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123. was always fearful of undertaking characters of great length or those requiring exertion ; and Dennis Brulgruddery is the only long part as the actors say which he could be prevailed on to attempt ; in this he succeeded admirably as well as in several other and smaller Irish characters--his brogue was as true as his French or Ger-man accent.
Mrs. Darley on the evening above alluded to made her first appearance for seven years as Juliana.
It would be a task of supererogation to enlarge upon this lady's merit either in private life or as an actress of accomplished attainments. She was identified with the annals of he American stage from its earliest and palmiest days in Boston New York and Philadelphia to the period of her retirement some years since. As a general actress Mrs. D. shone with equal brightness among the most exalted of her compeers. Her tragedy if not soaring to the highest flights of genius was intensely pathetic chaste and discreetly personified. Her high comedy was vivid but polished ; and the broader type was mellowed by modesty and delicacy of conception and execution while her operatic efforts were marked by a sweetness of elegance not often surpassed by the English opera singers of the day. In her the united powers of singer and actress were rarely and charmingly combined. In those parts she was always naive natural artless affecting and ever the favorite of a discriminating audience. She performed her duties with strictand conscientious attetion and never disappointed an audience by feigning sickness. With a cultivated mind she combined good manners and great suavity of disposition. The fruits of her public talent and private worth garnished by a rudent life made happy the evening of her days in the bosom of an amiable and properous family circle. May it afford an example to the profession which Mrs. Darley so long cherished and adorned.
Mr. John Darley her husband was the son of the celebrated Darley who came to this country in 1793. Old Mr. Darley was a vocalist of great power and of a truly melodeon quality of voice. We have heard his contemporaries of musical judgment say that he fully shared the applause of the London audiences with the notable Incledon and was to that great singer of ballads a formidable rival. In the fathers of musical pieces he stood alone.
The subject of our present notice Mr. John Darley came to this country when quite a boy with his father a member of Mr. Wignell's corps of 1793. As young Darley advanced to manhood although giving great promise of good abilities in his father's profession from an irrepressible predilection for other pursuits he abandoned the muses and became a son of Mars ! He obtained a lieutenancy in the United States marine corps and in that honorable capacity served in the Mediterranean squadron after our first organization of the navy under the new Constitution and in the protection of our commerce from Algerine piracy. There he was the companion of those young officers whose deeds of skill and valor have since carried the "Star Spangled Banner" in triumph over every sea "til Liberty walks like a God on the wace." The course of arms however did not prove congenial with his finer feelings and be-
nevolent views of man's relative condition. The discipline of the navy necessary as it is said to be was revolting to his nature. He therefore resigned his commission in 1801 and returned to the stage. He made his debut in the Chesnut street theatre soon after as Captain Cheerly in the musical afterpiece of "Lock and Key." His quondam brother officers felt indignant at this adoption of a vocation which implied a degradation of the cloth. On the evening of his first appearance in the above character they went in a strong body and made a demonstration to drive him off the stage. We wee ve yong at the time nor do we know if our statement will exactly accord with the facts ; but being behind the scenes we have a vivid recollection of his making an exit at the O. P. side after a song holding a white pocket-handkerchief up to one of his eyes. He had been struck with a slight missile in the shape of an orange-peel. Nuts and things of that nature had been cast at him from the front. We can only say that the assailants disgraced their pretensions as officers and gentlemen. The opposition in a short time died away and no doubt Mr. Darley eventually pursued a wise course--at least the result of a long life fully attsts it. Peace and domestic happiness crowned his latter days. There would be no question about his position in the national service of his country if it had been his fortune to have remained in it. He would have in time attained the position of a senior officer and one doubtless of distinction. Yet it would have been obtained at the expense of personal hazard domestic comforts and all the sacrifices that honorable patriotism and chivalry offer up (most laudably) on the altar of country. Mr. Darley possessed a manly figure and features theatrical powers of a versatile character with an extremely fine and extensive tenor voice well cultivated. Indeed we may truly say that he was the best operatic performer on our stage at that day and for years after. With talent so rarely combined he soon became popular in the various walks of the drama. Thus qualified he could not but support with credit and applause the situation. He was excellent in Scotchmen Frenchmen second light comedy and the first line of operatic business. This undoubtedly was an extensive range. In combination with strict integrity and uncommon prudence in all the relations of life he was exemplary as a husband and father and his benevolent sentiments towards the human family were virtues that reflected a brightness upon his talent while they secured him the respect of all.
Miss E. Westray the sister of Mrs. Wood was at the period of Darley's return to the profession an actress rising rapidly in public favor and she soon united her fortunes with the young ex-officer by becoming Mrs. Darley. It is needless to say that a couple thus talented and in all relations respectable were always in demand and in the receipt of the highest salary ; and what is more to the point and not very characteristic of the profession they had the prudence to husband their earnings.
At the expense of being called tedious and prosy we must be allowed to moralize a little on this subject. Mr. Darley possessed a reflective mind based on good sense and fortified by extensive reading of the best authors in history morals and the sciences. From mental culture liberally thrown upon a naturally strong soil his intellectural resources were numerous and combining with these acquirements a shrew observance of mankind he was an entertaining and instructive companion. His knowledge of the world and its transactions in business led him to practice economy in his affairs. We know that his ideas were smiled at by his professional brethren. It would have been well for a majority of them to have imitated his prudence. Many of them had amply the means to have produced the same for themselves and to have had like him a comfortable asylum for their retiring days.
"Suffering" it has been triely said "is the badge" of the profession and we really think truly so in a qualified sense. But it is often the effect of the actor's own want of reflection and reckless improvidence. We grant that the calling is precarious--that its members are isolated in society forming no link in the great chain of sociial relations ; all this may be truly said ; yet from our observations we think that actors could soon remedy such obstacles and dissipate prejudices that militate against them as men and citizens. They should give up their wandering habits become stationary in one theatre (if possible) become housekeepers mingle in the best society that is accessible conform to the opinions customs and even to the very prejudices of the respectable classes of their fellow-townsmen. They should keep aloof from taverns or when they are there never talk about the affairs of the theatre either among themselves or with strangers. They should be social in society but by no means familiar--preserve the due dignity of gentlemen which the profession insures them--educate their children with those of the citizens--respect the religious opinions of the community for in nothing are mankind so tenacious as in their theological principles. Lord Byron--a queer source to quote from on such a subject--says truly that "no nation or people in the world are without their religion" and it is proper that it should be so. Its benign and heavenly influences harmonizes society ; it is the band which binds all other earthly institutions. In short the actors should pay due deference to all observances and a change of better days will assuredly come over the profession. The old Chesnut street company mainly owed the individual respectability of its members and the influence of the drama in their day to the moral tenor of their lives and to the purity of the representations on the stage which were as much as possible freed from immoral tendencies.
The profession of the player is calculated to bring forth the best feelings of the heart through the refining influences of the art which have never failed to advance civilization in all countries where encouraged. It corrects vicious impulses inspires a reverence for the beauties of nature which intuitively lead to serious re-
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124. flection and in eloquent muteness subserves the cause of religion. The actor studies poetry painting sculpture music elocution : to develop what ?--God's won image--Man ! to display his attributes both of soul and body ; the gifts of the Creator to that being whom he sent to adorn his work. These are all meditations imbued with divinity. They are the emanations most truly of the soul taxing and proving all the faculties of the mind and body ; hence they civilize our rugged natures and teach us how to live here how to make ourselves acceptable to grace hereafter.
Actors would find it more to their account to act as a body in business ; they treat each other as an odd card in their suit. In the language of Dimond in the "Hunter of the Alps" individually each is an odd card shuffled into the pack by accident rejected by their own suit and not allowed to mix with any other.
CHAPTER LVIII. Season of 1818-'19 at the Chesnut street theatre continued-- Sketches and anecdotes of Geo. H. Hathwell and daughters--Mr. and Mrs. H. Wallack--Mr. James Wallack-- First appearance of Robert C. Maywood--Mr. and Mrs. Bartley--Duff in opera.
Mr. George H. Hathwell was a very respectable member of the Chesnut street company and his three daughters Misses Matilda Henrietta and Louisa Hathwell were all very clever young ladies in the ballet department. The Hathwells formed a highly useful family in strengthening the details of the pieces which were produced. The amiable and industrious father and his girls came from England. We first saw Mr. Hathwell in the "Commonwealth Corps" formed by Mr. Twaits at New York in 1813 and in Lancaster in 1814. His children were then very young and not on the stage but sbsequently they entered the profession as dancers having received the best instruction to be had at that day in the art amd they became valuable members of the profession. They still live and have retired from the stage enjoying the same respect in their social relations that they so deservedly did when in more public life plying their industry with the same cheerfulness and tact in another pursuit whereby with strict ecomomy they sustain themselves in independence. Miss Matilda became a very useful actress in the drama having a good study and was always perfect and correct.
Mr. Hathwell was an actor in the medium sphere. He dressed well and was very regular in his business. He occasionally played heavy speaking parts but his merits principally rested in the second comedy old men. It affords us pleasure to make a record of this nature where moral correctness and good behavior existed as it did in this family.
Mr. George H. Hathwell died in Philadelphia on the 14th of October 1845 sixty-six years of age. He was born in Essex England and was a very ingenious artisan possessed a good education and improved that cultivation by very extensive reading.
All worthy and education people who have devoted their days without reproach of character to any honorable profession should be remembered in its recorded annals even if they be not brilliant meteors. But cold-hearted
writers enveloped in their own self-pride and selfish importance are often to be found who deny a little tribute of justice to the memory of the deserving and of satisfaction to their children and friends.
In the month of January of this season was produced the tragedy of "Fazio" the two principal parts by Mr. and Mrs. Wood. Shortly afterwards was brought out "Bellamira"--Manfredi Mr. George Barrett ; Montalto Mr. Hughes ; Amurath Mr. H. Wallack ; Bellamira Mrs. Darley. The comedy "Where to Find a Friend" and "The Green Man" taken from the French were also brought out.
In December Cooper played an engagement commencing with Macbeth. He appeared as Brutus Amurath in "Bellamira" Posthumus in "Cymbeline" and as The Green Man.
On Saturday December 26th, 1818 the musical drama of "The Libertine" was produced. This piece was very beautifully got up and H. Wallack made a great hit in Don Juan. His fine dashing look and manner his figure and acting realized at once the witching charms of a picturesque Spanish libertine such as Byron so poetically paints with force of language and brings in a tangible shape to your every sense. Jefferson's Leporello was capitally played and sang. Mozart's music so very ably adapted to the English stage by Bishop made a great impression. Jefferson's fine mellow voice would have done justice to the opera of "Don Giovanni" itself. Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Le Folle in Zerlina and Donna Elvira acquitted themselves most cleverly.
On Friday January 1st, 1819 the musical drama of "Rob Roy" was produced at the Chesnut street theatre for the first time. H. Wallack's Rob Roy was an excellent performance. He looked the bold outlaw to the very life. We think that we have never since seen it so well acted. In the energetic portions he exhibited vigor without uncouthness. His ruggedness was modified by the gentle impulses of the mountain hero while in the pathetic parts without the whining we often hear the heart of the brave man poured out its wrongs like nature moaning in soft sounds. He was worthy of all praise in the scene with Rashleigh Osbaldiston and Frank Osbaldiston in his daring and the recital of his injuries to the former. The piece was well cast :--Rashleigh Barrett although this was not in his line ; Frank Osbaldiston Darley ; Owen Herbert ; Captain Thornton Hughes ; Dougal James Abercrombie ; Baillie Nichol Jarvie Jefferson Sr. and certainly it was a rich treat to see old Jeff. in the honest Baillie. He did not speak one word of unintelligible Scotch. A word here and there he would drop in but it was an unctious performance. Mrs. Burke was the Diana Vernon. She was then at the top of her vocal popularity. Mrs. Wood the Helen McGregor. We never thought her fitted for the character at all. She was not deficient in force but Helen was too melo-dramatic a character for her. Mrs. Wood always played with sense and good judgment. Her figure was too petite for the dashing female heroines. Although it takes the same strength of passion for a Belvidera or a Lady Macbeth as for a fiery
amazon of the melo-dramatic school yet the former are supposed to be refined females---a Helen McGregor is a rough mountain peasant.
On Friday evening January 8th, 1819 Mr. James Wallack made his first appearance on the Chesnut street boards as Rolla the play being thus cast : Pizarro Hughes ; Alonzo Barrett ; Davilla Carter ; Valverde Jackson ; Almagro Mr. Thomas Jefferson ; Gonzalo King ; Las Casas Warren ; Castilian Soldier Burke ; Elvira Mrs. Wood ; Ataliba Abercrombie ; Orozimbo Mr. Jefferson ; Old Blind Man Hathwell ; Orano Scrivener ; Boy Miss Seymour ; Alonzo's Child Miss Hathwell ; Cora Mrs. Darley. On this occasion as he did everywhere else in the United States this young actor made a prodigious sensation. The audience were in perfect rapture with him. There was but one thing which could be more delightful in this play by the side of Wallack's Rolla and that was Jefferson's Orozimbo. Short as the part is those who had not witnessed this gem of a sketched part could not bring to imagination anything like its perfection in the hands of our favorite actor. In this engagement Wallack went through his round of characters with the most decided approbation playing Rolla Macbeth Hamlet Bertram Shylock and Walter in "The Children of the Wood." On the 18th of January after acting his first six nights to the most enthusiastic applause and full houses he took on the seventh night his first benefit when "Pizarro" was repeated by public request and Mr. W. gave his imitations as Sylvester Daggerwood. The receipts amounted to $1522.
He acted a second engagement for a few nights concluding on February 1st with his benefit appearing as Hamlet and Sir Archy MacSarcasm in "Love a la Mode."
On Tuesday February 2d Mr. Robert C. Maywood announced from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane made his first appearance as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice." The next night he played Othello ; Iago H. Wallack. On Thursday he personated Sir Edward Mortimer in the "Iron Chest." On Friday he acted Sir Giles Overreach and performed King Lear for his benefit on Saturday with Lovel in "High Life Below Stairs." Mr. Maywood could not hope however strong his professional pretensions to make a very great impression after the brilliant demonstration or rather coup de main of James Wallack. Mr. M. was a good actor with much discrimination of judgment tact and talent.
About this time the managers of the Chesnut commenced acting every night in order to bring in their stars and novelties.
On February 15 Mr. and Mrs. Bartley made their first appearance at the Chesnut street Theatre. They were engaged for twelve nights. They were from Drury Lane Theatre where they had been conspicuous members the lady especially being known as a leading tragic actress. Mrs. Bartley performed Belvidera Isabella Bianca Julia ("Deaf and Dumb") Mrs. Oakley Euphrasia Mrs. Haller Katherine Lady Townley Mad. Clermont ("Adrian and Orilla") Adelgitha and Lady Contest> Mr. Bartley played Sir John Falstaff The Green Man Captain All-
