwards led him in an unwary mo-
ment into management and difficulty.

Mr. William Stewards was an excellent vo-
calist and a useful actor in sturdy English
singing farmers and had not many superiors.
We remember with pleasure his Farmer Black-
berry and the manner in which he sung "E'er
Around the Huge Oak." He was an English-
man and a fine gentlemanly-looking man. A
strong friendship soon sprung up between him
and Mr. William Warren. One was the shadow
of the other. Steward was succeeded in that
position by Mr. Thomas Burke who was after-
ward the Fidus Achates of the worthy manager.
Steward died at Westminster Maryland Janu-
ary 3d, 1818.

Whilst speaking of death it is proper to
mention that the wife of Mr. Noble Usher (Mrs.
Harriet Usher) whom we have spokenof for-
merly as a member of the Chesnut street com-
pany as Miss L. Estrange died on the 28th of
April 1814 at New York. On the
30th of September 1814 Mr. Jos. Seymour of
the Chesnut street company died at Washing-
ton. We have hitherto omitted to mention the
death of Matthew Sully the comedian which
took place at Augusta, Ga. on the 7th of April
1812. He was very popular at the South.

CHAPTER LIII.
Ball in honor of peace at the Olympic theatre and Vaux-
hall garden in the summer of 1815--The summer season
at Vauxhall--Opening of the Chesnut street theatre--First
appearance of Mrs. Placide--Mr. Johnson--Mr. Savage--
Mr. McFarland and Mrs. Claude--Engagement of Mrs.
Williams--Barlow--The benefits--Large receipts--Sketch
of Mrs. Mary Duff.

The summer of 1815 did not produce many
novelties in public amusements. A ball in honor
of peace was given at the Olympic theatre.
John Scotti & Co. gave a very magnificent Peace
Ball at Vauxhall garden on the 4th of May and
also in honor of Jackson's victory at New Or-
leans. The ball room was illuminated in the
Italian style with six thousand lamps and
every effort was adopted by the management
to give the festival the appearance of an Italian
ridotto.

Vauxhall opened for the season on the 17th
of May. Mr. Gillingham Mrs. Gillies and Mr.
Gallaher were then the chief performers. Ca-
rusi's clarionet solos were very popular. During
the coure of the season here the concert com-
pany was strengthened by the addition of
Messrs. Hardinge Rodinson West Shuman and
Mrs. Burke.

The Chesnut street theatre opened on the
27th of November with the comedy of "The
West Indian" in which Mr. Johnson made his
first appearance at this theatre as Captain Dud-
ley ; Mr. Savage as Charles Dudley ; and Mr.
McFarland as Major O'Flaherty. On the 20th
Mrs. Placide formerly of the Charleston theatre played
for the first time assuming the character of
Priscilla Tomboy in "The Romp[?]. Beside the
above additions the company was principally
composed of the following : Messrs. Warren
Wood Duff Jefferson Francis Barrett Aber-
crombie Hathwell Steward Emberton Entwisle
Durang F. Durang ; Mesdames Entwisle (for-
merly Mason) Wood Duff Francis Seymour
Harris (formerly Miss S. Abercrombie) Barrett
Jefferson ; Miss White Miss Jefferson Miss Sey-
mour Miss C. Durang Miss K. Durang.

On the 20th of January 1816 Mr. Cooper
commenced an engagement which was very
successful. The receipts ran as follows :
1st night..............$987 5th night..........$767
2d night..............$829 6th night...........$1261
3d night................$92 7th night............$903
4th night................$652 8th night...........$1146

On the 9th of February Mrs. Williams (after-
wards Mrs. Robert C. Maywood) commenced an
engagement which lasted six nights. She ap-
peared as Widow Cheerly Violante Juliana
Nell ("Devil to Pay") Mrs. Oakley Albina Man-
deville Agnes Widow Brady Little Pickle and
Letitia Hardy.

A Mr. Bartow of New York an ambitious
amateur made his first appearance March 6th
as Hamlet. He subsequently essayed the part
of Romeo. Mrs. Burke played a star engage-
ment of three nights during March.

The stock benefits this season brought in good
returns. They netted the following amounts :
Mr Warren..........$1190 Mrs Claude....$484
Mr and Mrs Jefferson-$1618 Mr Entwisle... 609
Mrs Wood......... 617 Mr McFarland......759
Mrs Entwisle.....661 Mr Stuart..........701
Mr Duff..........1145 Mrs Harris............588
Mr Francis........666 Ferdinand Durang and
Mr Barrett......1320 Misses Durang.....916
Mr Robins......753 Miss White........923
Mrs.Duff.........716 R. Pullen Treasurer--1008