C O N TEN TS

CHAPTER I — PAGE The Stage and Its In flue n ce s My First Engagement — — The Installment System A Sabbatarian —“ Boarding- House Bread Eaten in Secret ' “ ”

M Fi rst . y Heavy Part , and My First Train

CHAPTER l l — The Green Street Theatre , Albany The Dignity of — — Leading Woman Dressm aking An Acrid but Kindly Landlady

CHAPTER Il l — — Old -Time Stars Julia De an Charlotte Crampton Ada Clare—Bohemia

CHAPTER lV Abraham Lincoln—The Prince of Wales—Fernando — — — Wood Thurlow Weed Hugh Hastings D aniel

S . Dickinson and Mrs . Dickinson

CHAPTER V — Edwin Booth The Crime of j ohn Wilkes Booth an d the Disposition of His Remains

V CONTENTS

CHAPTER VI PAGE Glimpses of Royalty—The Prince of Wales—Chinese Diplomats The Boston Theatre Old -Tim e Theatrical Salaries

CHAPTER VI I —E My First Row with a Manager . L . Davenport W — A . and J . W . allack Realistic De sde mon a

CHAPTER VI I I — — Mrs . Davenport Edward House Poetry at Short Notice — “ Enoch Arden The Man in the Iron Mask

CHAPTER IX

— O B ulfin ch Fanny Davenport The ld House in Place , — Boston An Assemblage of Notables

CHAPTER X — — The New England Circuit A Put -Up j o b Misad ventures in New Bedford

CHAPTER X I — “ Washington in War-Tim e Contrabands Defined ’ — —Uncle Sam s Soldiers—Patriotic Songs Tom — PlacidHWallack and Davenport Distinguished Guests

v i CONTENTS

CHAPTER X I I

PAGE Abraham Lincoln—William Henry Seward—Pla cide ’ s Humour— “ Still Waters Run Deep Assassination of the President—A Night of Terror

CHAPTER X I I I

— ’ — — New York Wallack s Theatre Nancy Syke s Lead — in g Woman with Lester Wallack Perfect The — — atri cal Management Mary Gannon Charles — Dickens Love for the Stage .

CHAPTER X IV

First Sea Voyage— Captain Judkins and the — — — Scotia Sea- Sickness Goodwood Races The — ’ Prince of Wales Again In the Q ueen s B o x — — N Y O . . at the pera Smuggling Rochester, A Leading Woman in a Sad Predicament

CHAPTER XV

Toronto The Heart of Midlothian - A Minister — ' — ing Angel j aam a De an s A Co nverted Presby —“ ” — terian She Stoops to Con quer George Hol land as Ton y Lu mpki n

vii CONTENTS

CHAPTER XVI

PAGE Augustin Daly and the New York Theatre Under the Gaslight ”—Davenport in Mischief Caste” - W — — . J . Florence Mrs . Gilbert Starring N N — ewark, . J . Washington

CHAPTER XVI I — — London Paris Longcham ps and the Gr an d P r i nt Napoleon III and the Em press Eugenie— Prin — N — cess Metternich Prince Pierre apoleon Dr . Evans — Nubar Pasha — Auber and Verdi Americans in Paris— Cora Pearl

CHAPTER XVI I I Royalty and Rank— Fontainebleau and The Black ” — — — Eagle Across the Alps Italy Alexandria The Am erican Traveller— Ram leh — Cleopatra — The B awau b A Masculine Cham bermaid

CHAPTER X I X

— n Love , the Great Leveller The Serva t Problem in Egypt—How the Grocer Imported His Bride — — Wom en in the East The Harem s An Oriental ’ — Lady s Call Upon an American Woman The — Man in the Case Human Nature .

viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER X X

American Patriotism—Woman ’ s Status in America — and the East Co ntrasted Eunuchs European Wives of Mohammedan Magnates

CHAPTER XX I

— ’ Egyptian Dancing- Girls The Viceroy s Mother — ' Oriental Splendour A Noblem an with an Hallu cin ation

CHAPTER XX I I — — Tragedies of the Harems Sulym an Pasha From a French Cloister to an Egyptian Prison—Cherif Pasha and His Unhappy Wife

CHAPTER XX I I I

’ “ ” — Verdi s Aida in the Cairo Opera House A Bla ze — of Jewels A Cosmopolitan Audience

CHAPTER XX IV

Egypt ian Antiquities- A Remarkable Co in cide n ck — “ A Greek Dog A Prese nt of Mutton On the Hoof ” —A Berber Prince—The Restoration of a Long- Lost Child

ix CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXV — PAGE Henry Bulwer American Offi cers in the Khe ’ — — v Thom as W di e s Service Stone Pasha Colonel . Rhett General Sherm an Patriotism Mo llifie d — by Old Associations A Meeting of One -Tim e Enemies CHAPTER XXVI — F e llabe m of Egypt Taxation How the Other ” — Half Li ves in the East A Bedouin Fam ily at — — Ramleh An Arab Mother-in - Law Marriage ala Mode CHAPTER XXVI I — Back to the Stage Shook Palmer and the Union N Y — Square Theatre , ew ork Charles Thorne Dion Boucicault— “ Led Astray Blow for Blow —Marie Wilkins CHAPTER XXVI I I The Two Orphans “ The Lady of Lyons ” — George Rign o ld Rose Michel Steele Mack — — aye j ohn Parse lle and Charles Thorn e To m Taylor CHAPTER XX I X — — — Starring Buying Experience The West Ben De s— — Bar Bob Mile Mrs . John Drew The Lith — o graph Q uestion A Sandwich Man CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXX PAGE a — The California Theatre, San Fr ncisco John Mc

' ' Cullo ugh j u lza L ady M d e bai b Camzlle Mary Anderson East Lynne ”

CHAPTER XXX I — — Virginia City Ah Audience of Miners A Midnight — Ride with a Guard of Honour Down in a Silver Mine

CHAPTER X XX I I Reno—A Western Hotel—The Reno Theatre—Puri fication

CHAPTER XXX I I I

’ Seeking Rest and Finding None Why Don t Yo u ” — go into Some Decent Business! New-Mown — Hay The Properties of the Reno Theatre .

CHAPTER XXX IV Salt Lake City—The Guest of Brigham Young — The King of Utah Polygamy

CHAPTER X XXV

’ Playing a Boy s Part for the Only Time - Cle opatr a Henry Bergh ’ s Eulogy

xi CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXXVI — — PAGE Lo ndon and Its Notables Tom Taylor The Olym — — pic Theatre Beerbohm Tree The Effect of Too Realistic Acting—A Noble Lord ’ s Criticism “ Annie Thom as ”

CHAPTER XXXVI I Wilkie Collins—Charles Reade—The Influence of — Charles Dickens Nan cy Syke s Converts a Bap tist

CHAPTER XXXVI I I

Y — — Edmund ates Robert Buchanan Mrs . W . E . Gladstone—Professor Blackie—Palgrave Simp SOD

CHAPTER XXX I X Changes in the Profession— Lucille Western—Louis — — m . 0 Aldrich James A . He e Adah Isaacs Menken . 3 7

THE M EM O R I ES O F R O SE EV T IN G E

CHAPTER I — THE STAGE AND ITS IN F L U ENC Es M Y FIRST ENGAGE — — MENT THE INSTALLMENT SYSTEM A SABBATARIAN “ ” BOARDING- HOUSE BREAD EATEN IN SECRET “ MY FIRST HEAVY PART, AND MY FIRST TRAIN

WOND ER Wh - I y it is that stage folk , both men and women , always think it a fine thing to decry stage - life to the young man o r woman who of thinks entering that life . They must know that their attempt at depreciation is not just ;

n that the life which they decry is a good o e . The stage brings pleasure and brightness to many Whose lives would be Without any in flu e n ce s more elevating than workaday inter ests . It brings quick returns in recognition of talent , and , in a thousand ways makes apparent

as kin dli its superiority a vocation . And for ROSE EY TINGE

o - ness , g od fellowship , a willing heart , and a

he l ready hand to p each other , where will these virtues be found developed as they are among the players !

When I was a slip of a girl I went upon the stage . At that time !a happy time !) there was in

New York and , I believe , in the whole United on e States but dramatic agent . This was Charle s Parsloe !father of the late Charle s Pars The He athe n Chi m e loe , better known as ), f who had an o fice in Chambers Street . To m him I went and asked for an engage ent .

Evidently I impressed him favourably , for with ou t any difficulty and with very little delay he

Y . found me a chance to go to Syracuse , N . , the re to join a dramatic stock company under

f M r H . the management o . Geary ough On my arrival the question o f wardrobe promptly presented itself, and at first it seemed a very serious and troublesome problem ; but M r H of diffi e . ough spe dily found a solution the f . H e o culty was a widower recent date , and his late wife h ad been his leading woman . As THE INSTALLM ENT SYSTEM

as he still had her stage wardrobe intact , and tailor- made gowns and wrinkleless robes were f not then the vogue , I had very little di ficulty Ac in adapting this wardrobe to my needs . cordin gly I bought the garments and paid for “ ” r H on ll M . them the insta ment plan , ough m deductin g from my salary a small weekly su . M r H n d a I have often wondered Since if . ough f I were the pioneers o the installment system . so ! If , may we be forgiven

In this , my first engagement , I was drawing l a salary of seven do lars a week , and it might be considered that my life was on e o f har dshi p and M Not . privation . at all oney was worth much more then than it is now , and on this apparently small salary I could live in mod est comfort . I

- lived in a boarding house , in which also dwelt

M r M r . H s . and Frank umphreys , the leading

a d o f man n leading woman the company , to gether with several others of its members . I had w a pleasant , comfortable little room , ith board ,

fire , and light , for which I paid three dollars

sa . a week , and , while I do not pretend to y that abundance in any form was within my means , ROSE EY TINGE

f I su fered no privations . The table was fur h - ished with the ordinary boarding house fare , and naturally was neither so abundant nor so luxurious as to make any of us fear gout . Our onl y really hard experience was on Sun day . The landlady was a strict Sabbatarian o n and would have no food cooked that day,

‘ so M and , from Saturday night until onday

morning , we , her helpless prisoners , virtuously

and virtually starved until , in a blessed hour , I discovered that food galore was stored in the

M r Hcellar . I at once laid my discovery before . umphreys , and hope dawned upon us . Th r M r e ou . first Sunday after discovery ,

H r - umph eys , armed with a villainous looking on e scimitar ! with which I have no doubt , many

a stage murder had been committed), and I , armed with a lighted candle !a juvenile L ady M acbe th ), stole at midnight in the stealthy

of . silence stockinged feet , down to the cellar our There , surrounded by the bodies of des

tined victims , which were suspended against l the wal s upon huge hooks , by apples which ou r blushed a rosy red for shame , by potatoes x with their eyes fi ed upon us , and by butter 6

ROSE EY TINGE

I found myself a member was made up of good , kind , decent folk . Every man Jack and woman Jill of it was good and kind , though they did not fail to “ pitch into me when I deserved such treatment , which doubtless was pretty Often . Yet never , either during work of ing hours in the theatre , or in hours rest and

relaxation at home , did I hear an unseemly or word witness an unseemly act .

When I first joined the company an accident

fixed my position in it most agreeably . The “ ” leading man wanted to play The Old Guard , was M e lan i e thl s c1r and I cast for , and from “ ” cum stan ce my hall - mark of leading juvenile

woman was established .

With especial affection I remember M rs . Hm ou r Frank u phreys , the leading woman Of ’ company . After her husband s death she mar son Of ried William Jamieson , a William Jam “ ” i e son of Consuelo fame .

I played my first heavy part in this com “ pany . A lurid drama called The Wandering 8 BORROW ED P LUM ES

Boys was put up . Susan Denim was the star ; some actors whom I cannot remember played the boys ; and I was cast for the blood h r B ar on e ss t i sty who persecuted them . It must be remembered that this B ar on e ss was sup posed to be a person whose age might run from fifty years up !and I was scarcely fifteen) and that the part im peratively demanded a

- r black velvet t ain . It is needless to say I did not possess any M such splendid equipment . y limited salary did its s not permit the possibility of purcha e , and o f r the wardrobe the late M s . Hough did not

on e . was M r Hcontam What to be done ! s . umphreys came to my rescue . She offered

on e e m me hers , a new , purchased for this a e m e n t g g , the star of her stage wardrobe , the an d s he le n t i t apple of her eye , her fetich , to me i . Could friendsh p go further ! The fateful night of the first performance o f ” — so The Wandering Boys arrived that is , far as the public was concerned . But the real performance that night was making me up and

a on e ss dressing me for the part of the B r . This called for the full feminine force of the com

9 ROSE EY TINGE

pany, and they all filed promptly into my dress

- ing room and the work began . M y hair was parted in a straight line over my nose , plastered down over my ears , and spat te r e d down my cheeks , and then my face was “ ” lined . Looking back upon my face as it was then , I have no doubt that those same ,

of carefully drawn and shaded lines , instead producing the desired effect of giving me an o f appearance age , only served to accentuate its youthfulness .

of - u The ceremony making p being concluded , my corps o f attendants proceeded to put me into the black- velvet train ; but as fast as they ou t it put me into it I slipped of , there was so ! much of the train , and so little of me In memory I can still see those dear , kindly folk , as they stood around me ; the various expres sions o f hopelessness with which I was r e

o f garded in the matter the waist , such a f B aron e ss was te o f waist and such a dearth o .

But , pinned in here and taken in there , and , as a last resort , draped in black lace to cover

on . discrepancies , I was finally hustled the stage Up to thi s moment I had been an interested M Y FIRST TRAIN spectator rather than an active participant in the robing act , and was secretly feeling the keenest delight at having attained the dignity

o f . this , my first train But when I found myself saw standing on the stage , and behind me that

n long , black, trailing somethi g that moved whenever I moved , that insisted upon following l me , that wou d be dragged after me wherever f o . I went , I conceived a sort horror of it It seemed to my overwrought mind that it was o f was some sort a hideous dragon , and that I its victim , condemned to drag it after me for the rest of my life . I dissolved in fears and o f tears , tears which course must have removed from my face all those carefu lly traced lines i wh ch were to have given it weight and age . Oh ! what a performance I must have given o f that blood - thi rsty B aron e ss ! CHAPTER II — THE S E THE G O GREEN TREET TH ATRE , ALBANY DI NITY F LEADING WOMAN DRESSMAKING AN ACRID BUT KINDLY LANDLADY

THE second engagement in my career as an actress !which I also obtained through the good r P a offices of M . arsloe)w s at the Green Street

Theatre , Albany , and by this time my status in the company was assured . I was now the “ ” leading woman , or perhaps I ought rather to s ay that I played the l eading business . Crude of no doubt , a good deal my work was , for I was not a woman at all , but just a saucy girl . Everybody in and about the theatre conspired to spoil me , and vied with each other in being kind to me and helping me . M of Vi r i n i a y opening part was that g , in sup ’ fi a f . a s i r i n i s port o J . A N e e V g . I knew noth o Vi r i n i a s Vi r ing ab ut g , and still less about i n i a g , and the more I learned about her the

more frightened I became . Besides , I had no DRESSM AKING

costumes for the part . All my surplus capital was invested in unbleached muslin that val u able - in fabric , cheese cloth , was not then vented and I sat up all night for a couple o f nights engaged in the manufacture of M iss ’ i n a s o f Vi rg i costumes . When the day the last rehearsal and the performance arrived , what of with loss sleep , fatigue , and nervousness , I was in rather a pitiful plight . I could not ’ even pull myself together and read Vi rgi n i a s M lines , much less speak them . anagement , star and company were all in a panic . I after ward learned that a member of the company

In - was safe a dressing room at night , up in the

o n n lines , and ready to go and fi ish the per for m an ce a when I should , as seemed inevit ble ,

l n ot But I did not fai , and the lady did go

on .

I boarded with a little old lady who made up in temper what she lacked in proportions . She certainl y could not have weighed more than

! she eighty pounds, but it was enough And ,

. u too , was good to me To be s re , it was in

13 ROSE EY TINGE

rather a severe and disapproving way, espe ciall s he y at first , but thawed in time . She never would have taken me in at all if I l had not gone to her high y recommended , for she , like most good folk who know nothing of about them , disapproved actresses , and when saw sh e she first me snipped acrimoniously , “ and said : Humph ! you ought to be at home ” and going to school . And when I replied , with more tact than truth , that I hoped to be l at home with her, and added that I a so hoped she to make the theatre my school , did not she seem to be greatly impressed ; but said , s he l grudgingly, that I might come , and wou d try

s he ! me . And did , often and severely l whi con She gave me a litt e garret room , ch tain e d mf , among other co orts , a tiny wood stove , and for this and my board I paid her h i a week , t s being about the ordinary for price board at that tim e . h At first s e was very severe with me . If I did ’ not get down for breakfast by eight o clock I

or n ot . got it cold , at all When I reached home at night the house was dark , save for the dim — light from a tiny lamp of japanned tin I can

14

ROSE EY TINGE

- kitchen on baking days , and when Christmas goodies were in course o f preparation I was permitted to help prepare the fruit and be at the eggs .

Then there came a tremendous proposal . I was to give up acting and come and live with my old friend indeed she had proved her self a true friend and be her foster- daughter

- and help her conduct the boarding house , she she o s and when died it , and all else was p f i o . sessed , should be m ne When I declined f this o fer She did not resent my decision , but to

the last was my dear, kind , if somewhat sharp

and acrid friend .

I 6 OLD-TIME STARS JULIA DEAN CHARLOTT E CRAMPTON ADA CLARE BOHEMIA

VERY hard I had to work to support the stars that came in a steady procession to the Green

Street Theatre . Among them I remember “ o n e o f Julia Dean , surely the sweetest women ’ ” e er drew breath . It seemed to be a so rt of benediction when she leaned over and fixed

o o n e . her s ft , gentle eyes upon M r Greater than all the rest was s . Shaw . She was very beautiful , with a grand , stately sort o f e of b auty, and a voice like the rich tones an

s h e organ . Never shall I forget her, as stood like an empress , her exquisitely moulded arm “ : extended , and exclaimed On your lives , I H ! ” charge ye , bring uon back to me P Richin s o Then there were old eter g , pomp us f “ ” and pu fy , and his daughter Caroline , self contained and supercilious , but a sweet , highly tw cultivated woman , and , no ithstanding the

I 7 ROSE EY TINGE

ac arduous nature of her profession , a most complished needlewoman .

Goodall who Among others were William , shone

firm am e n t upon the dramatic like a meteor ,

all and died too young ; Edward Eddy , so many “ ” P years the darling of the gods ; J . J . roctor ; M M i M r M r s . . and Edmund Connor ; aggie t chell , and many others whose names I cannot now recall . of I kept up with this procession stars , sup por ting them ; and the study and preparation o f o f my costumes , all which I made myself, made the work very hard ; but I was very happy in it , and everybody praised me , and surely the strongest incentive to work is praise . n Of course I had my troubles . I remember o e —a fright anent Charlotte Crampton , a great

- actress , and a brilliant , great hearted woman , but very excitable and apt to be carried to ex tremes in her acting by giving too full scope to her emotions . In her repertory there was a melodrama in which she played a wronged an d was and neglected wife , I the siren who the occasion of her grief . The third act closed with my death at her hands in a very realistic

I 8 CHARLOTTE CRAMPTON

fashion . I , in white , was awaiting her hus

band . Enter to me Charlotte , in black , and in cul a rage . A stormy scene followed , which m in ate d in her producing a carving- kn ife and

cutting my throat , the blood Spurting over my

she white gown , and standing over me in tri M umph . When , at rehearsal , iss Crampton

- demanded a real carving knife , there was a very vigorous demur on the part of the stage - man

ager, but the star insisted . I was not afraid .

But when at night Charlotte entered , her eyes

afir e , and her frame trembling with emotion , I

confess to some tremors , and when , after being hi flung to the floor, I saw t s woman with blaz ing eyes , standing over me brandishing that n dreadful knife , I uttered a shriek and k ew

no more . H h ! o l s e I also met Ada Clare . w beautifu was When she came I knew nothing of the circum

stances , but I afterward learned that it was the result o f a proposition from her to join the com on pany trial . She selected for her appearance “ ” — Pe t o f P hi a farce , The the etticoats , I t nk ,

i r i n i e s he i she playing V g . I believe made th s

selection because it was a French dialect part .

19 ROSE EYTINGE

She went to the theatre directly on the morning of her arrival in the town , but as I did not she it reach the theatre until after had left , I i H m ssed seeing her for the present . owever ,

I found the company entire there , and they amused themselves by proceeding to “ take a ” f ou t o . rise me They told me , among many r e other things of like sort , which I cannot now at ob member, that I had better go once and tain a willow wreath to wear in place o f the M was crown which I had just lost . y reign over . The girl who had just arrived was a much prettier girl than I ; was fair, with golden hair ; clever far more clever than I was ; and s o amiable ; not a bit saucy , etc . I remember that I held my own fairly well ll during this fusi ade , and though in my heart

I felt many a qualm , I opposed a bold front to their attacks . I perched upon a table that hap on pened to have been left the stage , and there sat u I and sw ng my legs , and , with a saucy ff assumption of indi erence , flung defiance at them . But I am afraid it was very poor coun e rfe i in t t g. In my heart I was sadly frightened b e and cast down . I loved those folk , and I ADA CLARE

lieve that they loved me . I would have been very sorry to have found myself supplanted in their admiration or good will . s aw At night I Ada Clare , who was all and more than they had said , and then , as through ou t my life , I have always done , I prostrated f myself before the altar o beauty . So far from feeling envious of her , I gave her my warmest admiration , my love and allegiance .

Not very long after this Ada Clare and I were both living in New York . Ada had installed herself in a dainty little house on West Forty o f second Street , and there , a Sunday evening , could be found a group of men and women , all o f whom had distinguished themselves in va r iou s avenues , in literature , art , music , drama , war, philanthropy . The women were beau tiful and brilliant , the men clever and dis tin gu i she d . I cannot remember more than a

of o f few these people , but those who live in my memory are John Clancey , owner and editor “ ” of the Leader, then a popular weekly paper ;

l hi s Stephen Fiske ; Wi liam Winter and wife ,

zz Li ie Campbell , then boy and girl , bride

2 1 ROSE EY TINGE

M groo m and bride ; Peter B . Sweeney ; ary Freeman GHoldbeck ; Fanny Brown ; Walt WhitmHanH; enry Clapp ; William Stuart ; Ed ward . ouse ; and many others .

ou r - This was Bohemia , and fairy like , beautiful young hostess was its queen . A veritable queen she was, receiving from her subjects their love al hi sin ce r and loy ty, w ch she won by her quiet ity and unpretentious , unconscious dignity, and w of dra ing from each member her court , by her gracious presence , all that was best in them d of brilliancy , kin liness , courtesy, and

ROSE EY TINGE

his ! And hands Was there ever, before or of ! n ot Since, such a pair hands There did appear to be any wrist in the scheme of his anatomy : his great gnarled hand seemed to run

straight up to reach his long , gaunt arm . His face ! It was rugged and rough ; but from

—se t his dark, deep eyes there shone , and about

the lines of his mouth there played , such a

tender kindliness , such a soft influence , that o n e was led to forget his personal peculiarities and to feel that to find Shelter beneath that

benignant gaze would be to find safety .

The other memorable day in Albany was that

on which the Prince of Wales visited that city .

Of course we are all good republicans, but there is no denying that Americans “ dearly love ” of ! a lord , and the mere sight a prince

Well , that quiet , staid , Dutchly , phlegmatic little town went fairly wild at the sight of the — o slender, fair haired boy . The neighb uring l towns for mi es around had , apparently , poured their entire populations into the streets , which were black with people . The air was rent with shouts ; the wildest enthusiasm prevailed .

24 TW O HISTORICAL FIGURES

And the enthusiasm which was shown that day in Albany to the Prince of Wales was repeat ed wherever he went , throughout the length and breadth o f the land . It was a testimony o f respect to his mother ; a greeting of love and amity from the American republic to the mother country : a cry of brotherhood ; a clasp of hands o f across the sea , the destruction revolutionary prejudice , and the awakening of the present spirit of alliance .

o f As I write , the figures several people whom of I met in Albany , emerge from the mists my memory. Of these , two were men who , each on in his opposite sphere , left a deep mark the

of a pages contemporaneous history . One w s a power in New York city politics ; the other wielded a great influence in national as well

ff n as in State and city a airs , besides reachi g

across the Atlantic . The first of these two distinguished men was

of Fernando Wood , at that time mayor New

York , and to know whom was to understand f H o e r the secret his power . had eve y quality and personal attribute to make him a leader 2 5 ROSE EY TINGE

o f men . Strikingly handsome, though at this old time an man , his was the straight , slender figure and the elastic springy walk of a boy o f - twenty ; a clear cut face , aquiline nose ,

- piercing dark eyes , with heavy well marked

- brows , silver white hair, and heavy white mous tache . The other figure of this notable pair is the towering person of Thurlow Weed , the Warwick o f American politics ; wielding his baton o f power from his sanctum in the office of the “ ” of Albany Evening Journal , which powerful newspaper he was editor and proprietor . He also was a mHan o f singular and Impressive ap e ar an ce . e so p was very tall , tall , indeed , s o and slender , that in standing or walking he leaned forward , not actually stooping , but bend s e e ing , as we sometimes a slender tree bending Hi s before a light breeze . complexion was i ' face was dark , and his long and deeply marked ,

- ou t with deep set , dark eyes that looked in a

- searching way from under heavy , pent house Hi brows . s arms and hands were unusually long , giving him a powerful reach ; indeed he enjoyed the reputation of having a great reach 6 THE DICKINSONS

o f to strike an enemy , but it was also said him that he had an equally long reach and a firm hold with whi ch to help a friend . Another man who was a power in the politics In of the State ofHNew HYork , and whom I met Albany , was ugh astings , editor and pro “ ” pr ie tor of the Albany Kn ickerbocker ; and I cannot take leave of this quaint old city without recording my loving recollection of two dear friends whom I met there , whom I knew after ward in their beautiful , hospitable home in

Binghamton , and whose love and friendship I l was privi eged to enjoy until , after lives spent in good deeds , they each in turn lay down to rest in the beauty of holiness . The world is brightened and bettered by the presence of such persons as Daniel S . Dickinson and his CHAPTER V — EDWIN BOOTH THE CRIME OF JOHN WILKE S BOOTH AND THE DISPOSITION OF HI S REMAINS

THE finest monument that any man could wish to have erected to his memory is that whi ch is felt and voiced by every one who ever met

Edwin Booth, bearing testimony to his gentle

ness , his sweet temper , his unvarying , simple

kindliness .

’ When I first met Edwin Booth I was at Niblo s

n Garden , New York , playi g under the man

age m e n t of William Wheatley . I took the part “ ’ B lan che de N e ve rs M of in The Duke s otto ,

hi r L o ar in w ch M . Wheatley himself played g “ de re - , with his catch phrase , I am here , that Obtained such a widespread popularity M r . Booth was about to produce at that thea ’ “ ’ ” tre Tom Taylor s A Fool s Revenge, and f F o i s a he offered me the part o i rd li . I do not

know if the piece was then printed . At all se e events I did not a printed book , but studied

28 A P ICTURESQUE COSTUM E

my lines from a written part ; and either there was nothi ng in the lines that indicated the o b scu rit of B e rtucci a or y and poverty , I overlooked F i ordi li sa them . So , in dressing , I let my love

for the beautiful and the picturesque run riot . I designed a costume for her which was strictly a correct in that it was medi eval Italian . But it was composed of satin and rare silver em

broidery and diaphanous drape ries . As I was dressed I might more readily have been taken for the daughter and heiress of the reigning il f duke than for the ch d o the court fool .

r Being dressed !and , t uth to tell , feeling very l we l satisfied with my appearance), I went to the greenroom . Thither, Shortly after, came

r . M Booth . When he saw me he fell back aghast . In great surHprise I inquired the cause o f his amazement . e told me I was far too richl y dressed for the daughter of a man of his rank , and he explained to me that my dress should have been quiet and unobtrusive and o f cheap material .

I was overwhelmed with shame , in fact was o n the verge of tears , when the dear , gracious fellow took me by both hands and turned me

29 ROSE EY TINGE

round about and , with an amused glint in his

: l ! ou r eye , said We l By jingo , the result of blunder is so fine I think we ’ ll have to let it stand ! ” “ ” And it stood during the run of the piece .

Some time after this engagement I think it may have been a year or two after I again M r . played with Booth , this time at the Winter

Garden , New York , and my roles embracing J uli e de M d u r at M ari tan a such characters as p , , “ P ri n ce ss the in Ruy Blas , and very possibly

others . Thi s engagement does not seem to be

marked in my memory by any striking events , but to have covered a placid period of duty

done and salary drawn ; a usually satisfactory o f state things , but possessing no hooks upon

which to hang a narrative . I may , however, mention on e incident that occurred while we “ ” were rehearsing Richelieu . Up to that time it had been the custom for F ran coi s to be

dressed as a courtier . But as Bulwer does not introduce in his drama that element of courtier and soldier that history tells us existed in the

30

ROSE EY TINGE

” n li e off. J I take it And while , convulsed ’ s o C ardi n al s with anguish , lay obbing n the ’ of breast , he , with a corner his Eminence s f ermine , removed the o fending smudge .

Some years afterward , Edwin Booth again

hi s made overtures to me to join forces , and his ff o er was a very liberal one . It was to support him in his own repertory at the evening perform an ce s h mati n e e s , I to ave the to play my own ff pieces . But at the time this o er was made , I f so was starring mysel , and declined it . As with many of the things which I have done or omitted to do , I have since regretted my decision .

I have no doubt , that , if I cared to do so , I could string together innumerable anecdotes

s o about Edwin Booth . But he was sensitive and he so shrank from general public notice , that it seems that to discuss him or his pe culiar iti e s would be to take a liberty with his memory . It was not long after the close of that Winter hi Garden engagement , I t nk , that the awful

3 2 A NATIONAL HORROR crime of John Wilkes Booth shocked the world and fell upon the country like a pall . We all r nk remember how Edwin Booth, sh i ing and cowering under the weight o f that great sin and shame , for which he was in no way of responsible , but the consequences which he f su fered deeply and bitterly, withdrew himself from the world and avowed his determination never to appear in public again , and how it nl was o y after a long time , and after not only his friends and admirers but the whole country him clamoured for , that he reconsidered that determination and consented to appear again upon the stage . There is one detail of that great horror about can which I speak with certainty , the dispo sition which was eventually made o f the body of John Wilkes Booth . Some months after the close of the terrible tragedy , when public excitement was somewhat allayed and public of feeling had become calmer , the body John

was con Wilkes Booth secretly exhumed , ve e d y to Baltimore , and given to his mother , who poor broken hearted woman ! had never ceased to beg for it .

33 ROSE EY TINGE

r This favour was granted to M s . Booth by the ou t Government , not so much of sympathy for of her , but as an expression respect for her of son Edwin , and the faith which the nation had in him .

It is not possible to think of Edwin Booth without chastened sorrow and sympathy . Hi s hi c ldhood and early boyhood , spent largely in wandering about the country with his father, of b a man violent temper and bad ha its , with a morose and gloomy disposition , and whose moods ran sometimes almost into madness , could not have been very happy . The death of - the girl wife whom he adored , while he was yet little more than a boy , left Edwin Booth

- n heart broken . Then came crashi g down upon of his devoted head the awful crime his brother , — a crime whi ch held up to public execration all

w . who ere kin to the wretched , misguided man The domestic clouds whi ch shadowed Edwin ’ Booth s later years , I feel that I , in common of with the rest the world , have no right to

discuss . We who loved him can comfort ourselves onl y

34 EDW IN BOOTH

with the thought that he had his compensation .

Art , his mistress , always greeted him with M smiles ; the tragic muse , elpomene , never turned away from him . She walked with him hand in hand through fields where lesser mor tals could not follow , and with the wreath of willow that a sorrowful nation laid upon his grave there were also mingled the leaves of the laure l .

3 5 CHAPTER VI

— - GLIMPSE S OF ROYALTY THE PRINCE OF WALES C HI NESE DIPLOMATS THE BOSTON THEATRE OLD-TIME THEATRICAL SALARIES

IT has been my fortune on more than one oc casion to come into pretty close social relations with royalty and other “ high and mighty ” nesses , and I am afraid I must be sadly de ficie n t can in reverence ; for , so far as I recollect , I do not seem to have found myself in the least or abashed overcome by these experiences . M y first sight of royalty was when royalty dashed into my presence . I think it was when ’ I was playing at Nib lo s Garden that I a ttended o f P a ball given in honour the rince of Wales , and possibly I am the only fe mm m e survivor

of that function who would , without torture , confess that she did not dance with his Royal Hi ghness . But I did eat sandwiches and drink wine with or so him , , to be correct , he did eat and drink

with me .

36 GLIM P SES OF ROYALTY

It happened this way . The friends whose guest I was had provided these refreshm ents in their b ox of , and , being also friends Colonel San de r son , an American who conducted his Royal ’ Hn igh ess s American tour, that gentleman P b ox brought the rince to our , more , I think , to get a bite and sup than for any other purpose . l on Introductions fo lowed in course , and as , the of entrance the royal guest , I had been hastily installed as hostess , we hobnobbed a bit . On taking his departure the Prince very gracefully said that if I ever visited his “ town ” he would be pleased to take advantage of the opportu n it ff y thus a orded him to return my hospital ity . hi H hi s s And Royal ighness kept word . When I

But all in good time . When I arrive in Lon l i l don , which wi l not be for a wh le yet , I wi l tell the whole story .

About thi s time I attended another great ball “ given by the city government to some high

- m and mighty esses from China , and held , I hi of M t nk , at the Academy usic . M r . Burlingame , whom I numbered among

37 ROSE EY TINGE

d my friends, had been sent by the Unite States

Government to China on some mission; I “ ” thin k it was some sort of open door to per mit John ” to come to this country whenever P l he felt so disposed . arenthetical y I might here remark that when on e sees to what an ” extent John has availed himself of that on e privilege , might be forgiven for wishing M r thaHt . Burlingam e had stayed at home . ou r owever, envoy met with such distin gu i she d success in the accomplishment of his as mission , that he brought home with him , “ of o f Pan proof it , a choice selection Great ” an dru m s j , with little round buttons on top , our hi to be guests , and the ball w ch is now whirling in my memory was given in their

honour . I did not dance with any of these fine speci

mens of porcelain , though perhaps the fact that I failed to enjoy the privilege was because these

notables did not want to dance . They would never have dreamed o f doing anything so um

di n ifi e d . g Clad in robes of gorgeous satin , which were ablaze with gold and silver em

broideries and sparkling with gems , they sat

38

ROSE EY TINGE

The Boston Theatre offer was a very liberal

on e - , only the most important and well known

people commanding fifty or sixty dollars a week .

M r s hn HThe highest salary ever received by . Jo was oey , who for several seasons the leading ’ of woman Wallack s Theatre , New York , was M H sixty dollars a week . adeline enriques ,

r H M s . who followed oey in that position , got “ ” - fi a rise to seventy ve dollars . I made a still

higher jump , my salary reaching three figures , and I was the first leading woman in this coun i — try , and , I th nk , on the English speaking stage ,

- fi r who had ever commanded a three gu e salary . And we may be quite sure that the Continental stage never attained the Anglo - Saxon standard

of liberality . I gladly accepted the Boston Theatre engage ment which also marked my first “ row ” with my

managers . I have had many since .

40 CHAPTER VII

A — E MY FI RST ROW WITH MANAGER . L . DAVENPORT AND

. A D E S D E M ON A J W. WALLACK REALISTIC

“ THAT fir st row with my manager led to very good fortune and I can now revert to it with pleasure , though at the time it gave me great pain . One clause of the offer made me by the Boston Theatre management was that I should not

be called upon to support feminine stars , but it fell out that in the Opening week o f my e m gage m e n t the management presented a woman

star . She was a pretty woman and an excel lent and popular actress ; but s he did not b e

l . have we l to me She is dead , however , and I

therefore refrain from naming her . She opened her engagement with Sheridan ’ “ ” H h o f Kn owle s s s e play , The unchback , , J uli a course , playing , and the management

asked me , as a favour , to waive the clause in d my contract to which I have referre , and to

e e n . play Hl . I consented

4 I ROSE EY TINGE

Late in the day of performance the star sent of s a to me , in great distress mind , to y that the trunk which contained her costumes for J u li a could not be found : could I lend her some gowns ! I at once placed my entire wardrobe m at her disposal . It was not a very un ifice n t f of er at that . Its limitations were soon reached , and I settled with myself that I would wear he whatever s did not select . was At the last moment the trunk found , and was own I left free to wear my gowns , which were all quite new and fresh and very pretty . Quite early in the performance it became u n mistakably apparent that both my gowns and myself were very well liked by my audience . As a consequence the star conceived a violent dislike for me and proceeded to take prompt measures to make me feel it . “ ” The Hunchback was so well received that it would have run for quite a while , yet , despite the protests of the management and the wishes o f the public , another play in the repertory of the star was put into immediate rehearsal , and con in this play , in which , by the terms of my tract , there was no justification for demanding

42 TROUBLE W ITHA STAR

was my appearance , I cast for an unimportant part , which part I promptly refused to play . The lady insisted that I should play it ; I was equally firm in refusing to do so ; and the result was a formal note from the management , stat ing that a continued refusal to play the part assigned me would compel them to ask for my resignation . P erhaps it is only fair to say here , in extenua tion of this action on the part o f the manage ment !if it be any)that afterward they individ u ally told me that they had been forced into the positi on they had taken against me by the fixed determination of the star : she having threat ened to bring her engagement with them to an abrupt and imm ediate close if I were not forced into submission . to Never having been addicted submission , I the o f chose resignation , tender which , being f promptly o fered , was as promptly accepted .

The day of my departure arrived . I went to ’ the treasurer s ofli ce to request payment of the f salary I had earned . I was o fered a portion of my due ; and on my protesting , the treasurer told me that he was only obeying instructions .

43 ROSE EY TINGE

It now became necessary to look for a settle f ment o my claim from the management . I two found the partners on the stage , talking to men whom I did not know . As they declined in any way to reconsider the position they had o r taken , to make any more equitable arrange irn e tuosit ment , I told them with more p y than courtesy , that their action indicated that their pecuniary condition must indeed be desperate , since , in order to replenish their treasury , they found themselves forced to take possession of s o small a sum as a portion of my salary . I therefore begged them to accept the whole amount , and , putting the envelope containing “ ” o ff the money on the prompt table , I marched , leaving the managers embarrass ed and the visit

‘ ing men astonished , and returned to my hotel . I had been there only a short time when I “ M R received two cards : . E . L . DAVENP ORT “

K . and M R . J . W . WALLAC On going to the parlour to receive these distinguished men ,

o f neither whom I had ever met , I found await ing me the two gentlemen whom I had aston i she d so short a time before on the stage of the

Boston Theatre .

44 DAV ENP ORT AND W ALLACK

Their object in calling was to make me an offer

to join them . They named a generous salary , o n e far in advance of that for which I had con o t tracted at the Bost n Theatre , but no de ails

were discussed .

so : They only said , almost in many words We are pleased with your work as an actress ; we feel quite sure we will like you ; we hope you will like u s ; we will do all in our power to ad il t e vance your interests as an actress , and we w l ” spect and protect you as a woman . Come to us .

o n I said , I will And I did . That day which I joined Davenport and Wallack was ’ the best day s work I ever did for myself . They

more than redeemed all their promises . To s ay that they were good to me is to say too little ; to try to express the friendship and the afl e cti on that existed between us is not possi ble ; and this friendship grew and strengthened with years until it was snapped asunder by their

deaths . There is no denying that they both treated

me like a spoiled child . They fostered my wil fulness by yielding to it ; they acceded to my

wishes , often to my whims , in business and

45 ROSE EY TINGE

out . If one of them attempted to call me to o f account for some neglect duty , which I have no doubt richly deserved rebuke , the other was sure to interfere and pu t a stop to the well deserved scolding . Scenes of this sort were by no means u n com M r mon . . Wallack would se t ou t to take me f M r to task for some flagrant o fence . Daven

u : port would step p and say There , there , ’ ’ ” Jim , don t fret the child . I ll talk to her . Or ,

M r . Davenport would make a like attempt when

M r . a Wallack , after listening for a moment in p ou t tient silence , would break something like “ ’ : se e this Ned , can t you that you are upset ’ ” tin g that child s nerves and breaking her spirits !

So , between them , I was thoroughly spoiled . The result of this treatment was that I loved them both dearly , and I worked hard not nearly s o much that I might win praise from press and public , as to please them . s a To hear Davenport , after a scene , y, Good ” girl ! or to have Wallack pat me tenderly on “ ’ s the shoulder and say , She head and shoul ’ ” ! was ders over em all , now to my mind my hi ghest reward .

46

ROSE EY TINGE

! how they did scold me But , I argued with myself, I had engaged with them to play their “ ” leading business . I ought to have been up

con in all these parts , and I was afraid , if I

was not e n fessed that I , that I might lose the

m n a e e t. own g g So , keeping my counsel , and taking nobody into my confidence , I did the work . As a consequence , by Saturday night l I was thorough y exhausted , physically and r mentally ; and but for the kindness of M s .

Wallack I would have gone to pieces . “ ” M r s . The play was Othello . Wallack said , early in the evening , that I was ill , and in all ou r scenes together she was most thoughtful and helpful . When I forgot my lines She prompted me , and when , as often happened , “ I was too dazed and brain - weary to take the ” she word , covered up my shortcomings with “

own . her rare work In short , She pulled me

through .

But I fell with the curtain . When that came D e sde mon a down upon the last scene , evinced no inclination to rise from the bed in which Othe llo had smothered her, and it began to look

as if the M oor had really finished her .

48 CHAPTER VIII

M RS D E — R AT . AV NPORT EDWARD HOUSE POET Y SHORT “ “ NOTICE ENOCH ARDEN THE MAN IN THE I Ro N MASK ”

I D O not remember the order of work done by o f the Wallack and Davenport combination , was r e col which I the third member , but I do lect that we played a number o f engagements ’ M r in Boston . . Davenport s house was in Rox bury , where his family , consisting of his wife

Hi s six . and daughters , lived sons had not

i M r s yet appeared upon th s mortal stage . . Davenport was a member o f the stock company M at the Boston useum , whose performance

she was usually shorter than ours . Thus was enabled to come to our theatre at the close o f ’ her evening s work , and would often be in time r to witness o u last act . Davenport and Wallack frequently alternated r Ole s the principal , thus Wallack would play

Othe llo I a o vi ce ve rs a and Davenport g , and . “ ” The same was the cas e with M acbeth and ROSE EY TINGE

n other pieces . On o e occasion Othello M o being the bill , with Davenport as the or

M r s . Davenport , when the curtain fell , rushed ’ upon the stage , flung herself into her husband s r w s arms , and ove helmed him with cares es and

. on on praises I , rising from the bed which a short time before I had been smothered , caught

of - i sight my face in a near by m rror . Between my nose and my chin I discovered that my face o n of Othe llo had taken the complexion , but this discovery did not greatly surprise me .

Nevertheless , as I passed the Davenport group ’ r c ir I drew M s . Davenport s attention to the cu m stan ce and said : Look what your hus ” in band did . Davenport , no whit embar “ r as se d : s e t , replied Yes , I my mark upon ” he r .

It was at the Boston Theatre that we pro “ du ce d a dramatic version o f The Lady of the ” ’ Lake . Scott s text was carefully preserved , the onl y change made being the dividing of of the poem into acts and scenes , but at the end ffi the piece a di culty arose . After the duel in which J ame s F i tzJ ame s kill s

50 W HH ED ARD . OUSE

R ode ri ck Dhn , it was felt that the curtain could not be brought down happily while the van ’ i h d u r qu s e chieftain s dead body lay at o feet . Nor could it be removed without a motive , f which at that point tHhe poem did not o fer . Just then Edward H. ouse !better known as “ ” Hi s Ned House)sent in his card . presence ffi offered a solution of our di culty . He was admitted , and was welcomed with enthusiasm . d ou r Greetings over, we explaine dilemma , and suggested his writing a few lines in strict Scott R ode r metre , which Should furnish a pretext for ’ i ch s followers to Hbear him Off to honoured but unseen burial . ouse , taken completely by surprise , very naturally demurred , pleading

o f utter lack preparation , and unfavourable con di i n s M t o for wooing the use . But he was reminded that he had intruded on

a Highland stronghold where might was right .

In short , he was besought and bullied and urged , and finally was hustled into a little room on — ofli ce the stage , half dressing room , half , where , after having been provided with paper

and pencil , the door was locked upon him . Warning was conveyed to him through a broken SI ROSE EY TINGE window that his release depended upon hi s pro P of . duction the required lines ersuasion , of entreaty, pleading important engagements , were alike in vain ; and at last he complied with the rigorous demands of his captors . i I forget the ent re stanza , but it ended with the F i tz following lines, spoken by the victorious J ame s :

“ Now hard by Co ilan togle Ford The chieftain ’ s corse lies on the sward It is not meet so great a foe U ntended by his clan should go . m Summon his hench en tried and true , ” To bear away brave Roderick Dhu .

Then the triumphant king, the vanquished Elle n chief, timely bard , and I beg to add , ke the L ad o the L a . y f , all adjourned to luncheon

It was at the Boston Theatre also that we pro ’ du ce d a dramatic version of Tennyson s Enoch Arden Here again the lines of the original En och poem were retained . Wallack played , P i li R a An n i e L e e h . Davenport p y , and I Both o were delightful in their respective r les . Dav m ll ’ e port , in the soft grey tints of the mi er s garb

52 W ALLACK IN “ ENOCHARD EN

and the large soft grey hat , which made such a fine background for his handsome face and

n . his ki dly blue eyes , was a picture It is not possible to imagine anything more ’ pathetic than Wallack s picture o f En och Arde n or upon the lonely island , the desolate cadence of his voice as he said

The blaze upon the waters to the east ; The blaze upon the waters overhead ; The blaze upon the waters to the west ;

he T scarlet shafts of sunrise but no sail .

An was sad other scene inexpressibly , that En och in which returns to his native village , to “ ” An n i e - find his wife his wife no more , P hili but married to p, living with his children ’ ili s and P h p child in peace and plenty . The stage was divided down centre : on e side ’ P hi li s representing p home , a cosy interior, ruddy with fir e light and bright with happy

faces , the daughter singing , and everything typical of comfort and happiness ; the other

showing the road , bleak , cold , and dark , and En och n peering in at the window ; then , fli ging

53 ROSE EY TINGE

himself upon the ground , crying to God in heartbroken accents for strength N ot to tell her, never to let her know .

Horte n s e It was here , too , that I first played “ ” M n M a M . in The in the Iron ask . r Wal The M an lack , who played , was most explicit and emphatic in his instructions as to my work Horte n s e in , particularly concerning the fourth act , in which I was to getHmy first glimpse of e the unfortunate prisoner . told me to make o ff my entrance from left , looking left , as if continuing my farewell to some unseen person , — and carefully to avoid seeing him The M an i n the I ron M ask until I reached the centre o f the stage and actually bumped against him .

I was then to turn , see him , throw my hands up ,

o f and , with a wild shriek terror, fly from him down to the extreme left corner .

At night I carefully obeyed these instructions . When I turned and s aw before me a ghastly dull figure , clad from throat to feet in , rusty,

- fittin close g black ; his hands , bloodless and

fle shle ss , hanging supinely at his sides ; his u cov head , and neck and sho lders completely

54

CHAPTER IX

D O THE H FANNY AVENP RT OLD HOUSE IN BULFINC PLACE , BOSTON AN ASSEMBLAGE OF NOTABLES

IT was while I was pl aying in Boston with Wallack and Davenport that Fanny Daven

- u port made her appearance as a grown p actress .

We were playing at the Tremont Temple , that being the only place in the way o f a theatre that we could secure at the time .

Fanny , in common with her younger sisters , had often played children ’ s parts with her a of r p rents , but , at the time I speak , the nea est approach that she could make to the stage was ’ through her mother s dressing- room at the

Boston M useum . We were playing Dion Bou ’ “ H ” o Him i ul s w c ca t . comedy , She Loves rs aci l w u The actress that played M . V as s d d e n l y called away by illness in her family , and there was nobody to play the part ; the local of management objected to any change bill , and we were in a quandary . In this dilemma Fanny saw her opportunity

56 THE ACTORS ’ M ECCA

and eagerly seized upon it . She besought her il M rs . Vac father to allow her to play , and he

- promptly pooh poohed the idea . Fanny came h to me and entreated my influence . I said s e s il n ot M r . Vac should play , that I would play

h Atlan ta rui s e r a s e C . th t part , and should play h And s e did .

It was with Davenport and Wallack that I

2 B ulfin ch P first went to stop at lace , Boston . ’ M This house was the actors ecca . Only the elect were admitted there , and it would have been a serious mistake to have referre d to it as

- a boarding house . “ ” of One was the guest Amelia Fisher , the o f quaint little hostess , but at the end each week a mysterious little memorandum found ’ in its way into one s morning paper , showing de b te dn e ss to Amelia about equal to the charges

- of a fir st class hote l . But no amount of money woul d have been too much to pay for the privi lege of meeting the company which from time to time came there .

First , there was that old Boston favourite , Wil r H B lfin ch P e u liam Wa ren . had lived at lace ,

57 ROSE EY TINGE

the M as he hHad acted at Boston useum , fifty e years . was the only man ever permitted

- to carry a latch key . It was a quaint old house

old - in a quaint no thoroughfare street , with a

on e great beam padlocked across end , by means of which the dwellers in the street lived secure from the fear of intrusion of the vulgar dray or the iconoclastic express wagon upon their exclusive cobblestones .

- It was a broad fronted , shallow house , and , ll no doubt , when origina y built , it stood in a

disa pretty garden , but this had long since p r of p e a e d . At the time which I speak it was crowded on all sides by more modern and more pretentious houses , while the garden had shrunk to a damp , narrow , flagged space in which were

- a few dejected , postponed dying , lingering , hopeless prisoners in a melancholy wire stand . The house seemed to have taken warning ’

L ot s wife n . from , and refrai ed from looking back w b Every indow in the rear had been blinded , y r various ingenious contrivances . I remembe

' n con tain e d two o e room in particular . It win dows , each of about thirty small panes of glass . i The original panes had been removed , look ng

58 B ULFINCHPLACE

t glass being substituted , and when the occupan moved about this room in a dim light the light was always dim in B ulfin ch Place it f produced a curious e fect . It was as though on e were tryi ng to escape from a company of ’ l — one s own ghosts . The house was o d fash ion e d a li , and in many details lacked the pp an ce s for warmth and comfort to be found in

modern houses , but the cleanliness , cosiness ,

- good cheer , and , above all , the people to be

met , and the talk to be heard in two rooms in

that house , made it a most desirable place . One o f these rooms was the long front room on the ground floor, with two windows which

u on B ulfin ch P ! looked o t lace . It had a high

- shouldered , narrow , Colonial chimney piece at “ ” on e - end , and a kit kat portrait of William

sk - Warren in a y blue cravat at the other . The intervening spaces on the wall s at either side were fil led with representations and autographed pictures of actors and actresses o f the past and

the !then) present . This room served the

— - double purpose of sitting room and dining room .

o f o f But the real point delight , of rest , cheer

. was and mirth , was the kitchen This directly

59 ROSE EY TINGE

- in the rear of the sitting room , and in the day on e n on time , with its window looki g out the melancholy little paved courtyard , was not a cheerful room . But at night , with the curtain

old drawn close over the lower sash , the high, chimney- piece s e t ou t with old Delft mugs and jugs , a clear fire in the brightly polished stove ,

flour - e the barrel very much in evidence , dress d l w in a gai y flowered chintz go n , and with its cleanly swept hearth , it was an ideal room . How well I remember how the bright dish

d ou r covers , hanging from the wall , reflecte

. o f faces upside down And here , when , a

se v night , we wayfarers came in from our “ ” for eral shop s , and met there supper, there

on e was talk , that sort of talk where every n who talked had somethi g to say, a condition to which there are unfortunately many e xce p tions . There could be met Edwin Booth , P Charles Fechter , Tom lacide , Barney Williams , M cCu llou h A ll . Wi iam J Florence , John g , nnie L e cle r c P . ixley, Carlotta q, James W Wallack , M E . L . Davenport , Kate Bateman , atilda l H . . W eron , Jean Davenport , E A Sothern , i liam

W . Stuart , illiam Winter , and many more

60 CHAPTER X

—" — THE NEW ENGLAND CIRCUIT A PUT- U P J O B MISAB VENTURES IN NEW BEDFORD

IT was the cu stom of the Davenport - Wallack o f combination , at the close a Boston engage

ment , to follow with a season through New

England , and sometimes very droll things hap on e or or o f ou r pened to other, all us , in one

night stands .

M r on e . I remember occasion , when Wallack ought to have been supposed to be taking an after- dinner siesta in his luxurious drawing o n ro m , the curtain went up discoveri g him on lying doubled up three wooden chairs , which

he much more than filled , both in length and

‘ vVe r e breadth , and looking very much as if he laid ou t for torture .

M sin y great in those days and , I must — confess , also in later days was laughter , and

6 I ROSE EY TINGE this reprehensible tendency sometimes led me into very awkward predicaments . We were playing in New Bedford our first engagement in that town . During a scene b e r tween M . Wallack and myself something se t r me o ff laughing . M . Wallack caught the in fe ction o , and there we sto d , and laughed , and

M r . laughed . Davenport came to the wings i and frowned upon us with great severity . Hs virtuous disapproval of ou r levity seemed only to increase it , and we laughed the more . We got through somehow , and when the curtain fell Wallack unmistakably shiHrked his share of the scoring that awaited us . e sneaked to his dressing- room and locked himself in until the “ storm should blow over , leaving me to catch ” ! it alone . And I did catch it Among the many things which Davenport said “ was a reminder that we had ou r reputation ” to make in New Bedford . I was as I was too prone to b e saucy and defiant . I told him that before the week had ended I would find an opportunity to punish him for his u m

- e called for severity, and that I would also mak reprisal upon Wallack for his cowardice in de

62

ROSE EY TINGE

was my revenge . I remember that I at great ur pains to remind M r . Davenport that we had o reputation to make in Taunton .

A curious incident occurred at the hotel in New m . co Bedford where we were stopping A nice , fortab le - lookin g old couple appeared on e day at dinner . Later in the afternoon I observed old the lady seated at a window in the parlour, seeming to find abundant amusement in watch

- b . ing the passers y But , as the shadows length w l she ened and t i ight set in , fell to crying silently n and bitterly , with great sobs , watchi g all the i t me fromHthe window , eagerly scanning each e r person . tears were soon dried when her husband reappeared , distressed , anxious , and repentant . It seems that they had driven into town that morning from their farm , some ten miles away, and , having finished their sell ing and buying , had adjourned to the hotel for i o ff at dinner, after wh ch the old man went to of tend to some matter business , leaving his i s wife to amuse herself at the window . H n business fi ished , he had returned to the hotel ,

- and , being very absent minded , had gone di

64 AN AM USING INCIDENT

r e ctl y to the stable , hitched up his team , and

driven home . It was not until he had walked into his own kitchen and missed his wife from her accustomed place there that he remembered

he had left her in the town .

It was also in New Bedford that we were the victims of a very awkward but a very amusing

incident . The night was pitch dark ; the moon

had , apparently , broken an appointment with

the town , and the lamplighter , relying upon her

reputation for punctuality , of which she had i at th s crisis proven herself utterly unworthy ,

. os o f had retired , early When , at the cl e the performance , we left the theatre , stepping into the street was like stepping into solid ink . None of us knew even in what direction to turn to reach the hotel . We were all singularly de ficie n t of in the sense locality, and there was not a creature on the street of whom we might r inquire ou way . So we plunged desperately into the darkness , and walked on and on , each o f us in turn , as we grew tired , losing patience with the others for not knowing the way . Sud de nly the crimination and recrimination that

6s ROSE EY TINGE had been becoming pretty lively between Wal lack and Davenport was abruptly interrupted , and we found ourselves quietly falling through

o n Space , evidently bent visiting the other side f o the globe . After a descent of what seemed l several mi es , but what we afterward learned was about six feet , we found ourselves reposing f o n o . a bed soft , shifting sand What had happened was this : we had passed r of a building in cou se construction . Over an excavation under the sidewalk some planks had

or been laid . One more of these planks b e

- came misplaced , had turned and there we

were . When we had somewhat recovered from i our aston shment , had righted ourselves , and

found ourselves unhurt , the burning question “ that presented itself was : How are we to get out P” M y two fellow - prisoners began the task of e f

fe ctin ou r n g liberation with great vigour, maki g a light of the matter , and promising th t in a few moments we would all be once more on the

street , making our way home . But this view of the situation did not continue , and it really began to look as if this subterranean shelter 66 AN ANNOYING TUM BLE

was to be our permanent home . Both Wallack and Davenport waxed eloquent in suggesting ff what the other ought to do . But e ort after

effort failed . They each in turn lost patience .

' r om F impatience they passed to annoyance ,

s ar from annoyance to anger, from anger to

casm , from sarcasm to contempt for the nature that could condescend to trivialities under such of circumstances , all these varying moods temper following in due course each failure at

r effecting ou escape . F or of me , the surprise the tumble over , I settled down in the sand and took refuge in

s in of the perpetration of my old laughter , taking care to keep all audible indulgence Of that

crime in the background , for there were mo o f ments when a good , round peal laughter would have been a rather dangerous e xp e ri

. of ment At last Davenport , the lithest the

two , succeeded in reaching the upper world . He promptly pulled Wallack and myself after

him , and every feeling was merged into thank o f con r fulness . There was an interchange g at n u r u latio s at o e scape . “ Still we found ourselves distressed and com

67 ROSE EY TINGE

as passless in the dark , Silent , solitary street , n he far from any k owledge of t hotel as ever . AS We were stumbling aimlessly along in the ’ of darkness we heard the sound a horse s feet , e We made for that sound . W came up with e m the sound , but not with the hors , NO atter, we were content . We were at least going some: where . After some little time the horse stopped . We soon came up with our equine guide an d In o found ourselves front f the hotel .

I believe we went in with the milk. CHAPTER XI

VWfl fl HNGTON IN \MAR 4 1M E ' CONTRABANDS IKHHN ED UNCLE S AM HS SO LDHHKP - PATRKHHC 9 GN GS - TC WI

—' PLACIDE WALLACK AND DAVEN PO RT fi DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

THE Davenport - Wallack combination often played engagements in Phil adelphia and Balti

t e more , and in all h cities and towns as far s M South a Washington and as far East as aine .

B ut we never went West . The West was not 18 o then the near neighbour to us that it n w . The city which occupies a foremost place in o f my memories that time is Washington . I think ou r first VIsit there was made in the

o f early days the war, and the city was in a

f M ar constant state o ferment and excitement . tial music was everywhere to b e heard ; aides de - camp and bearers of despatches were gallop “ ” in g hi ther and thither ; and contrabands in their picturesque rags were e ncamped in little , i whe r squalid , but cheerful and laugh ng groups fin d an fav ever they could eligible spot , their

- n ou rite resting place be ing Pe n sylvam a Avenue .

69 ROSE EY TINGE

Just here I am reminded of a definition which “ a dusky maiden in Washington , one to the ” of - manor born , gave me that new born term “ ” contraband . During a wordy quarrel with a fellow - servant I heard her call her antagonist “ ’ ’ ” nothin but a 01 contraband any way ! I

she so n asked her why did , and what was a co “ ’ tr ab an d : , and she replied Why , Lor , missie , ’ ’ ’ don yo know what a contraband is ! It s ’ ’ jis o n e o dem low- down wu fl e ss Southern ’ niggers dat come up to Washin ton and s e t ’ ’ ’ on uv m e n t on down de g , and pend de guv ” ment .

There were soldiers everywhere , all over the town ; Pennsylvania Avenue was alive with of them at all hours the day and night , and P ennsylvania Avenue was not then the fine, well paved and lighted promenade that it is of n ow . Some these soldiers made a fine show ing with their blue uniforms and glittering side arms and bayonets . New regiments passed to the front with high hearts and springin g h steps , and with bright , fresh flags flying . Ot ers , again , were seen returning , their uniforms tat

n d - and tored a travel stained , their flags ragged

70

ROSE EY TINGE

u n k . e e w took p the strai The st erag fol , in t os ha and threes , sauntered toward the rail t t di vide d them from their better- off fellow - passen t u t . gers , and in their urn ook p the song In a few minutes a great chorus came from for ofli ce r s o n an d ward , the deck joined in , in a l on little while every man , woman , and chi d board the great Ship was singing the patriotic

song.

' But in the words o f our ex- Confederate broth “ ” in ! ers, On to Wash gton

At the time we had arranged to play in Wash

i n n r Pe n n e r d to ou r M . o g advance agent , y , foun

‘ the hotels so crowded that it was impossible to obtain proper accommodation for us at an y n m H o e of e a the . therefore secured for us qu r on h S r ters in a private house Sevent t eet , and there we were much more comfortable than We

Should have been in any hotel . Among the members of our company was ” to ou r n a Tom Placide . In addition i dividu l r com rooms , Wallack , Davenpo t , and I had in

l m - m mon a large , stragg ing , any sided , any windowed room which we all three used as

72 TOM P LACIDE

l r r - r t n ib a y, writing room , ecep ion , dini g, break t and u n fas , s pper room , and as all the wi dows looke d on Pennsylvania Avenue it served also

- as an obse rvation room . a d M r P d He re we were lways gla if . lacide woul n b ut d S joi us , he coul eldom be persuaded to Th m an ff so . e do poor was a great su erer, and i t r too proud and ret cen to complain . Natu ally

t - his self repression reacted upon himself , and se t w his silent , dark moods were do n to bad

’ ou r - o d temper . Doubtless light hearted m o s an d our habit of seeing the humorous side of s an d life found little ympathy with him , jarred h u on . p his nerves I t ink he liked me , for he s e ll how d his good wi in many kindly ways , but I fe ar that my ever- ready laughter often im H d e anfloyed h . woul sometimes look at ' “ th e w r ou t ith a dark frown and g owl , Ah , ’ laugh away ! You 11 ge t the laugh taken ou t

‘ ” of you some day . B u t t t da not e and a ha y was th n , many merry laugh and many a pleasant hour I had In that old m in w h was i roo , hic it many times my pr v ilege to listen to men Whose names are bright ’ in the Of Our n n t pages atio s his ory .

73 ROSE EY TINGE

Both Wallack and Davenport , each in his own o f way , were men mark , and more than usually l intelligent and interesting . Wa lack was the quieter and more thoughtful of the two ; some what of a dreamer and given to sentiment and

di r poetic fancies . Davenport was a totally fle ent type of man ; he was gay and light - hearted as a boy , very witty and quick at repartee, and he had a memory which was stocked with amusing anecdotes . To those men who were makin g ou r history at

hi so that time in Was ngton , whose lives were

of r o f full the hu ry , the worry , and the fury the f fight , the talk of these two bright men o fered such a sense of respite and refreshment that often , when the performance was over, we were joined at supper in ou r many- purposed — — “ room by some of these more or less grave and ” reverend signiors . And in the wake of these lawmakers and statesmen came their chron i cle r s o f , among them some the foremost news

o f paper men that day , such as Thurlow Weed , M “ ” P H Joseph edill , Brick omeroy , enry J . M M H Raymond , anton arble , William urlburt , ” P William Stuart , Gath Townsend , Don iatt ,

74 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

n and Hugh Hastings . At these gatheri gs I was — ” onl y a looker on in Vienna . The same kind fate which sent us into private quarters instead of to the cold conventionalities e o f hotel life guided us in ou r business . W had come to Washington expecting to play on e week at the National Theatre ; but some con fusion of dates or other business complication upset this arrangement , and to the great chagrin and annoyance of both Wallack and Daven port we were obliged to put up with a wretched , on insignificant , little whitewashed house the P wrong side of ennsylvania Avenue , which was called the Washington Theatre . But the poor little house proved to be a mascot for us . We o n e played there , not but many weeks , and to fin e . very business In short , we became the rage . Our audiences were largely made up of

as the best people in Washington . It w no unusual thing to se e in ou r audience a heavy sprinkling of men and women in full dress , with here and there some foreign ambassador in full “ ” o f regalia , and the boys in blue we always d ha a good contingent .

75 CHAPTER XII

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD PLA ’ “ CIDE S HUMOUR STILL WATERS R U N DEEP AS SASSINATION O F THE PRESIDENT A N IGHT O F TERROR

IT Was a very pleasant occasion on which for the first time I m e t Abraham Lincoln : It is to u o not be s pp sed , that , in such times as those of W P which I rite , the resident , borne down b m or as he was y public cares , had either ti e inclination for amusement ; but he dearly loved the theatre and was present at seve ral of our n of e s pe rformances . It was after o e th e visits that he notified Wal lack and Davenport that he would be pleased to se e the m . The day following the receipt of this invitation e we the W H e th y nt to hite ouse , and , lik the W e to accomf good fellows they er , asked me in n w r n . as e pa y the When , in my tur , I p n to Pr e se ted the esid nt , he took my hand , and ,

‘ holding it while he looke d down upon me from : So e his great height , said this is the littl lady that all us folks in Washington like so

76 W ILLIAM HENRY SEW ARD

” u ! o f m ch Then , with a portentous shake hi s e e head , but with a twinkle in his y , he i “ ’ ’ h cont nued , Don t you ever come round ere , asking me to do some of those impossible thin gs a you women always ask for , for I would h ve ’ ” to do it , and then I d get into trouble . M r r ff r I met . Sewa d under di erent ci cum

l . the stances , at a socia function I enjoyed o f an d privilege personal introduction to him ,

M r . . w I felt greatly distinguished When Se ard , old— with his stately , school manner , bowed low over my hand and expressed himself as being gratified at having this opportunity of greeting m e , it seemed as if he were conferring upon me a patent o f nobility . It is impossible to think of two more contrast ing personalities than those of Lincoln and Sew

‘ : on e so - ard the simple , warm hearted , and

‘ - s so a free poken ; the other st tely , cold , and dig

M r . c m n ifie d . When Seward spoke a few o

lim e n tar to o n e p y commonplaces any , the person addressed felt as if he or she were par ticipating in history .

n But to retur to the theatre . One night we

77 ROSE EY TINGE

’ were playing Dion B ou cicault s London As ” D azzle surance , Wallack acting , Davenport r Harcou rt ou rtle L ad a i C G S an ke r S . y , and I y y p In the scene between Si r Harcou rt and L ady Ga she y , when asks him if her agitation renders

r e - her unfit to enter the ballroom , Davenport , instead of replying according to the text , said “ Your beauty is only heightened by a Rose “ ” R s in Eytin ge pronouncing it o yt ge . The house took the pun instantly, and I made my of exit amid a storm applause and laughter .

on e of Again , night , during a performance Bul ’ “ ” r M l Al we s comedy oney , with Wa lack as

r e d Eve l n Smooth P f y , Davenport as , lacide as

r ave s as Clar a D ou las G , and I g , in the scene

e wh re the will , which carries disappointment

n d so a chagrin to many hearts , is read , we the were seated in a semicircle across stage , P and I found myself directly opposite lacide . Through the whole scene he made at intervals a sort o f procession o f the most excruciatingly M n funny , lugubrious faces . y attentio became riveted on Placide . I found him irresistibly n funny, and the audie ce seemed to be entirely

78

ROSE EY TINGE

as was young and amiable , but soon as I learned s te r how much better an acting part was M r . S n hold , I insisted upon playing that character as instead . It w useless for Wallack and Daven ou t a d d port to point to me , s they i repeatedly t was a a and stre nuously , tha she , to s y the le st ,

- In e middle aged , and that order to play th part

w u - I ould be obliged to make p middle aged , thus destroying my appearance of youthfulne ss , and artistically doing myself a present and

e . P l e r futur injury lay her I would , and p ay h I did

r One day M . Wallack felt called upon to take me seriously to task for something I had said which would have been much better left unsaid . of n I felt the full force his rebuke , because I k ew that my position was indefensible . So I put n on a bold front and made a sweepi g denial . We were seated opposite each other at the

- ac breakfast table , and when I found myself cuse n e on he d I pla t d my elbows t table , and , putting my face between my hands , I looke d m hi squarely in the eyes and said , deliberately “ l o o and incisive y , I have n rec llection of hav ” o f ing ever said anythin g the kind . Wallack

89 AN UNEX PECTED HIT H looked at me and made no reply . e was — I a . silenced , dare not say by wh t “ That night the bill was Still Waters Run ” n D e ep . I the second act Wallack and my in ou r self, respective parts , were seated oppo site each other in precisely the sam e positions e as those which w occupied that morning , and is r o f M i ldma Wallack , in h cha acter y , repeated to me the slighting remarks whi ch he was sup posed to have overheard me make to his wife with reference to himself . In the text I merely ofl e r e d a general denial ; but this night I assumed the same expression and used the identical words I had used in real “ in e m life th morning , exclai ing , I have no recollection o f having ever said anything o f the ” ‘ ’ ! e fi r on te r o r a sort Either my y, Wall ck s

z e . realistic ama ement , caught the audienc The point made a hit , and ever afterward the “ ” c of speech , with the a companying business Wallack and myself became an integral por tion of that scene . ROSE EY TINGE

I now approach o n e of the most awful

- and awe inspiring periods of my life , the night o n which President Lincoln was assas d s in ate .

At the time I was taking a brief vacation , and was visiting the family o f an army ofli ce r who was in charge of a military hospital a few f miles ou t o town . On that dread occasion my hostess and I had been in town for the day and evening and it had be en arranged that an

orderly , with the carriage , should call for us out next morning and drive us home . Suddenly some of the men of the household

where we were visiting dashed into the house , o f bringing intelligence the crime . The first reports were that the President and

every member of the Cabinet were murdered .

The community was wild with horror . Every

o if on e b dy , as moved by impulse , rushed into

the streets , the church bells were tolled , and all social and conventional barriers were levelled

in the general horror . Utter strangers talked

together in hurried accents , exchanging the

various r umours with whi ch the air was filled .

82 LINCOLN ’ S ASSASSINATION

One report had it that Washington was in the hands of the rebels . Strangers accosted each other and asked for the last news ; and when o n e or the other confirmed the dreadful truth ’ o f the President s murder they cried like chil dren . Soon it became bruited about that the crime had been committed by an actor , and woe to the actor who had been found on the streets ! M that night y friends and I , in common with everybody else , rushed into the street , but we were soon filled with fear lest I should be rec

n i og se d . our Toward midnight , to added alarm and horror , an army ambulance lumbered up the street and stopped at the door of the house where we were . It developed that , as had been

arranged , the carriage had been sent for us , but so it had been often stopped and searched , and the orderly who was driving had been put so through many and such rigid examinations , that he had decided to turn back and get the

l o f ambu ance instead , hoping that the sight this familiar and authorised vehicle would at

tract less attention .

83 ROSE EY TINGE

By this time the city was declared under mar of tial law , everypoint egresswas closelyguarded , and the members o f the theatrical guild were looked upon with universal disfavour . The air seemed rife with murder and the suspicion of murder . ’ It was a time to burn itself into one s memory . I pray that I may never be call ed upon to go

hr t ough its like again . CHAPTER XIII

’ N EW YORK WAL LAc x s THEATRE N A N C Y S YKE S LEADING WOMAN WITHLESTER WALLACK PERFECT — THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT MARY C ANNON CHARLES DI C KEN s LOVE F O R THE STAGE

THE next step in my progress as an actress was coming to New York with Davenport and Wal lack , who had made an engagement with Lester Wallack to play a spring and summer season ’ r at Wallack s afte ward the Star Theatre . Here we played all ou r regular repertory and u r old renewed all o successes . It was during this season that I made my step into melodrama . It had been the rule , when ” M r s . ever we played Oliver Twist , to send for l N an c S ke s Wa lack to join us for the part of y y , and when it was settled that that piece shoul d be given , this was the programme settled upon by the powers . But I seriously disarranged matters by an n u n cin an c h o g my intention to play N y . W en

I voiced my wish , both Wallack and Davenport

85 ROSE EY TINGE

were convulsed with laughter . The more I urged , the more they laughed ; and the more they laughed , the more my wish crystallised into determination . When my position in the matter forced them to view the question seriously , they each in own turn , and each in his way, placed before me the absurdity of my attempting to play such a part , and they pointed out to me how, in every particular physically , mentally, and temperamentally I was wholly unequipped for it . The more they argued , the more posi tive I became . At last an appeal was made to

H - e Lester Wallack . simply pooh poohed my ou wish and also laughed me t of court . But “ a wilful woman ”

They gave way , Lester Wallack suggesting , by

o f - way compromise , that some light one act piece should be put on to end the performance , in which I could look myself, in order that the audience should not take away with them the an c ghastly picture of N y in her death throes . h W en we were rehearsing , both Wallack and Davenport never wearied o f impressing upon me the necessity for me to make a fierce, realistic 86

ROSE EY TINGE of off it , obliged to pick himself up and walk at

first entrance . Thereafter , whatever may have been the opIn l on of the managers as to my per form an ce of the part , they never again expressed o f any doubt my ability to carry that struggle . The piece ran many weeks and was the success of the season .

Thi s summer season of the Wallack- Davenport combination at Wallack’ s Theatre bore excel lent fruit for me . It resulted in my receiving from Lester Wallack the offer o f the position of leading woman at his theatre for the following

regular season . I need scarcely say how grat ifie d was f I upon receiving such an o fer , and

how eagerly I accepted it , though if the Wallack Davenport combination had not been upo n the eve o f dissolution I do not think that even so brilliant an opportunity o f advancement would

have tempted me to leave my two dear friends . ’ But the state of J . W . Wallack s health forced

him into retirement , and in little more than a

year afterward he died .

’ What a school of acting was Wallack s Theatre ! 88 PERF ECT MANAGEM ENT

With the business portion the front of the house unde r the able control of Theodore

- M oss , and the stage management in the hands u of Lester Wallack , courtesy and kindness r led o o n both sides of the curtain . Everyb dy em o r ployed in the theatre , whether a principal

- b o was . a call y , treated with consideration

Every Saturday , at noon , the company would assemble in the greenroom , and thither would M come Theodore oss , with a pleasant greeting b o x o n his lips and a tin under his arm . Then

o f the salaries were paid , and , if a member the company were ill , his salary was sent to him n of every week, together with pleasa t words hope and good wishes . The rehearsals were conducted in the same “ s spirit . True , Lester would occa ionally let ” ou t on e o r l if some other were unusual y stupid , but the outburst was pretty sure to be followed by some little gracious act or word that effect u ll a y removed the sting . But there was on e unfailing refuge from a r e “ ” proof at the hands of the governor , and that hi m H e was to tell a funny story . had an ex u isite q wit and a keen sense of humour . Once

89 ROSE EY TINGE

on e catch his eye , or his ear, for either or the other, and , no matter how great your fault or a how late you might be for rehe rsal , you were safe .

’ I was fortunate enough, while at Wallack s

Theatre , to have an opportunity to play a great o f i variety parts , embracing at t mes three lines o f business . This opportunity came to me through two important vacancies which oc

curred in the company .

M on e of Dear little ary Gannon , the sweetest

little women that ever graced the world , and on e of the best actresses that ever graced the ’ M r l stage , died , and at . Wa lack s request I Rosa L e i h played several of her parts , notably g “ ” M in Rosedale . When Fanny orant , who

- played the ultra fashionable dames , and the

high and mighty ones generally, left the com

- pany in mid season , I played several of her

parts .

’ While I was associated withWallack s Theatre , my desire to hear Charles Dickens read was so was great that when , in the spring , I making

90

ROSE EY TINGE

- coat , across which stretched a very self assertive

- watch chain , balanced in the middle with a fat locket ; and a brown. surtout with collar and cuffs of velvet and very much drawn in at the waist . But my deepest disappointment came when he Hi . s began to read pathos to my mind ,

so SO fli an t was thin , pp , and strained , that my impulse was to say to him : Do not read that chapter ; you do not know your characters ; ” you cannot do justice to their author . Of course my position was untenable and absurdly impertinent , and my rebuke was swift and scathing . His comedy was as delightful as his pathos was unsatisfying , and he suited his man so as ner accurately to his characters that , he read , the little overdressed man with the shad ow the y legs and pink face disappeared , cold white platform faded away , and I was at the

H - o r o f olly tree Inn , wherever the magic his

' voice pleased to take me . It was my good fortune a year or two afterward to meet Charles own Dickens in his country , and I bear in my memory the most agreeable recollections of him ; but I must confess that I found a much more

92 V ISIT TO THE ORIENT solid enjoyment in making acquaintance with and learning to know Dickens ’ s men and women of through the medium his written language , h t an I did in hearing his spoken words .

k’ I left Wallac s Theatre to go abroad . Family “ reasons called me to the Orient , and in that land of sand and ruin and song ” I passed several years . I did n ot take leave of the stage on my de parture from it at that time . I never have done l so so . a , nor will I ever willingly do I have ways given the stage my loyalty and my love , and I will give up my interest in the theatre and my lovin g work in the drama only when

I am called to another life .

93 CHAPTER X I V

FIRST S EA VOYAGE CAPTAIN JUDKINS AND THE SCOTIA SEA- SICKNESS GOODWOOD RACES THE ’ PRINCE O F WALES AGAIN I N THE Q UEEN S B O X AT THE OPERA SMUGGLING ROCHESTER, N . Y . A LEADING WOMAN I N A SAD PREDICAMENT

IT was in the summer following the close of my first season as leading woman at Wallack’ s

Theatre that I first went abroad , and then I took the voyage across the Atlantic by way of

a prescription . I was pretty well worn ou t in both mind and can body . So far as I remember, there had not been any long runs during the season , and I ou t o f so had seldom , if ever , been the bill ; , what with study, rehearsals , costumers , and dressmakers , I had had very little rest . But , as so often happens with persons whose work n ot Of is congenial , I was conscious fatigue until the necessity for the work ended . Then I went to pieces . An ocean trip was strongly recommended to v gi e me complete rest . It must , of necessity,

94

ROSE EY TINGE

“ r ac I am afraid , however , that Sir Edward p ” tise d upon me ; he was so kindly solicitous to relieve me that at various times he tried upon me every obtainable known and unknown rem

n edy for seasick ess , and I think he managed to get them all . I was far too limp and languid so to refuse , I meekly took everything he brought me . And at times the result was simply awful , — no wonder I remember him . I receiveHd but scant sympathy from Captain e Judkins . would come and look in at the window of his cabin , which he had kindly placed at my disposal , and shake his head dis approvingly at me ; or he would suggest a little luncheon when the mere mention of food was worse than death to me . But at last the dread ful voyage ended , and as soon as possible after the ship docked at Liverpool I set ou t for Lon of don , and; being there , HI made my way , course , to the Langham otel , which was then the haven o f all good Americans who went to

r e ce l ve d i London . There I the warmest k nd of welcome from Colonel Sanderson .

To my great good fortune , the day following o my arrival there were the G odwood races , to

96 THE P RINCE OF W ALES

which Colonel Sanderson invited me . There I had the additional good fortune again to meet

the Prince of Wales . When Colonel Sanderson P went to pay his respects to the rince, hHe told of him my being present , and his Royal igh ness called upon me . Once again we ate and drank together from the luncheon which Col P on e l Sanderson had brought . The rince ex pressed his polite regrets that he was leaving town the next day , but , looking at the Colonel , laughingly said that he left me in good hands , and that he hoped for the pleasure o f seeing

on . me his return In the meantime , if there com was anything he could do , I had but to mand him . Colonel Sanderson explained to the Prince how was brief my stayHto be , whereupon he repeated e k his regrets . asked if I would li e to attend the opera , and on my replying that I would , he said he would attend to the matter . And thus the royal visit ended . oh ! ! But , , dear what a lioness I was The drag on top of which this reception took place was mobbed by a gaping , wondering crowd that , off of greatly to my relief, trailed at the heels

97 ROSE EY TINGE

the Prince . But I was called upon to pass thr ough a worse ordeal than the gaze of the i mob , which had been kept at a respectful d s b tance by the obbies . Every glass on the racecourse was levelled at of of me , and a sort promenade swells filed past ou r drag in order to examine at close range this person whom nobody knew , and to whom the Prince of Wales had shown such unusual F or attention . me , I was not nearly so much impressed by the event as I suppose I ought to have been . I have never felt any great respect

‘ for rank as mere rank , and a prince , after all , is but a man who has more opportunities for doing good work in the world than most men . I ought to say here that the Prince of Wales sent me a box for the opera at Covent Garden ’ Theatre , the Queen s , no less and the only Special impression that I remember it to have f made upon me was that it was rather stu fy .

M y week ashore was a long time passing, e though every hour of every day was fill d , and every evening too . But I was homesick , of deadly, drearily homesick ; and the thought

98

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exorable than ever, and he left me coiled up in of a corner the sofa in his cabin , frightened , and uncertain whether to “declare” everything or to wait and trust to luck . M y terror reached its climax when the cap ’ “ ” “ ’ tain s b oy appeared with the captain s compli ! ” ments , and would I please send him my keys

Still nothing happened . After what seemed to old me an interminable time , in walked the se a- - dog , bringing with him the much dreaded

- ffi custom house o cer . The latter was courtesy itself, and he told me that as Captain Judkins had explained to him that I had important business which demanded my immediate at tention he would see to it that I should n ot be detained ; that I coul d leave the moment the r ship got in , and my trunks should be fo warded to my address immediately they were brought n o deck .

It was about this time , usually between sea sons , that I made my first essays as a star . I f for received an o fer to go to Rochester a week, and I accepted . The morning after my arrival in that city I went to the theatre . It was

I OO A T THE ROCHESTER THEATRE

a empty , dirty , and cold , and presented an p pe aran ce o f utter desolation . I waited about for some time , being exhorted thereto by a for lorn old man whom I found crouched in a sort of hi cage at the stage door , w ch looHked , if possi e ble , more forlorn than he did . besought “ ’ u rls me to wait a while , the b ys and gy will ” be around here in a shake . ’ After a brief time my old friend s words were r ve ified . A few men and women came strag gling aimlessly in , and certainly a more dis o f contented , frowsy , unkempt set mortals I

se e . r hope never to Still we waited , for neithe

- the manager , stage manager, nor leading man had put in an appearance . The day was dreary , I was weary , and still they came not . So I returned to my hotel in a very unsettled frame of mind or After an hour two the manager called , and

apologies , regrets , and profuse assurances that everything would be all right at night were

f he o fered , with the further assurance that the manager—was then going to the theatre hi personally to conduct the rehearsal , w ch I

need not be troubled to attend . In the even

I O I ROSE EY TINGE

ing , feeling no great confidence in those man a e ri al g promises , I went to the theatre early . The stage door was reached through a narrow hi passage leading from the street . In t s pas

- sage way , which was quite dark , I fell over something rather bulky and soft which ob structed the way . I summoned to my assist ance , from his post in the cage , my forlorn old o f friend the morning , and really he seemed to be the only person connected with the e s li hm e n tab s t who ever was at his post . From him I learned that the impediment which had barred my way to the temple o f art was the leading man . Feeling thoroughl y discouraged by this dis cove r b e y I returned to my hotel , packed my longings , and left town by the first train , trusting to some later occasion for a more favourable opportunity to make my first bow to a Roches ter audience .

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go to Toronto to star for a week . I went , ’ taking with me Scott s novel and my part of i e J e an . I found the theatre at Toronto in compara tive ly as complete a state of demoralisation as the Rochester concern , and , I suspect , from the same cause . But the members of the company were good enough to be present for rehearsals , and all the discomforts of the theatre were more than com p e n sate d for by the cosy comfort I found at the ’ H Queen s otel , a hostelry then conducted by l o d . Captain Dick , an retired lake captain

The weather was bitterly cold , and the theatre

- was like an ice house . After all these years , as my memory carries me back to the horror of

l - that dim y lighted , freezingly cold , long , nar

l - row den which was miscal ed a dressing room , i old s to wh ch I was shown , the , cold mi ery r of that moment eturns upon me . In addition to my other discomforts I was attacked by a violent Siege of neuralgia .

I got through a performance , of what I do not remember , and by the time I returned to my hi hotel I was almost mad with pain . T nking

104 A M INISTERING ANGEL

to distract my thoughts , I drew a table beside

m - y bed , took from the chimney piece a pair - c an of old fashioned candlesticks , lighted the hi dles w ch they contained , and , armed with se t t my story and the part , I in to s udy

The last thing I remember was feeling b e w c ff numbed ith the old , and su ering intense pain in my head . The next sensations of which I was conscious of were subdued light , release from pain , and a general and delightful sense of warmth and

comfort ; then of hearing a low , soft voice say “ ” ing , Sit up now , dear , and take your tea .

I opened my eyes , and there , bending over me , old was a woman , not , not very young , with a of lovely , lovable face , lighted by a pair blue

eyes , and with a mouth large , mobile , expres of t sive at once a tender, generous na ure , and yet made more interesting by lines o f delicate humour ; the whole surmounted by a crown o f

- M snow white hair . y first confused thought ” i was that I had been translated , and if th s was the “other world ” I found my sensations and surr oundings such an improvement on

105 ROSE EY TINGE the state I last remembered that I was more than satisfied with the change . “ ” ! - Ah said my pleasant looking visitor, you ” are awake ; now we will have some tea . And there was placed before me upon the table b e side my bed a daintily served breakfast . Thi s somewhat disturbed the trend of my ” thoughts , for my ideas Of that bourne had “ ’ ’ ’ never included atin and dhr i n kin

was But the breakfast too entirely satisfactory , of and my enjoyment it too thorough . All thoughts of the spirit land fled ; I knew that I

was upon the earth , and I also felt assured that I was very pleasantly placed at that particular

moment . It seemed that when the maid had knocked at my door some hours previously she received

no response , and upon the door being opened o f in du l I was found in a faint . I had a trick g M ing myself in that way in those days . iss

Dick , the lady upon whom I had opened my ’ o f eyes , and a member Captain Dick s family , C was summoned , and all the comfort and osi ness of my surroundings I owed to her kin d

ministrations . m6

ROSE EY TINGE vide them with entertainments more adapted

of o to their habits life . I sent them to c n certs , lectures , missionary meetings , and such innocuous gatherings . as One evening , we were gathered around the “ ” - m tea table prior to my departure for y shop ,

I was a good deal puzzled to observe the . aunt and niece exchanging mysterious glances and secret nudges , and soon these were abandoned “ ” You for equally puzzling speech , tell her ; “ No , you ask her , etc . At last their wish found clear expression . They wanted to go se e m to the theatre , to Lester Wallack and y self act .

Only too pleased to comply with their request ,

M r I mentioned the incident that evening to . l Wallack , with all its attendant detai s . With that genial courtesy which was o n e of his many graceful qualities , he at once responded by ’ own placing his box at my friends disposal , and the following evening they occupied it . P al erhaps , however , I ought to qu ify the latter statement , for the reason that during the per form an ce the greater portions o f them were

n of b ox so hanging over the raili g the , and

108 W ALLACK ’ S BRILLIAN T W ORK great was their delighted absorption of the scene , and their utter and complete forgetful o f ness the audience , that several times I feared they would precipitate themselves upon the stage . I thin k Lester Wallack enjoyed their e n thu siasm quite as much as they enjoyed his work . “ The piece was She Stoops to Conquer . Wallack was in great form and impersonated a owe ll H e Youn g M rl bri iantly . played to them the whole evening in the most flagrant fo r hi m manner, and their admiration was something beautiful to see . But their love , old full and unbounded , was given to George H Ton L um olland , who , of course , played y p ki n .

on e Indeed it was a pleasant sight , not easily

- to be forgotten , to see that silver haired , elderly lady , dressed simply and severely in black , and so her bonnie girl companion , completely carried ou t of the commonplace o f everyday life by that mimic picture The culmination o f their adventure occurred as we were leaving r Hl f M . o the theatre . ol and , at the close the sit performances , used to in a little nook at

m9 ROSE EY TINGE

“ ” the stage door and wait for his son Ned , who came every night to take his father home .

When , as we were leaving the theatre , I stopped ’ - for a moment s chat and good night with him , M iss Dick asked me who it was I spoke to .

Ton L u m ki n When I told her it was y p , she impulsively turned back , put her arms aroun d H ’ old dear olland s neck and kissed him , saying , ! ” God bless you , Tony The visit to the theatre that night marked an ’ epoc h in my friend s life . She was a woman possessing a rare intelligence , great breadth of o f mind , and independence character . She frankly acknowledged that she now felt con vin ce d that by her lifelong absence from the sh e theatre had made a great mistake , and had deprived herself of much pleasure and intel of lectual growth , a mistake which for the rest An d her life she would correct . She kept her word .

“ 0

ROSE EY TINGE by an attempt to make a successful star of

Avonia Jones . But Daly had al ways been a manager ; his mother told me that when he was a very small boy he played at management and never wished

n to play at anythi g else . When other boys would evince a very natural desire to play “ ” “ ” tag o r hop - scotch, or any other of the games to which small boys are addicted , Daly would organise his comradHes into a stock com e pany and manage them . never attempted he to act himself, but , even as a child , cast his pieces and handled his company with the single—mindedness that characterised him after

ward .

- So now , when his life long ambition was in o f the inception its realisation , he was perfectly w equipped for his ork , concentrated in his

- - methods , self contained and self reliant , know ing exactly what he wanted to do and how he

meant to do it . He began his career as a manager with the production o f his own dramatisation of Charles ’ “ ” R e ade s f novel , Gri fith Gaunt , then popular . was Kate P e ton The name of the heroine y , and

H2 AUGUSTIN DALY ’ S OFFER

Daly , having his own fixed ideas of just what sort of actress he wanted to personate thi s hero ine , had experienced great difficulty in finding Hi f or s her . o fering the part to me , rather his suggesting to me the possibility that I might was be induced to play it , quite accidental , and occurred at our first meeting . One of the actresses whom he was considering

M r . for the part was visiting me , and Daly call ed to see her . At her request I received s r him . We di cussed the sto y and the character o f Kate o f , with the result that , with one those gusts of sudden resolution to which he was ad dicted , he asked me if I would play the part . On account o f the terms o f my contract with was Lester Wallack , I not free to consider the offer ; but I was greatly taken with and i n te r e ste d - in the serHious eyed , intensely earnest e young manager . urged me to promise to ’ M r consider playing the part if . Wallack s c on so sent to my doing could be obtained .

This promise I made . In an incredibly brief time this man , young , unknown , and without M r se e . influence , managed to Wallack , and returned to me armed with a note containing

1 13 ROSE EY TINGE

nl the desired permission , o y making the con dition that I would not play in New York later than withi n six weeks of the opening of the regu lar season . There was no talk o f terms f . o n e between us Indeed , at this stage the

otiation g there could not very well have been . Daly now had his thHeatre , his company , and e possibly his heroine . had gathered about

him a company of exceptional excellence , his M r im . . o t ar leading man being J K , and we

began rehearsing . r During the first rehearsal M . Daly interrupted

me from time to time , to give me instructions o f as to this or that bit business . But I was

i n feeling my way through the part , and these

te rr u tion s p , though undoubtedly judicious and

necessary , made me nervous and uncertain in so him my work ; I went quietly to , where he

sat at the prompt table , reminded him that

this rehearsal was only a trial , and begged that he would allow me to struggle through the part

uninterrupted . I suggested that he should make notes of any changes which he wished

me to make , and if I played the part we could

incorporate these changes in future rehearsals .

1 14

ROSE EY TINGE

. port the lead , I confess I do not remember the story . I only remember that the situation o f the piece is where I break down a door with an axe which I opportunely find , and rescue somebody who is lashed down on a railroad “ ” was track , and that this business preceded by my frantic exclamation , The axe , the axe !” This exclamation became a sort of catch word , and Davenport , who was an incorrigible s on guyer , used to erve it up to me all possible and impossible occasions , with the result that there was a great deal too much giggling and guying during the performance .

M r . Daly , who was then the same watchful , d ubiquitous manager he always was , trie every to available means check us , with , I am sorry

s. to say , very little succes

One night , in sheer desperation , he threatened — Davenport , upon whom with how much jus — tice I will not say he looked as the ring if leader, with immediate discharge he did not on the following night and at every per form an ce thereafter play the part seriously . The next night Davenport made his appear

I I 6 DAV ENPORT IN M ISCHIEF

ance dressed completely in black , even wearing black kid gloves thr oughout the entire perform ance ; and he played the part throughout without a smile , investing it with unbroken , lugubrious gloo m . The result was that every scene in which he appeared , even the most serious ones , went with shouts of laughter ; and the more the audience laughed , the more solemnly serious Davenport became .

When the final curtain fell , Daly appeared i H e and fa rly and frankly gave up the fight . “ begged Davenport to doff his suit o f solemn ” black and play the part as he had always d playe it . The magnanimous action of ou r young mana ger had the effect of making us all feel heart ily ashamed of ourselves , and from that night , by m s . unani ou decision , there was no more guying These two engagements under D aly ’ s man age m e n t resulted in a friendship between him and myself that ended only with his life . We Hi s became good comrades . duty as dra matic critic made it necessary for him some times to make flying visits to several theatres on e in evening , and I was always glad to accept

1 17 ROSE EY TINGE his invitation to accompany him on these little expeditions . In this manner I witnessed with Daly the fir st performance of French comic opera that was “ D given in New York . It was La Grande u ” T L a D u che sse c he sse ostée . , with as As an indication of the change in public taste , both

r so M . Daly and I were far from pleased with the performance tha t we left early in the second — ! r athe r ! - ou r act , finding it rather well for taste . Nowadays the performance would be rated rather slow . With him also I witnessed the performance of ” Caste , which was produced by W . J . Flor Tom ence . The piece had been secured from Robertson by Wallack for production at Wal lack’ s Theatre during the following regular season . But Florence brought over a !shall we say an annexed ! ) copy of the piece in a of summer season , in advance Wallack , with M himself, his wife , Owen arlowe , Davidge ,

M r h n r M r s . f au . s . C a , and Gilbert in the cast ' ’ M r I was particularly pleased with s . Gilbert s of M ar ui se performance the q , and I said to “ Daly, When you get your theatre , there is a

I I 8

ROSE EY TINGE

was unavailing , and my annoyance greatly increased by observing that my remonstrances were met by a helpless Shrug or shake of the head , accompanied by a suppressed smile .

The moment the curtain fell , intent upon visit o n o f ff ing dire vengeance the head the o ender, I was hurrying from the b ox when everybody in the win gs rushed on the stage and no longer M attempted to suppress laughter . y stage

“ ‘ : 0 M E tin e manager said N use , iss y g , even ’ you could not stop that noise ; that s from above ! ’

It was . The roof was covered with tin ; some plates had become loosened ; and when a gust Was came , the wind , which blowing fiercely , M would raise these plates and rattle them . y

- stage manager was quite right . I was obliged

to was . submit . It from above

I QO CHAPTER XVII

AN D THE GR A N D P R I X LONDON . PARIS LONGCHAMPS NAPOLEON III AN D THE EMPRESS EUGENIE PRI N CESS METTERNICH PRINCE PIERRE NAPOLEON DR EVANS NUBAR PASHA AUBER AN D VERDI ICAN S IN PARIS CORA PEARL

IN 1 86 9 I went abroad for what was , virtually , the first time , for my earlier hurried trip across and back , which barely occupied three weeks , could scarcely be called a V isit . After an uneventful voyage we arrived in Liv e r ool p and went direct to London , arriving in o n that city a Sunday morning , a drizzling , grizzling , grey Sunday morning , and I cannot

n remember a more wretchedly uninteresti g , empty , miserable day than was that first Sun day in London . AS a consequence , the next day, bright and P early, we set out , like true Americans , for aris , o f then at the zenith her pride and beauty . Napoleon the Third was then Emperor o f France ; and while he may possibly have been

12 ! ROSE EY TINGE

- or weak , short sighted , corrupt , any of the

r many things he ought not to have been , he ce tain l P fas in y made of aris the finest , most c at C ing ity in Europe , both to native and to visitor . It is quite likely that both citizen and visitor were heavily taxed , but in return for that tax they enjoyed the inestimable privilege of living in what had the appearance of a perfectly gov erned city . They had the opportunity of liv ing in an atmosphere o f lightness and bright ness , where the air was filled with the scent of o f flowers , the sound music , and the gay laugh — ter of light hearted souls . P so aris , in those days , was attractive that travellers from the four corners of the earth

o or hurried through her gates , glad of the pp tu n it y to witness and to share her glory, and more than willing in return to pour their wealth l into her lap . To the visiting on ooker there was no evidence that the Parisians ever com

plained of the condition . Certainly I never heard a French landlady

complain , as I remember once to have heard ’ n an English o e do . In response to the latter s cry of poverty I tried to cheer her up by point

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Everywhere was gaiety, brilliancy . The air was redolent of sweetness and bright with

flowers . Here they come ! bowling along over the soft , green turf, in a low, dark landau drawn by four perfectly matched bays , with outriders gorgeous in uniforms which glittered with gold and steel , and with postilions jingling with spurs l and bel s , Napoleon the Third and the Empress e Eug nie , followed by their court in equipages o f equal beauty and brilliancy .

The Empress was then , like her realm , in the zenith of her beauty . She was tall and grace

- ful , with a swan like throat set upon beautiful sloping shoulders , her hands were exquisite , and her hair rippled in golden splendour around

se t her fair face . But her eyes were too closely together, and drooped too low at their corners , al as so drooped the corners of her mouth , to indicate that s he had either a generous heart or

a large understanding . Beside her sat the Emperor with hi s dignified l bearing and gracious manner, and his carefu ly “ ” a waxed moustache and imperial . Louis N

ole on a p , like many nother , had a happy knack

124 NA P OLEON III AND EUGENIE

of lookin g much more than he was . The one feature that seriously detracted from the general impressiveness of his appearance were

fi h - hi s . s eyes They were heavy , bulging , like eyes . s on P n With them was their , young ri ce Napo i i leon , a beautiful ch ld of a fa r young mother . Fortunately it was not then given to that moth er to be able to look into the future , where waited disaster and disgrace , where death

al lurked for her husband , his realm to f l about him b o like a house of cards ; and her y , stricken on down in early manhood , dying an African l hil side , and herself passing long , lonely years l of widowhood in exi e . ’ In the Empress s train there were many be au

- tiful women , and courtly , distinguished looking men ; but as I was neither a Chamberlain nor a chambermaid at the French Court I did not

know them by name . To be sure I did recog nise here and there some on e whom I had seen P M before . There was the rincess etternich , who was as well known and as well belove d for

her charities as for her repartee . She was at that time considered o n e of the plainest but

12 5 ROSE EY TINGE

n P T o e of the wittiest women in aris . o be the first is a misfortune , to be the second is fatal . P P And there was rince ierre Napoleon , cousin to the Emperor, and better known by his “ s obri u e t P - P q of lon lon , who bore a striking likeness to the first Napoleon . With him was P his gentle , pretty young wife , the rincess

Clothilde , who had emerged from the safe , Hsunny shelter of the Convent o f the Sacred eart to be given in marriage to him , and to live for many sad years in the cold shade o f hi s neglect . Near the Empress was her faithful attendant , Dr . Evans , the American dentist . He was a loyal courtier in the train of the Em press of the French in the days of her prosperity and power , and still more loyal to the helpless t Spanish woman in hat dark hour when , of she stripped rank and power , was fleeing for her life !

Coming across the lawn from the paddock, surrounded by admirers , I recognised a coun M r m n M r s . tr wo a s . y , the beautiful Ritchie !now o f Adair), a daughter of General Wadsworth, New York

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ROSE EY TINGE

“ time was engaged in finishing his opera, Aida , composed at the order of Ismail Pasha . Ismail

- was building an opera house at Cairo , which “ ” e clat V hi Aida opened with great , erdi mself conducting . P rominent in the paddock , moving about among his compatriots , was Leonard Jerome ,

M r s . the father of Cornwallis West , formerly

Lady Randolph Churchill , and grandfather to Winston Churchill . Leonard Jerome was — easily o n e of the most distinguHished looki ng men present . There , too , was arry Stone , a notable American of that day . And there P on e o f was Cora earl , then of the features

Paris . She was reclining in a perfectly ap pointed victoria, and was dressed in an ethereal f o . Hr e looking costume pale mauve poodle , sat which on the low front seat , solemnly blink i n g at her, was dyed the same delicate shade of mauve . Gr an d P ri x Such were Longchamps , and the in the days of the Third Empire . And when

P o n e one remembers aris as it was then , when remembers the gaiety , the brightness , the beauty that were everywhere , and then is

1 28 IM P ERIAL PARIS brought into close view o f the rough face

she i s - on e republican France as to day , clin e d to cry with the M oors o f old :

” A e de me Alhamal y ,

I 29 CHAPTER X VIII

ROYALTY AND RANK FONTAINEBLEAU AND THE BLACK EAGLE ACROSS THE ALPS ITALY ALE X ANDRIA THE AMERICAN TRAVELLE R RAMLEH C L EO PA TRA THE B A WA UB A MASCULINE CHAMBERMAID

I REM AINED for several months in Paris in that

o f 1 86 summer 9, and during that time I saw a good bit of the high and mighty- nesses of the of Court and the Third Empire . Being con n e cte d , as I was , through my immediate family , I with an important diplomatic post , was in a peculiarly fortunate position for this purpose . But I was never specially impressed by rank ; perhaps my stage life and experience had rather taken the edge off any feeling of awe and rev erence for titles , even the highest . I had queened it myself not a few times on the s stage , and as for duchesses and countes es , why , they had been as plenty as blackberries in season ; and the onl y difference I have ever been able to see between the real thing in titles and the mimic is that there is a good bit more

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o f royal splendour that they have witnessed . And if you propose to spend the night at the little inn , you will be Shown with great cere mony up a crooked , narrow , winding stairway into a bedroom about twelve feet square , with

- of a much broken brick floor, and , by way o f as luxury , a bit carpet about as large a good - sized pocket- handkerchief spread at the side of the bed ; but always with the inevitable

- mirror over the chimney piece , and with the equally inevitable pair of vases and clock upon o f V it , and the picture the Blessed irgin hang of ing over the head the bed . And when you are left alone in possession of this room , and look about you , and become aware o f the shadows that lurk in the corners and dart ou t at you as your solitary candle

flares and flickers , you find your envy of those “ ” folk who lived in the good old times giving way to a feeling of thankfulness that you are t here in this prosaic , conventional wentieth cen can tury , where you command the ugly but comforting steam - radiator and the common

- place gas meter . P After a stay of some months in aris , I started

132 CROSSING THE ALP S

l for Italy via M ont Cenis . The bui ding of the

celebrated tunnel had just been decided upon , but I was able to avail myself of the journey of over the mountains instead through them ,

as travellers are now obliged to do . The ex e ri e n ce was p replete with interest and pleasure , an incident which occurred during the trip adding greatly to both . A bout midway , having reached the topmost of M peak ont Cenis , we were met by an obstacle , the recent heavy rains having caused a wash ou t on the road , and we were obliged to leave the coaches and to walk a mile or two down the mountain side . It was rather a curious sensation to find one’ s self trudging along the identical road over which Hannibal led his an d on army , Napoleon marched his forces his raid against his Italian neighbo urs .

A Through Turin , ncona , Verona , and many other old Italian towns around which is e n so twined much historic lore and romance , we V A went to enice , and thence by steamer to lex

andria . To offer any detailed description of the port of

133 ROSE EY TINGE

A as lexandria , which is now well known to ’ travellers as is New York s beautiful harbour or the Golden Gate , would be useless , and o f the same may be said the city itself, which is on e of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world . As its heterogeneous mass of humanity is of r M composed Ch istians , Copts , Jews , oham m e dan s , Greeks , Armenians , Turks , Arabs , M I Albanians , altese , Spaniards , French , talians ,

Germans, Scandinavians , Britons , Americans , o f and any and every other sort folk, known or unknown , and all wear, as if by concerted cos arrangement , their respective national tu m e s of t e , the streets h town present a most f kaleidoscopic e fect . And as the representa tive s of each and every on e o f these n ation ali

o f own ties , by the law attraction , seek their su b countrymen , the place is divided and divided into small colonies , with the result that

o f it resembles a map , with its little patches colour placed here and there . But of all the many sorts and conditions of

. a men who trot over this globe , for good travel ler commend me to my compatriots . The

134

ROSE EY TINGE

H f n f e o ca e sits for hours in front a di gy little , listening to and taking great seeming interest in the ceaseless chatter which goes on around of of him , made up a polyglot bad Italian and n ot worse French , Turkish , Arabic , and what of else , while he drinks innumerable cups Turk f is Hish co fee . This black , bitter, and gritty . e on does not like it at all , and he would no account touch it if he were at home . In brief, he makes himself thoroughly uncomfortable and enjoys himself immensely .

n in Finding Alexandria hot , uninviti g , and fe cte d by all the kn own plagues o f Egypt and

a few more , I went in a few days after my

m- arrival to Raml eh . This is a se i European colony of villas on the shores of the M e dite r

r an e an . , about four miles from Alexandria On the Spot now called Ramleh once stood the

o f a o f ancient city Alexandria , in the d ys its

splendour and glory . I was so fortunate as to secure for occupancy a house built upon

‘ a famous foundation . Between it and the

sapphire sea , whose waves lapped the shore a

few paces away , there lay , buried in the sand ,

136 AMERICAN HOM E IN EGYPT

’ u n s C the r i of leopatra s palace , and at a short distance was the spot where Octavius Caesar M set up his camp when , after defeating arc of Antony, he came as the conqueror Egypt and ’ o f . Egypt s queen But that august sovereign , true to the dictates of the nature that had given her the power to rule men , and , through men , nations , acknowledged only death as her victor . Upon this hi storic spot I se t up my establish ment , raised the American flag , and proceeded to the task o f conducting in Egypt an American n i home o strictly American pr nciples . I do n ot think that that most famous of all blunder Han d An d ers , y y , ever succeeded in making more of them than I did in the orderin g o f my domestic affairs while I was learning my way about . F or an example : It is the custom of the coun for try all good houses to employ a hall porter, whose designation in the national vernacular , u Hi awa b s is b . is the highest and most hon ou r able position after the janissary of the f of sta f servants , and it is usual to select for it a person of ancient and honourable lineage . It

37 ROSE EY TINGE seems that the one who had been chosen for this post in my house filled the requirements n thoroughly , bei g able to trace back his family o r three , four , five thousand years , and , as additional recommendation , he enjoyed the honour of never having been known to have ’ done an honest day s work . of Clad in a long garment spotless white , the

o f sit - duty this functionary is to cross legged , o r , when he believed himself to be unobserved , o n of to lie full length , a sort camp bedstead , of of composed reeds , at the entrance the house , which is usuHally a courtyard o f more or less magnitude . ere he receives the cards of visitors and passes them on to some on e of the indoor servants . And so they are passed from of hand to hand , and if the mistress the house happens to have been born under a lucky star, in an hour o r two after they have been started on this circuitous trip she may receive the “ ” pasteboards .

Now I , being entirely ignorant of this custom

of of of bawau b and the character the duties a , s aw only a long , lean , elderly person , clad in what appeared to me a more seemly garment

CHAPTER XIX — THE G R THE R LOVE , REAT LEVELLE SE VANT PROBLEM I N EGYPT Ho w THE GROCER IMPORTED HI S BRIDE — — wo mEN I N THE EAST THE HAREM s AN ORIENTAL ’ — LADY S CALL UPON AN AMERICAN WOMAN THE MAN IN THE CASE HUMAN NATURE

F OR a b e a while fter my arrival in Alexandria , fore going to Ramleh, I stopped at a hotel , the

New Callot , the proprietor being an Italian P n lin i l oc named a ta . Whi e there an incident curred which proves that love levels all lan guages as well as all ranks . It seems that Signor Pan talin i had assimilated some o f the domestic ideas of the unspeakable hi s Turk , and had reduced them to Hpractice in e daily life and in his own hotel . had caused to be fitted up in the most sumptuous fashion

a suite of rooms on the top floor , and there he hi i n amorata had installed s . The adjoining suite had been assigned to a ” young American dude , who was doing Europe and the East after the most approved fashion

140 AN AM ERICAN DUDE

of dudes . These two suites had no doors of communication , but the windows of each opened upon the same balcony , an airy , mysterious

- of looking little trysting place . But what that !

The young American could speak no Italian , ’ and Signor Pan talin i s fair on e could utter her thoughts and wishes onl y in the sibilant syllables o f her own sunny Italy .

Notwithstanding these circumstances , which would seem to have been enough to place an insurmountable obstacle to any hope of even

acquaintance between these neighbours , in just a fortnight from the tim e when the young Yan kee spark had be en installed in that eyrie he ’ levanted with Signor Pan talin i s car a sposa!

Once I found myself installed in my own ffi o m house , I had great di culty in rec nciling y of self to the absence women servants . But in Egypt and throughout the Orient the order of service is conducted on distinctly contrary prin ciple s to anything to which we of this Western

hemisphere are accustomed . M e n perform all the domestic and indoor se r it i vice , while is no unusual th ng to see women

14 1 ROSE EY TINGE

l toi ing in the fields , doing work upon buildings o f accom in course erection , and generally plishin g those tasks which we are accustomed f to se e performe d by men . In my e forts to find some women for my household I made Inquiries of the various trades - people with

- whom I dealt , and my grocer, a good looking o f young Englishman , told me he knew a young English woman who he thought would be will ou t ing to come if her expenses were paid . As to her qualification , he could recommend her hl most hig y . Negotiations were at once con su m o f cluded . I advanced the twelve pounds , and as fast as steam could fetch her the young woman came out . I had every reason to b e ’ lieve that the grocer s recommendation was of entirely sincere , for within a week the young ’ woman s arrival she and her sponsor were married ! A very brief residence in the Orient convinced me that the women of the East not onl y do not need , nor do they wish for, the sympathy of their sisters of the West , but they profoundly : pity us . Indeed they go further they despise us ! And this is because they agree with the

142

ROSE EY TINGE

frankly urged her to do so . But if I fancied hi wa f that t s interchange of wishes s su ficient ,

o f I soon found my mistake . All sorts per missions had to be obtained from all sorts of f fli i l o n u n o c a . e persons , o ficial and One by these obstacles disappeared before a vigorous and more or less continuous waving of the

American flag .

At last all was arranged . It was left for me only to name a day and hour for the visit , with a solemn promise on my part that on that day I must ban ish every man who belonged to my establishment . I must be sure that from the moment the dark- eyed daughter of the su n crossed my threshold that threshold must be s o well guarded that no masculine eye should have the opportunity to gaze upon those charms that were sacred to her lord . When the cavalcade bringing me my visitor o f L ai e e of arrived , it consisted , first , the , then

- two eunuchs, each coal black and enormously on an fat , horseback , then the carriage , with other eunuch , as fat and as black , on the box with the driver, the carriage being jealously

all . on s closed on sides Then , each ide of the

144 DUTIES OF EUNUCHS

carriage , two more eunuchs , with great curved swords attached to their sides with broad red sashes .

w i It stopped , then , ith a great j ngling of w o f spurs and s ords, and a great hubbub

voices of every key, the two huge , black masses of humanity heading the procession were dragged , and pulled , and helped , to roll to the ground . Once there , they took their of positions on either side the carriage . The same ceremony having been gone through with two the other eunuchs , they also ranged them

selves at the side of the first two . When th e o carriage d or was opened I saw , partly lifted , J ack F al partly rolled , what might have been s ta - - fi himself new risen from the buck basket .

A closer inspection revealed only a huge , ani

mated grey bundle , which rapidly disappeared

into the house . At the same moment my j an i ssary opened the

o f - door the drawing room , advanced a short

o n - distance into the room tip toe , and in low ,

mysterious , whispered tones told me she was

n on e comi g ; then , carrying his shoes in hand

and impressing silence with the other , he swiftly

145 ROSE EY TINGE

as and silently withdrew . I began to feel if I were playing a walking - lady in a farce and did not know my lines . Again the door Opened and the grey bundle entered . Now I began to feel in some slight degree mistress of the situ ation , and , being more at ease myself, I deter mined that I would do all in my power to put my visitor in the same condition . I summoned all my small stock o f Arabic ; I made her under stand that we were quite alone and safe from all fear of interruption ; that she must take o ff “ ” n her thi gs , and we would have a real old fashioned Yankee visit . I helped to unroll her ou t from her grey silk sheet , only to find her encased in a nondescript o f r e garment the same material , somewhat sembling an old - fashioned pe li ss e only more

so .

e off I decid d that this also should come , feel ing quite sure that the sad - coloured sack was not the sort of thi n g which s he usually wore ; ashmak and , after removing this and her y , there stood before me a very pretty woman , lightly dressed in a motley attire of bright

- -fittin coloured , ill made , and worse g garments

146

ROSE EY TINGE

was knock at the door . Thinking it some “ ” our ! addition to meal , I said , Come in The door opened , and there strode into the room

- ! a man a real , live , sure enough man And

o f son of no common sort man either, a true

- - Anak , six foot three , with a figure to match

o ff his height , a bearing that set both height and figure , and a pair of bright blue eyes that ’ - se t one s own a dancing just to look into them . In he strode with the confident air of on e who felt sure of his welcome . At the first glimpse of this spectacle my little r guest , with a terrified sh iek , fled to the farthest end of the room and concealed as much as was possible o f herself in the folds of the window curtains . I am not , however, certain that she covered her eyes . I flew to my for the nonce unwelcome “ ” - guest , gave him the right about , and , to his great surprise , led him from the room . Once on o the outside , and the do r secHurely closed , I explained the situation to him . e increased my embarrassment by being greatly amused and by insisting upon returning and making his apologies to the lady .

148 AN UNW ELCOM E V ISITOR The explanation of the presenceHof my un e expected guest was very simple . was an ffi i o f V American o cer in the serv ce the iceroy , was upon terms of so great intimacy with my household as to feel himself free to dispense of hi s with the ceremony sending in card , and in coming directly to my drawing- room he was

nl o y following his usual custom . The presence o f o f the carriage and suite my visitor, waiting co m in the courtyard , was an occurrence too m on to attract his attention , and the stately bawau b was , whose duty it to have warned him ,

was . , as usual , fast asleep I returned to my trembling guest and se t about soothing her nerves and calming her fears , and I found this a much easier task than I had dared h to hope . Indeed I soon found that s e took

o f ‘ quite a Christian View the situation . It was not so much the presence o f the man that o f alarmed her, as it was the fear his presence o u t being found , thus proving that wherever M or M you place us , oslem ohammedan , Turk or or of Jew Christian , there is a great deal

u . human nat re about us , after all

149 CHAPTER XX

’ AMERICAN PATRIOTISM WOMAN S STATUS IN AMERICA AND THE EAST CONTRASTED EuNU CHs EUROPEAN WIVE S O F MOHAMMEDAN MAGNATE S

I KNOW of nothing that is so surely calculated to develop the patriotism o f an American wom a an as sojourn in a foreign country . This is especial ly the case if that sojourn be in what ” we are pleased to term heathen territory . At on e time and another I have lived much — in abroad England , in various Continental f o f cities , and in the Orient ; and the e fect each o f tho se experiences has been to send me home with my patriotism and pride of country in creased and intensified .

In no other country is woman so respected , so i sheltered and protected , as in Amer ca . In no other country are men so chivalrous , so gallant so of to women , careful and considerate them , of as in America . And , at the risk being dis cursive , I would like to say that I think we have here two classes of men who stand pre- eminent

150

ROSE EY TINGE

she She If be a person of social standing, must of be attended . If She is the mistress a house s he old hold , cannot go to market in the good fashioned way to provide for her family ; but she must retain a man - servant who is at once

- H e major domo and steward . must receive she the money for the marketing, and must take what he chooses to return to her, always allow n ing a liberal sum for his steali gs . These are only a few of the restraints which meet an

American or European woman at every step .

But this very absence of all freedom , and the control and espionage that constantly surround o f the Oriental woman , are the source her

of o r highest pride . Such a woman rank social position passes her life entirely among the wom own en and children of her household . She has no social world beyond the precincts o f her

o n ar e e m w h !or harem , as it is usually spelled in English); she has no social duties or obliga

tions , no domestic occupations . Life , with her, f l is a continual condition o lol . The portion o f the house of an Oriental which is dedicated to the use o f the women and children comprising his family is entirely separated from

152 POW ER OF THE EUNUCHS

of the part the house inhabited by the master , asha or p . And the power of admission to the ’ women s quarters , the harem , is vested only in the pas ha o r the head eunuch . The door is

ad always jealously locked and guarded , and mission to or egress from the harem can be o f obtained only by the favour the eunuch . This power makes the eunuch king of the house . The Oriental women , far from resent

o f i o f ing this state th ngs , are proud the isolation and seclusion in whi ch they pass r m their lives , and inte pret their imprison ent as proof o f the admiration and love which their husbands entertain for them . Their explanation of the freedom which Chris tian women enjoy is that Christian husbands ff are indi erent to their wives , and it is because of f that indif erence that the poor , unloved creatures may wander where they will with uncovered faces , permitting all men to look upon them . When I was in Alexandria and Cairo it was my fortune to have upon my visit i n - g list quite a number of harems , including those of the Viceroy . But while in those harems there was much

‘ 53 ROSE EY TINGE

splendour and magnificence , there was an utter absence o f all those features that go to fill the

- of m Anglo Saxon idea ho e . There were beau tiful gardens , brilliant and odorous with rare o tr pical flowers ; music , barbaric if you will , but dreamy and fascinating ; soft , luxurious divans ; rare fruits and delicious confections , sweets and

f s . sherbets , black co fee and cigarette o f f But books , or pictures , or statuary , or o anything that appealed to the intellect or the

higher nature , there was not a trace . Nor was o f of there a Sign the sacred privacy the home . Whi le I was in Egypt there came under my notice on e or two instances wherein European o f women , dazzled by the prospect wealth and M luxury , became the wives of ohammedan hi magnates . Not ng more tragic , though at the

same time more grotesque , than were the lives

can . they led , well be imagined As I write I recall the case o f a bonnie English o old girl , ab ut twenty years , who at the per sistent solicitation o f an ambitious and im pecunious widowed mother married a rich old

- of copper coloured pasha about sixty . They

o n e had child , a miserable , whining, weazen

l 54

CHAPTER XXI

, EGYPTIAN DANCING-GI R L s THE VICEROY S MOTHE R

—‘ ORIENTAL SPLENDOUR A NOBLEMAN WITH AN HALLU C INATION

ONE o f the most interesting if not one o f the most agreeable experiences that ever came in my way was when I witnessed an exhibition of

- Egyptian dancing girls . This delectable form of entertainment is one not usually patronised by women , and was vouchsafed to me as a special mark of favour

o f V u n by the mother the iceroy , who was doubtedly the reigning feminine power at the

Egyptian Court . Although the Viceroy had

n at this time four wives , all legitimate accordi g M to ohammedan laws , and a countless train “ ” o f shall we say ladies of his household ! his mother was the real power , and she it was whom his Excellency consul ted on all impor o r tant questions of foreign domestic policy . He r tact and authority kept up a semblance of peace in that vast household , for, while the

156 EGYPTIAN DANCING - GIRLS

she eunuchs ruled the wives , ruled the eunuchs . She it was who prepared all the food of which son on her partook , always accompanying him his journeys for this purpose . With this old brown lady , who must have been between seventy and eighty years of age , I had found special favour . At the time of which I speak there were a num ber o f American women tourists in Cairo ; and I was besieged by on e and all to obtain for them of on e some glimpses harem life , merry party o f Western girls insisting that they should se e

f - an exhibition o dancing girls . The request made , time had to be taken for consideration , and after acquiescence had been obtained a day had to be set when the dancing - girls could be obtained , for these damsels are quite as expensive in their way and as exacting and ri m e don n e capricious as are other p . The powers decided that the affair should off P come at the Gezira alace , the most spacious ’ and magnificent of all the Viceroy s twenty- six domiciles . A general invitation was issued to of the wives the foreign consuls . They were all M on tholon present except the Duchesse de ,

l 57 ROSE EY TINGE

of - wh o wife the French consul general , , as al a ways when public function occurred , was too

ill to be present , though it was an open secret

that she , being a Spanish grandee and a rigid

Catholic , never presented herself at any of the

Egyptian Court functions . At the last moment a difficulty arose in ou r of party, several the ladies being in deep mourn

ing , and it was impossible that they should

present themselves in black . To do so was to

insult the Court . In this dilemma all sorts o f expedients were

resorted to . Of course it would have been easy enough for them to meet the difficulty if they had wished to obtain fresh toilettes for the occa sion ; but this would have entail ed heavy ex o f pense , and as they were persons moderate

means , and the costumes would have been w useless to them after ard , they wished to evade ffi the ruling . But as the di culties grew, their anxiety to attend the function increased in corresponding degree .

At last an expedient was hit upon . The ladies produced from their trunks various shawls, o f large and small , and pieces silk from Da

1 58

ROSE EY TINGE

! b e Beauty, beauty, beauty everywhere A wil dering blaze o f light and colour ; gleaming — white and rose coloured marble and alabaster ; of the air filled with the perfume flowers , the n k of song of birds , the cool ti le water from a fountain ! After wandering through a maze of this beau t y, sometimes a courtyard , sometimes a garden ,

sometimes a lofty hall , we were ushered into

- the reception hall . Enthroned on a dais at one f end o f this magnificent apartment sat my old V ’ brown friend , the iceroy s mother ; grouped about her , but not upon the dais, were the Viceroy ’ s various wives and favourites and the ladies of the households o f his various ministers ffi o f and o cers the Court .

Among the foreign ladies present , conspicuous al ways for her beauty , was the then Countess of Dudley , now the dowager . This beautiful woman was spending some time in Egypt with f on e of her husband , who was su fering from

o f hi s his periodical attacks hallucination , especial imagin ation at that time being that he was a mouse . As the noble gentleman was

old about sixty years and carried weight for age ,

160 THE COUNTESS OF DUDLEY

he was somewhat unwieldy in his movements , and his attempts to retire under chairs or up chimneys to escape from imaginary marauding cats was somewhat embarrassing in general society Hi s fair young Countess was less than half his

i s e e ff age . It was amus ng to the e ect upon the untutored savage when her ladyship told the viceregal mother , through an interpreter , that l She had left several chi dren at home , the young

o f est whom was an infant of a few months .

Arabian women are most devoted mothers .

At last the interminable ceremony of sweets , ff sherbets , and co ee was at an end , and we arrived at the Cigarette period . Then the

- dancing girls were introduced . At first there was a dreamy fascination about the exhibition ,

the dim light , the soft , smothered tinkle

r - tinkle and st um strum of the music , the beauty o f the girls , shining with golden ornaments and graceful and agile as young fawns . But as the music increased in volume and measure , as the movements of the dancers kept time to this change , and as the longer they dance the more ’ saw o f we them , one s interest changed to

16 1 ROSE EY TINGE

languor , the languor to something very like

w - disgust , and hen they fell , semi nude , panting , shapeless heaps upon their rugs , their retire of ment was accepted with a general sigh relief .

162

ROSE EY TINGE soldier who had served with distinction in the

French army , in which at the period when he o f left that service he held the rank colonel . of Originally the people , he had attained this position tHhrough the possession of unusual . e e x e qualities was brave in action , ready in p die n ts r , unscrupulous in car ying them out , and possessed of an insatiable cupidity . These characteristics led to his committing some act which brought disgrace upon himself, and sooner than await the consequences , which

s e r seemed inevitable , he deserted and sought vice in Egypt , where he soon rendered himself M e he m e t as indispensable to Ali , who , as soon ’ he found himself Egypt s ruler , loaded the hm difli cult apostate Frenc an , who made no y i M m n about declar ng himself a good Hoha meda , e with wealth and honours . bestowed hi m of Sul m an P upon the title y asha , and gave him or of as his first wife , queen his harem , an Armenian princess of great wealth and won dr u o s beauty . Although Sulym an availed hi mself of his M o hamm e dan u privileges to the f llest extent , and kept a flourishing domestic establishment , he

164 A M OHAM M EDAN P RINCESS never deposed this princess from her first place in either his regard or her position . She bore hi m for i a daughter , and th s daughter he ex hi b ite d the fondest and deepest paternal love ; and he revolte d from the thought of having her ml grow up in the ignorant , ai ess , idle life of the harem . While She was little more than a baby he sent her to a convent in France to be edu d cate . , and to grow up in the Catholic faith He r M ohammedan parentage was carefully n ot l concealed , on y from her schoolmates , but also from the sisterhood and from herself, onl y the M other Superior being cognizant o f was nl n he f the fact . It o y k own that s was o hi gh rank and great wealth . She had be en several years in the convent b e fore she made a visit to her native place , and even then she was too young to realize the differ ence in the mode of life ; and so she grew to womanhood virtually ignorant of the difference between herself and the girls who were her com panions and friends , but from whom , in the she so near future , was to be completely and cruelly separated . When she was in the firs t years of her bud

165 ROSE EY TINGE

she ding womanhood and fresh young beauty, on e he r made of customary visits to her father , her mother having been dead several years ; and during this visit her father, after a sudden and brief illness , died . o f ff i An examination his a a rs took place , and the story o f her great wealth was confirmed ; it was found that while s he was still an infant her father had settled an immense fortune upon her, but he had made no provision looking toward her release from the condition of a

Turkish subject . V The iceroy was appointed her guardian , and she was surrounded with every luxury that her great wealth entitled her to . But her Christian attendants were all sent back to France , her household was conducted upon a strictly Turk w s ish basis , and She herself a not permitted to i leave the country . In a very short t me the V P iceroy gave her in marriage to Cherif asha , who of was at least double her age , a man wealth M an d importance and a thorough oslem .

She , a free woman , made free by that greatest o f all enfranchisements , a cultivated mind , was thus condemned to Slavery . As the wife of a

166

ROSE EY TINGE

that were striving for utterance . I was most painfully impressed by her hands , they were so pitifully eloquent . Such tiny hands they were ,

- and , as they lay so white and helpless looking on of flu tte r her gorgeous robe , they had a trick ing , it seemed to me , like some lost bird whose wings had been sorely wounded . There were tears in the quivering o f those small fingers ; they , and her eyes , and her mouth revealed a tragedy . I there and then made up my mind that if a woman who was herself happy in the privilege of having been born in

so a free land could brighten , if even in ever of slight a way, the dark fate that unhappy woman , it should be done . As soon as I could do so without attracting M attention , I asked to be presented to adame of Cherif . After a few ceremonious words greet on ing either side , I said to her in my most dis

o f n tant manner, but with a slight shade mea ing

s in my voice , that it would give me great plea ure to call upon her . With a startled glance ,

first at me and then about her, She replied with “ ” on e ! word , Impossible But I was determined that I would not be so

168 AN UNHAP P Y W IFE

“ easily discouraged . I asked , Is that your i ! ” w sh In reply, with another startled glance , “ ” hi she said , It is my fear . To t s I replied , “ ” Leave it to me , and I moved away . I knew that in trying to offer any hope to thi s poor creature I was setting for myself no easy on task , but I rested my hopes the fact that I hi knew Cherif Pasha quite well . By t s time I had learned that the men o f the Orient greatly enjoyed meeting the women of the Western i world , but , while they enjoyed their ntelligent talk and observed with a sort o f puzzled ad m iration the perfect ease and freedom with which such women expressed their views , they were all very careful that none of that in te lli gence or freedo m o f opinion should find its way o f or to the women their own country faith . A little careful inquiry helped me to learn that ’ the Che rif s harem was just then at hi s palace

ou t of o n o f a little way Cairo , the banks the

M ahm ou die h al Can , and I knew that the gar dens oi this palace were famous for the beauty of and rarity their flowers .

I developed a great interest in horticulture , and managed to have it given out that I e n

169 ROSE EY TINGE joyed nothing so much as a stroll among the

flowers . A great man once told me that opportunities never occur, they are made . And it was not long before I made an opportunity to mention P to Cherif asha my love for flowers , and that I of had heard of the great beauty his garden . What so natural as that he should beg me to visit them , and that I should accept his invita tion ! But I reminded his Excellency that the cu s toms of my country made it incumbent that M P adame Cherif asha should receive me , and

- - after a little half bantering , half serious discus sion the Pasha smilingly yielded to what he considered was an absurd exhibition o f quite unnecessary etiquette .

con An early day was named for the visit . I fess I looked forward to it with no small degree of nervousness . I had in my mind nothing definite , only a great wish to try to cheer this woman who , with the rank of a noble , the wealth of a millionaire , and the luxury of a sybarite , was poorer , more pitiable than the most miser able beggar that wanders through the streets

170

ROSE EY TINGE

The poor woman looked closely and wonder in l - g y at me , and then said in an awe struck “ whi sper : Yes ! Yes ! There i s a God ! It is ! r true , what the good nuns taught me Ch ist lives , and he has sent this angel to comfort ” me ! And she would have thr own herself at my feet if I had not promptly and impera i l t ve y prevented so absurd an act . Self- control and a calm demeanour were most o f of necessary , for the voices others the party

old could be heard . So , giving her a good ,

hi - on fas oned hand shake , I drew her and fell to chattering like a magpie , and as soon as we were at a safe distance I again begged her to tell me quietly if I could do anythi ng to serve her . She said with quiet hopelessness , there “ hi n i was not g Then she added , If somet mes of I could see you , if you could tell me your r count y , your home , where women are free , !” where they are permitted to read , to think Before I had time to reply we were joined by others of the party, and during the rest of the visit I had no opportunity to speak con fide n tially to her ; but I wanted very much to give so her some little comforting message , I begged

172 A MESSAGE OF HOP E

and to be told the names of some rare plants , then required paper and pencil with which to

make a note of them . In taking these names

I made many blunders ; in short , I managed to write her a line telling her we woul d certainly so meet again , and I hoped to be able to manage

it that s he should return my visit . I might as well say here that at the time I told her this I had no more hope of being able to acco mplish such a feat than I had of overturnin g the Turk i h s Empire . I contrived to let her se e the slip o f paper o n of which I had scrawled my little message hope , and shortly afterward she received it from under

a dish of sweets . She withdrew for a moment of to the side a fountain that adorned the court , and on rejoining us I had the satisfaction o f seeing her eat so me little paper pellets together

with some conserve of violets . A few days after this visit to the gardens I sent to M adame Cherif a ceremonious invitation to

. in her to return my visit As I expected , my

i n vitat o was as ceremoniously declined . I at P once requested Cherif asha to call upon me , and to him I expressed my grievance against

173 ROSE EY TINGE

M hi m hav adame Cherif, explaining to that I , a M ing c lled upon adame , was placed in a very awkward position by he r declining to return my call . That in my country , etc . , etc . The Pasha was at great pains to explain to me the habits of Oriental women , but I persistently nl or declined to be either e ightened pacified . I stood upon my claim that I had visited M adame Cherif , and that it was incumbent upon her to return that visit

After a long and vigorous talk , during which I confess I exhibited almost every quality at a woman ’ s command except humility and cour tesy the Pasha capitulated . It was settled that

M adame Cherif should visit me . It was also agreed that on the day appointed for her visit all the men o f my household should absent m themselves , that y house should be guarded ’ " Che r if s by the chief eunuch of harem , and that nobody should be present no guests only the women o f my household . The talk between M adame Cherif and myself was pleasant in that it was free and u n con

it sad . strained , yet was very The unhappy lady fully realised the hopelessness of her posi

174

ROSE EY TINGE

ceremonious courtesy that she was quite well , and would shortly return to Cairo , if but for the happiness of again seeing me .

But She never came . I have often wondered if the few printed leaves that had been meant to lighten the darkness of her sad life had been of discovered , and been made the means draw ing still closer the chains of her slavery . CHAPTER XXIII

’ — VERDI S AIDA IN THE CAIRO OPERA- HOUSE A B LA! E — O F J EW E L s A COSMO POLITAN AUDIENCE

WHI LE in Cairo I witnessed the first p e rfo ’ ance of Verdi s the occasion being the openin g of the first opera - house that city

had ever possessed . P s V o f Ismail a ha , then iceroy Egypt , while a M good ussulman , was a great admirer and o f all of imitator things European , especially

. o n e English and French fashions So , day , as

I have mentioned in an earlier chapter, he

- determined that he would have an opera house . was But he found , to his vexation , that it much easier to form this determination than to carry

it ou t . It was easy enough to obtain plans and esti f mates , all these the European schools o fered in abundance ; but the two almost insuperable

ffi fir di culties which he encountered were , st to to l raise the money with which bui d ; second , e llahe e n to obtain from among the f , labourers

l 77 ROSE EY TINGE

who could be entrusted with the work . After months of delay the land was obtained and ground broken ; and after more and more delay the building was begun . c There would be pauses in the pro eedings , sometimes running into months . At last the project was suffi ciently advanced to justify the hope that some time in the far future the opera house might be an established fact , and next Ismail bethought him that it would be a fine and appropriate thing to dedicate the house by the performance in it for the first time o f an opera f o Oriental plot . Verdi was the composer se ” le cte d , and Aida was the opera settled upon . Verdi came from Paris and was royally lodged in on e of the viceregal palaces during the time occupied by rehearsals , and at the initial per for m an ce he conducted in person . The stage presented a positive blaze o f light which was reflected from the jewels worn by the artists and chorus . At the time o f this performance the Franco P russian War was raging , and the stage jewels and ornaments which had been ordered from P b e arisian manufacturers could not obtained ,

178

ROSE EY TINGE audience was magnificent in numbers an d u dazzling in appearance . The ho se was packed from floor to ceiling . All the consuls were in of full dress , many them in regalia ; and there of was a large sprinkling English, French , and

u n iform m an people of other nationalities in , y Greek and Albanian notables in their pictur o f esque costumes , and course a large propor o f M tion ussulmans, whose scarlet tarbooshes made patches o f brilliant colour throughout the house . But the women ! What words can do justice to the wondrous beauty of their appearance ! The soft Cairene climate made possible cos tu m e s o f a i the most di phanous mater als, and these costumes were literally encrusted with gems . The heads of these ladies gleamed with gorgeous tiaras , their breasts blazed with collars , r e ve rs of necklaces , and gems , and the air was heavy with the odours of the flowers with whi ch they were adorned . When Verdi took his place in the orchestra and waved his baton , he seemed extremely nervous , but as he warmed to his work his nervousness seemed gradually to melt from him , and by the

180 A GREETING TO V ERDI end o f the first act he had himself perfectly in

o f act hand . The end the second was the signal for such an ovation as would have turned the o f V hi s head many a master, but erdi , while face beamed , and the whole man seemed to vibrate with the pleasure that such a greeting

- gave him , was throughout quite self possessed and comparatively calm .

It was a notable event , as introducing mod ern art in the capital of ancient mysticism , and it deserved all the recognition it received . And too great praise cannot be accorded to Ismail P M asha , a ohammedan monarch, for the public Spirit and appreciation of art he exhibited in producing such a result .

18 1 CHAPTER XXIV

ANTI U ITI E s — A E O EGYPTIAN Q REMARKABL C INCIDENCE. — “ - A GREEK DOG A PRESENT O F MUTTON ON THE — — HOOF A BERBE R PRINCE THE RESTORATION O F A LONG- LOST CHILD

DU RIN G my residence in Egypt I was the recip

i e n t o f o f n many gifts , some intri sic value , but many of them valuable only because of their

curious and unique character . One was a drinking- cup and sauce r cut from the horn of a young buffalo when the moon was in the third f hi . o t quarter The legend t s cup was , tha if a new- born babe received its first drink from it the child would be blessed with good fortune

during its life .

A nother gift was a figure of a sacred bull , in is green bronze . Th had been discovered in of P the tomb one of the haraohs , where it had hi lain for more than five thousand years . T s

ancient treasure I gave to the Rev . Dr . Chan

ning, the American clergyman , an enthusiastic

and learned Egyptologist , and for many years

182

ROSE EY TINGE

It was settled that I should send the precious ” loot to him the following day, he to send a ’ e trusty m ssenger for it , and by eight o clock the next morning the messenger arrived . I was rt greatly pleased to learn , sho ly afterward , that ’ Dr . Channing s highest hopes were more than him realised . The papyrus gave the fullest i details , and aided him in establish ng beyond a peradventure the link o f evidence for whi ch

he had sought so long and fruitlessly .

Another curious gift which was brought to me f a was of quite a di ferent sort . It w s a Greek

dog .

It was not a pretty dog , Greek though it was , ’ and its habits quite put to rou t all one s ideas of the beauty and artistic qualities of the '

Greeks . Dogs are not popular in Egypt . The

- wolfish wild , semi creatures very like coyotes ’ that infest the country destroy one s se n ” tim e n t about old dog Tray , for the Egyptian n has dog is neither gentle nor ki d , and he a o f trick attacking you from behind . The dog’ s stay among us was limited to that of his donor .

184 A P RESENT OF M UTTON

But of all the extraordinary gifts to make to a rather quietly disposed woman , commend me to a sheep ! It was on the occasion of some M ohammedan d holiday . I was awakened by the confuse of sounds many feet upon the veranda , and the s ound of many voices all raised at once , some in praise , some in expostulation , others in stern

of tones command , the whole being supple m e n te d at intervals by a loud and plaintive “ ” B a- a—a !

After a long and somewhat anxious suspense , the tramplin g feet and many voices entered the house and made for my bedroom . After due knocking the procession entered , headed

- by my major domo , who was a most stately i of personage , and , having a smatter ng every language in the universe , spoke none .

l M M al Nicolo was closely fol owed by arie , a m aide n who con fe ss u su all tese , , I must , y followed

Nicolo pretty closely, and bringing up the rear was every man employed about the place , from

- the cook to the water carrier .

Trotting in their midst , looking wretched and d terrified at his unaccustome surroundings , was

185 ROSE EY TINGE H e v an enormous ram . had e idently been sub m itte d to an elaborate toilet for the occasion , for his fleece was snowy white , and his great hi curled horns , and his feathered tail , w ch i swept the ground , were ornamented w th blue , ribbons . M arie , also ornamented , like the sheep , with “ ou t blue ribbons , and tricked also with nods l ” and becks and wreathed smi es , stepped for ward , having evidently been selected for the hon o f ou r able position spokeswoman . In a speech which I understood much better by watching her pantomime than by listening to her lame , s he hi polyglot jargon , begged me to accept t s “ ” i ou t she small ship , by wh ch I made that r e meant this enormous ram , as a proof of gard , love , reverence , etc .

Of course I accepted . What else could I do !

I was there in my bed . There was my entire “ ” establishment , and there was de leetle ship . SO on I p atted my gift the head , and let him ad place his moist nose in my palm , and duly

mired him , and at last , to my very great relief ,

saw him led away . ! Where I never dared to inquire . I only

186

ROSE EY TINGE

Hi s captors treated him with a rough, dumb

- sort of consideration , and , while his fellow slaves W ere most cruelly and villainously treated , he was passed over and artfully overlooked . Through their interpreter m y friends learned

rIn ce that this child was indeed a p , his father was king of a powerful and warlike tribe . The child had been captured in a night attack , and his captors regretted the fact and greatly feared the vengeance whi ch his father would most f surely take . So when these travellers o fered him f to buy their of er was accepted .

But when the bargain was concluded , and the b o dahabe ah y was transferred to their , they did n o H t e in the least know what to do with him .

spoke a Berber dialect , and there was not a man

n H o board who could understand him . e re “ ” fused alike to join the crew forward or to Si t associate with the servants ; he would apart , watching the white people with an expression of amazed curiosity ; and from a sort of cavalier respect in his manner toward them he seemed u to acknowledge their s periority . When my friends came to Alexandria they sent this child o u t to me . On obtaining possession of him I

188 AN EB ONY B EAUT Y

’ M r at once carried ou t . Dick s advice as to

Co e rfie ld . David pp , I had him bathed

n When he ext appeared before me , his beau tiful bronze skin Shining , his exquisitely formed

n feet slipped into scarlet poi ted slippers , dressed t in a white shirt , and with a scarle sash about his waist , and a tarboosh on his head , I thought him one of the most beautiful objects I had ever seen . And as I look back now , and conjure

so . him before me as he looked then , I still think C ’ fli The poor hild s solitude , the wrongs in cted upon him , appealed most strongly to me . I opened my arms . Never shall I forget the flash that seemed to envelop him ; for the first

saw f and last time I his eyes su fuse with tears .

With a swift action he sprang toward me , and for an instant only he rested in my arms . Then o f he slid down to my feet , kissed the hem my w go n , and never taking his eyes from my face settled himself into an easy attitude and

o f uttered a brief grunt content . From that moment his position in the establishment was

He settled . be longed to me . For me he would perform any office ; he would

e n fetch and carry ; and , by an arrangement

l 89 ROSE EY TINGE tir e l hi s y own , he would stand behind my chair ff at table , and take from any hand that pro ered t me any hing , and himself hand it to me .

difli cult i n I soon , however, discovered a y, a diffi deed , there were good many domestic ’ culti e s consequent upon this child s presence f in the household . The particular di ficulty whi ch prHesented itself was his gettin g anything e to eat . absolutely refused to eat with or in so any way to associate with the servants , I got of into the habit duplicating what I myself ate ,

and , placing it upon a dish, would give this to hm H e my young henc an . would retire and

put it in a place of safety , and when he thought

himself quite unobserved he would eat . We tried him with every Arabic name we had “ of H al ever heard or heard , and when we said ” so eel he expressed the greatest delight , that e maHtter was settled and his name discover d . e had a quick intelligence , and , unlike most

of hi s . race , he had a ready sense of humour He soon mastered the Arabic that he heard spoken by those about him . M b o an d y interest in the y increased daily, I determined that I would seize upon any op

190

ROSE EY TINGE

on e o h But day , , day of days for my young ! prince there came a man from Upper Egypt , a consular agent who had got himself into trouble and who needed some help and pro te ction that it happened to be in my power to bestow .

I found that he talked the Berber dialect . Hale e l spoke to him ; they understood each other . Then there occurred on e of the most dra matic scenes I ever witnessed .

- At first the man , a large , forbidding looking

B al l Hl e e . a e e l creature , questioned replied briefly . As this examination proceeded , the huge man seemed to lose importance , and the child to gain it ; and when , in reply to some B ale e l crowning question , replied , briefly still , but in ringing tones , evidently making some

cr startling statement , the man , with a great y , flung himself on the floor before the child and l Hl l a e e literally grovelled at his feet , whi e stood erect with blazing eyes tr an sfigu r e d with maj esty . You Details were soon arranged . may be sure my consular agent was not pressed too

192 A LOST CHILD RESTORED

hard , the charges against him were pigeon holed , and with all possible speed his face was turned homeward .

Hl e l a e And , my young prince , my slave , my

r ote e comrade , my p g , was to accompany him , under the most solemn pledge that he would hi be returned to s father . The doubting

Thomases on all hands , especially those who had always considered my project o f sending i the ch ld back to his home as a huge joke , u smiled and shrugged their sho lders , and ex pressed more incredulity than ever .

Hale l e But believed in the consular agent ,

Hal e e l . and I believed in The child , in the jargon that he and I had patched up between us , made me understand that the Berber with whom he was going would be onl y too pleased and proud to return him to his father , for his father was a powerful king and would not only ’ shower gifts upon his child s restorer , but ’ would protect the man s tribe . I gave Hale e l a tiny locket and told him d to conceal it , which he promptly procee ed to do by weaving it into the tassel of his tar boos hi h . s When he was with father, and not

193 ROSE EY TING E

before , he was to give it to the Berber , with instructions to pass it down from hand to hand or or by any traveller , sheik , soldier who was coming to Lower Egypt until it reached me , when I would reward the messenger . Hl l And so a e e went . Ah ! how many times he turned around when of he reached the foot the hill , and raced back hi him to the terrace where I stood watc ng , and flung himself fir st into my arms and then at r my feet , utte ing mingled words of sorrow and f o o f o . j y , love , gratitude Some eighteen months afterward an Arab

sheik demanded an audience , and he told the janissary that he brought me a message from Hl P a e e l rince .

First there was a little hamper of straw , then of another lesser hamper some sweet grass , so on l and unti at last , enclosed in a tiny silver of box cunning workmanship , there lay my

locket .

ROSE EY TINGE

spon din gly immediate communication to the home Hpowers . Sir enry was an invalid , a valetudinarian , ' i a hypochondriac , and anyth ng else that one i of could th nk that is sour , discontented , and H o f e disagreeable . lived the life a recluse , his poor health making this a necessity ; and on on e when , the rare occasions he invited or

more guests to dine with him , it was considered more a penance than a pleasure ; for his place at table was always banked in with medicine

- bottles and pill boxes , and it was his habit to dose himself with these various drugs between Hi s the courses . only really close friend was

- a monkey , a hideous little beast , as bad tem

- pered and ill conditioned as his master, but

with a much better digestion .

The American colony in Egypt of course an d interested me , this colony was largely augmented during my stay there through the P instrumentality o f Ismail asha himself . It had long been the secret wish o f Ismail

to feel himself able to make a bold stand , throw o ff of the yoke the Sultan , and declare himself

196 GENERAL M OTT ’ S IDEA

o . an independent s vereign But to do this ,

even to attempt it , was out of the question , unless the whole o f Lower Egypt could be plaHced upon a firm war footing . ow to do this was , and for a long time had ’ r ffi been , Ismail s g eat di culty . An American attached to his Court seemed to have solved

the problem for him . This American was M o f P . Thaddeus . ott , a son Dr Alexander

M of ott , New York , and at the time I refer to — ’ — the sixties he was attached to the Kh e ’ dive s service with the rank of General . We all remember that at the close of the war between the North and South many of the fore most and best - trained mil itary men in this

country , who had stood by their States , went

down and were lost with their cause . General M ott ’ s idea was based upon this

He i o f fact . proposed to br ng into Egypt so me these distinguished military leaders and employ ’ them to train the Viceroy s troops . V The iceroy eagerly accepted this plan , and h e gave orders to General M ott to carry it into

execution . The General returned to the United

States to obtain such men as , in his judgment ,

l 97 ROSE EY TINGE

ofli ce r s would be most valuable , and of the he selected I recall Generals Loring , Rhett , and M P H Stone ; Colonels ason , urdy , unt , Du

- Ch aillu Long ; and many others .

But it is a far cry from America to Egypt . The majority of the Offi cers selected were men of family , and when the war was over they found themselves reduced to penury . In every case it was necessary to advance them money with which to equip themselves and their fa' m

ilie s . for the long trip Thus , when they arrived in Egypt , they were to a man , deeply in debt to the Government that they had come so far to serve , and they still needed aid to provide so their families with homes ; that , however dissatisfied they might feel , they had no free

o f dom choice , but were obliged to accept any condition that might present itself . M ’ A short time after General ott s departure , which had been conducted with the utmost P secrecy !as was supposed), the orte received of information as to the motive his journey , and the Viceroy had been made quietly but most convincingly to understand that the pres of his ent state army was perfectly satisfactory ,

l 98

ROSE EY TINGE who could talk with him in his beloved native tongue could walk straight into his heart . And straight inHto the Viceroy ’ s heart walked General Stone . e received the appointment o f o f f chief sta f of the Egyptian army , with the rank and pay of general ; fine quarters were assigned to him ; and he was in constant per sonal attendance upon the Viceroy . H General Rhett could not speak French . e spoke only English, but he spoke that most forcibly and unmistakably , and he was much more frank and forcible in the expression of his opinions and of his general dissatisfaction than was politic under the circumstances . The result was that General Rhett ’ s rank was per m an e n tl y reduced to a colonelcy , and he was officially notified that he could not begin to draw pay until his debt to the Egyptian Govern ment was paid . No duties were given him , and his quarters were inadequate to the needs and the position of himself and his family . As might have been expected , Rhett suHc e cu mb e d to these repeated blows of fate . suffered a stroke of paralysis that laid him help less upon his bed , with his left side dead . GENERA L SHERM AN ’ S V ISIT

Whil e things were in this state with these two men , there came a distinguished visitor to Egypt , also an American soldier . This was

General Sherman , who , in a warship placed at his command by our Government , was making his famous trip around the world .

These three men , Sherman , Rhett , and Stone , P had been classmates at West oint . Of course everybody made much o f ou r great hero , and on all hands there were given dinners , dances , luncheons , and picnics in his honour ; and greatly General Sherman enjoyed them . fi l At many of these functions , of cia and semi offi ci al al , General Sherman met Gener Stone , but these meetings were merely ceremonious ; there was never any cordiality nor any attempt

old . al to renew acquaintance Gener Sherman , o f to the last hour his life , never relaxed !but in the on e instance I shall relate) the rigour o f his resentment against those who took part against the Union . In the midst o f the many engagements and distractions conseq uent upon the presence of

General Sherman , I tried not to neglect my was friends , the Rhetts . I sitting one day at ROSE EY TINGE

’ al u Gener Rhett s bedside , endeavouring to e te rtain him with some account o f our distin u i she d g visitor , when , after a rather long pause , “ he said : I have never seen Sherman since he and Stone and I were boys together in 'the same class at West Point . Bill Sherman and I used to be mighty chummy then . And now we have o ff drifted away here , I wonder if he would come and see me ! I would like mighty well ” to shake hands with him . I had known of the former friendship of these

W n men , and I had atched , with i terest , the

d o f attitu e Sherman and Stone to each other . R emembering that , and remembering too , the ’ d o f e har , stern lines Sherman s face , I fear d there was little likelihood of poor Rhett ’ s wish being realised . So I remained silent . But

I promised myself that it should be tried . hi r l With t s pu pose steadi y before me , and own most carefully keeping my counsel , I not only took advantage of every opportunity that

I had of meeting General Sherman , but I made opportunities whenever I could . I did my best to cultivate him , to make him like me , and , as this was the beginning of a friendship with

ROSE EY TINGE

judgment . Somehow my voice failed me, and ff I am afraid my eloquence rather trailed o . The G eneral rose , and , looking down upon

: me with impassive severity , said “M adam , I am sorry , but I cannot entertain ffi your request . I am an o cer of the United an d States Army a loyal citizen of the Republic , l two facts which , in the warmth and zea of your friendship , you seem to have overlooked . I will never do anything that might in the remotest way give aid or comfort to my coun ’ try s enemies .

As may readily be understood , I was crushed , an d if the General had carried ou t what seemed to be his intention to turn upon his heel and walk ashore !as I ought to have mentioned the boat was moored), the matter would have ended there , and General Rhett would have lost his wish ; but by a special good fortune he had left his hat in the cabin . When he dis hi hi s of covered t s , temper got the better his hi k dignity , and w le he was loo ing about for his hat he let drop a few warm expressions about ” “ ” rattlesnakes and damned rebels . I was not slow to take advantage of this

204 M EETING OLD FRIENDS

lapse . I took his hand and drew him back to his place upon the settee . I begged him to forgive me . I told him that in my wish to serve a friend I had forgotten that I was talk “ M ing to a great man , the hero of the arch to ” “ ” the Sea . I had just meant to tell Bill

’ had at We st P Sherman , who been oint with ” Tom Rhett when they were both boys , how unfortunate and unhappy poor Tom Rhett ’ was , and had wondered if Bill Sherman wouldn t like to shake hands with him !

By good fortune I struck the right chord .

as The General forgave me . I w not slow to

a follow up my dvantage , and in less time than it takes to tell it he and I were on ou r way to ’ Rhett s quarters .

There , after brief, ordinary greetings , the

M r . s two men were left alone together . Rhett and I retired and indulged in a good cry . When , after some time , we were summoned to join

su s them , the eyes of both old soldiers were iciou sl p y red , and their furrowed faces both bore traces of tears .

205 CHAPTER XXVI

- THE F E L L AHE E N O F EGYPT f TAX ATION HOW THE ” OTHER HALF LIVES IN THE EAST A BEDOUIN FAMILY AT RAMLEH AN ARAB MOTHE R- IN-LAw MARRIAGE 71 L A MODE

NOW that Egypt is virtually under English rule , the condition of the lower classes may be a shade better than when I lived there , some thirty years ago . Then the country was a an d mere dependency of Turkey , its sovereign was , as his title indicated , the slave of the

Sultan . There were but two native Clas ses the rich and titled , and the labourers , and the gulf which divided those two classes was deep and impassable . There was an utter absence of Al l a prosperous middle class . the trade e n te rpr ise o f the country was in the hands of foreigners . nl Of the native population , o y those attached to the Court and high in favour would care ’ to own to the possession of much of this world s

206

ROSE EYTINGE

on corner , with one eye the steaming pot beside

y i cu him , and the other zealousl watch ng for s t m e r s o , is never obtained without much scream ing and haggling and bargaining . of The head a family living thus may , with much secrecy and economy , have managed in the course of many months to accumulate a few coins , an indiscriminate collection of copper and silver, and possibly , but not prob o f ably , a few gold coins every nation under l the sun . These , carefu ly concealed in an earthen vessel , will be hidden somewhere under the earthen floor o f the hut . I often heard that a good M ussulman ’ s hoard was almost sure to be found not far from the spot where he ff H usually o ered up his prayers . e might be savm g this hoard for some special and highly b u coveted purpose , perhaps to y from her parents some dark- eyed maiden upon whom his eyes had rested , and whom he desired to add to the numbe r of his already numerous wives . Or even a more solemn and sacred P motive may have urged him . erhaps he looked forward to that highest hope of the good M M ohammedan , a pilgrimage to ecca , the

2 08 accomplishment o f which hope would confer

o n upon him , his return , the right to wear a green turban , and to paint green the lintel

o n e . posts of his hut , if he had Whatever might be his motive for the col

o f hi s o f i t lection this little hoard , possession would be very short - lived if there happened to arise any sudden desire o r necessity for bak s h e e sh on the part o f the government . This bakshe e sh would be called taxes , and the occa sions for the collections o f taxes were numer o u s and arose from many causes . Possibly the Sultan wished to replenish his seraglio with some fresh Georgian beauties , a carefully selected bunch of whom had just reached Constantinople in the charge of some venerable sheik . They came high, but the Sun of the Universe wanted them , and perhaps the exchequer was low . In this crisis , what so natural as that the Sun should communicate V his wishes to his faithful satellite , the iceroy o f Egypt ! The Viceroy would at once be impressed with the thought that the public interest must be conserved , the exchequer must e llahe e n be replenished , and the j must be taxed .

209 ROSE EY TINGE

The consular agents of the Egyptian Govern ment throughout the country would be notified that at a certain time the duly authorised agents would arrive to receive from their hands a specified amount , such amount to be regulated by the number of miserable wretches existing in whichever little village might be in point .

Then would begin the collection , conducted on on e by a small military force side , and the n on howling , writhing , screami g populace the n other, the ceremony usually endi g with a n o f pretty general administeri g the bastinado , the result of which would be the production of

- hoards from various hiding places .

A great stretch of sand divided my house at l M on Ram eh from the editerranean , and this patch of sand a Bedouin family set up their

- com roof tree , which consisted of a tiny tent ,

of - posed parti coloured rags , stretched over hi three crooked sticks . T s wretched little Wo shelter , with its poverty , uld have put to shame any Indian tepee I ever saw on the of plains . The family consisted the father ,

s . sa mother , and twenty ons I should rather y

ROSE EY TINGE

of was settled upon , and the time the wedding o f fixed . The preparations were an unusually

extensive and elaborate character , and were carried on with great activity . The Old lady made frequent pilgrimages from home , remain su s ing absent for several days , leading one to e F a i n pe t that , in the words of g , she was going ” on the prowl . Sometimes her husband would meekly and unprotestingly make a weak at tempt to accompany her on these little expedi tions, but the old lady promptly frowned down u m such attempts , using her sual ethods of persuasion , any missile within easy reach as she stood on the brow of the sandhill . The old r e gentleman would quietly turn about ,

hi s enter the tent , and address himself to needle i work , for ev dently to him was entrusted the of making the trousseau .

At last the wedding night arrived . The

n bride was glitteri g with coins , the air was n e rent with twanging , moani g , squ aking sounds Hthat passed for music , and voices arose in chant . ands were joined in a Simple , swaying move ment that passed for dancing , and all went i r e merr ly . Suddenly I was summoned to

2 12 M ARRIAGE A LA M ODE

ce ive of . my neighbour , the head the family

old t an d The lady was grea ly embarrassed , , as s he stood in the moonlight , with her bare , brown legs showing under her simple blue s he de colle te garment , in fact was quite at

- both ends , and with her elf locks , coloured with henna , fluttering in the soft , night air, h of e e r ri li e s s e was a model M g M . The occasion of her visit was to tell o f a d disaster . At this late hour it was iscovered that no sugar had been provided with whi ch to sweeten the sherbet . The family stores were an d she promptly placed before her , was bidden

to . help herself She selected the brown , moist

a she sugar , drew up her solitary g rment until fill had formed it into an impromptu bag , ed this with sugar , overwhelmed us with thanks and blessings , and went on her way rejoicing .

2 13 CHAPTER XXVII

BACK To THE STAGE SHOOK a PALMER AND THE UNION N EW — SQUARE THEATRE , YORK CHARLES THORNE “ ” DION BOUCICAULT L ED ASTRAY BLOW FO R B LOW MARIE WILKINS

HEN 1 8 2 W I came back to America , about 7 or

1 8 u 73 , I had no intention of ever ret rning to the stage ; I do not know that I had any settled purpose on e way or the other . As I had gone to Europe and the East because the shaping w of my life drew me there , so I came home hen fate called me .

And very gladly I obeyed that call , for I had yearned and wearied for my home ; but when I found myself at home once more my life was such a full and busy one that it seemed there was no room in it for more work ; and for that reason I concluded that my life as an actress was ended .

But then , as always , the stage was my loyal , faithful , wise friend ; much wiser for me , and much kinder to me , than I have ever been to ou t myself . Thus it fell that after I had thought

2 14

ROSE EY TINGE

That theatre had then been but recently lifted from the variety to the legitimate standard , and the company occupying the stage at that time was acting a piece adapted from the “ ” French play called Le Centenaire .

The play in which I first appeared was The ” — Geneva Cross , a four act drama founded upon

—P u o the Franco r ssian War , written by Ge rge abri e ll L e u Fawcett Rowe . I played G e B r n

Ri e l D u bour and Charles Thorne played g . m ! H ! e Ah that Charles Tho e was a good ,

i n ve t strong , virile actor ; but he was also an “ e r ate was and adroit guyer , and it no simple his matter , after he became easy in lines , to hi m play a serious scene with . For instance , in a most dramatic Situation in “ The Geneva ” “ Cross , I was called upon to say to him , Who are you ! ” and he ought to have answered “ ”

R . heroically , I am iel Dubourg What he ” - f sa o . did y was , I am the pie biter Surinam

The next play in which I acted was the old “ ’ ” - blank verse drama , Love s Sacrifice , I play ar ar e t l e ing M g E mor . This part was one that

2 16 UNION SQUARE REHEARSALS

I had often played when I was associated with

allack . . W and Davenport , J W Wallack play

lmor e . ing M atthe w E and E L . Davenport

t 0 on L . playing S . The piece was put at the “ ” Union Square only because Led Astray , then in course of preparation was n o t ready ; and the o n e intention was to run it for only week , “ by which time it was calcu lated that Led ” ’ Astray would be ready . But Love s Sac ” rifice played to such unexpecte dly good busi o n ness that it was kept for several weeks . During all this time we continued to rehearse

o f Led Astray , and the result these long continued rehearsals was that the first per form an ce was as smooth and as well rounded and in every respect as satisfactory as was the last perform ance after a continuous run o f six months . These rehearsals were conducted by Dion

Boucicault , who had translated and adapted “ o f the piece from La Tentation , I think ,

Octave Feuillet , and they were equal to a liberal dramatic education . The play was like a child whose growth on e can mark from day to day . Boucicault did

2 17 ROSE EY TINGE

not edit it with a , pair of scissors and a paste

- pot , but he corrected it with a note book and a pencil . There were in the company on e or two per o n sa sons who could occasion , y some rather ” bright things . These things to hear would “ ” Dion Boucicault seriously incline ; but while the company laughed at them at the moment and forgot them the next , not so the astute Dion ; he would either pass them by appar o r ently without notice , with a grave expression o f disapproval at our levity in such a serious moment .

But the next morning , at a place in the dia logue where o n e of these quips could be used with profit , our mentor would pause , as if a “ thought had just struck him , and say , Stop a ” ou t - bit , and would come that little note book , ” sa so - - so Just y, instead of and , and then he would read , as a quite fresh thought , some child of wit that had been born at the previous ’ day s rehearsal .

When this first occurred , the quiet coolness of the transaction somewhat took away ou r breath ; but afterward we used rather to await

2 18

ROSE EY TINGE

l many exce lent actresses , from time to time , on e of essayed the part , and not them ever an achieved y success in it , would seem to go so far to prove that , far at least , my judgment was correct .

I think my success was due , not to any super o n excellent work my part , but only because I i was fortunate in catching its keynote , wh ch was essentially minor . Throughout the play the M character was negative . ore than any part I

a h ve ever played , it demanded repose , enforced Arman de repose . During the entire action is

hi . called upon to do not ng , but to do it well of Arman de Despite my slighting estimate , it is only justice to her to acknowledge that she brought me great store of popularity ; and I b e lieve that this popularity was very largely due

to a little verse that I was called upon to read . It ran thus :

I have another life I long to meet ,

Without which life my life is incomplete . O ! sweeter self like me, art thou , astray , fin d Trying, like me, to the way to mine ;

fi n d Trying, like me, to the breast On which alone can weary heart fin d rest ! A P OPULAR STAN! A

Boucicault settled upon this verse only after trying many others , and I believe it was orig inal . One morning he handed me a copy of “ ” ' : . it , saying Try this ; let us see how it goes M n o f y readi g the lines caught his fancy , and they went ; and I believe there never was a stanza of poetry that sprang into such instan

o n tan e ou s popularity . Wherever e happened

o r was to go , to be , one quite sure to hear , “ ” I have another life , etc . I was inundated with requests for auto graphed copies . I believe , if an account m ing could be ade , it would be found that these lines outnumber any other stanza of

verse in the autograph albums of the country . Even to - day I am often asked for a copy o f

them . I must confess that I have n ever felt any

n admiration for the lines . I thi k them forced

and artificial . But they have lived , and they

will live when better verse is forgotten .

In gossiping in this way about work done

a o f and undone at rehears l , I am reminded something that happened to a play at Wal

22 ! ROSE EY TINGE lack’ s Theatre while I was there with Wallack and Davenport . There was cast and put into rehearsal a play “ ” H called Blow for Blow , written by enry J .

Byron , who at that time was very popular in

London . Lester Wallack had seen the piece there , and had secured it for his theatre , ex p e ctin g that in New York it would repeat its

London success .

To Wallack , Davenport , and myself were assigned the leading parts . At the reading of the play we three were unanimous that there was nothing in it . Study and rehearsal of the parts served only to strengthen and crystallise r this Opinion , and we ente ed upon our work

- very hal f heartedly .

Lester Wallack , as was his custom , directed

. t the rehearsals Davenpor , Wallack , and

I am bound to confess myself also , would , s otto voce , interpolate between our lines divers r e remarks , editorial , critical , and slighting , ou r garding the play, and we enjoyed own o ’ comedy much m re than the author s . of Wallack , who had a rare sense humour f and a ready wit , often had great di ficulty in

2 22

ROSE EY TINGE

three culprits , looking blankly at each other . “ ” We never heard of Blow for Blow again .

But to return to the Union Square Theatre “ ” and Led Astray .

Charles Thorne was genial , witty , and amus ing ; but he could give a joke in better spirit on e of than he could take , and because this , for and other reasons , he and I had many a

tilt . On e of these was occasioned by his address

ing me by my Christian name . Now , while I have a great liking to be addressed without the “ ” “ ” M M r s m l conventional iss or , fa i iarity o f personal address with the Christian name of or only, except among members a family

very close friends , has always been distasteful

to me . So , taking Thorne aside , I mentioned

my feeling in the matter , and begged him to f avoid a repetition of the o fence . H i e took great umbrage at th s , and blustered “ ou t ! so , Oh , very well If you are mighty ’ !” particular , I won t speak to you at all I ,

being quite as peppery as he was , retorted , ” u so Just as yo please . And for about six

2 24 CHARLES THORNE

e weeks , though we acted together , we n ver u r spoke to each other in o own persons .

One night , as I entered the greenroom , l Thorne , who was a ready there , said to me , “ How M r s . do you do , Siddons Whereupon “ l ou P I replied , Quite wel , thank y , John hilip ” H e Kemble . glanced at me , and a smile ou t peeped from behind a scowl , and , walking “ over to me , he held out his hand and said , Rose ” “ ” E tin e ! y g , shake I Shook , and peace was

restored between us . Notwithstanding the great success I achieved Ar mand e Chan doce as , I never had any liking o r n respect for her , especially objecti g to a

she speech which had in the last act . It was “ ” so replete with sweetness and light , and breathed such a spirit of humility and sub m is

sion , that I found it rather insipid . on a One night , my s ying something about “ s so this , Thorne aid , If you object much to

- that speech , let us hear to night what you ”

sa . r e would like to y Nothing daunted , I “ ” “ ” cu e plied , I will , and when I got my I did . I concluded a speech which in sentiment was ’ exactly the opposite o f the author s idea with

22 5 ROSE EY TINGE

“ these words , And remember , dear , while you may feel that you owe much to your husband , you must always remember that you owe some ” thing to yourself .

For once , Thorne , who was given to doing and saying all sorts of irrelevancies , was beaten at his own game ; and he was taken so com ple te ly by surprise that it was with the greatest diffi culty that he recovered himself and took

up the scene . You may be sure that when the curtain fell

- I made excellent time to my dressing room . I have no word of excuse or extenuation to l k offer for myconduct . I have on y to ac n owl “ ” r edge that I richly deserved the talk that M . P m al er afterward bestowed upon me .

M r P It was an unusual thing for . almer to interfere in any way with the work on the stage ; he had surrounded himself with a company in whose work both he and the public had the

fullest confidence , and he let them alone .

o n e or o f Occasionally , however , some other “ ” us had to be pulled up for carelessness , and

that on e was very likely to be myself .

2 26

ROSE EY TINGE

” Astray that Thorne had some difference of opinion with a brother actor relative to some business during the scene upon which the curtain had just fallen . The argument wax i n M r s . M a g warm , rie Wilkins rushed between the belligerents and attempted to soothe their m excite ent .

M k fin e Now arie Wil ins presented a , broad front ; She was one o f those women of whom it has been aptly said that their figures were “ b e not lost , but gone before , and , Thorne l his coming momentari y more tumultuous , r adversary prudently took refuge behind M s . Wilkins and continued the quarrel over her on e shoulder . Whereupon some remarked that he had sought sanctuary behind the bu lwarks l of o d England .

“ ” I could chat about Led Astray an d the happenings among the men and women who

al played in it most indefinitely , for they formed ff o f a very interesting group . But the a airs a company which is thrown together for a long of time , as was this , are like those a family, and , of as is the case with the doings a family , they

228 STAGE AFFAIRS

would not interest the general public . We had ou r ou r o u r con fide n ce s friendships and feuds ,

ou r al o u r our ou r and cab s , tricks and jokes , quarrels and our makings up .

229 CHAPTER XXVIII

THE TWO ORPHANS THE LADY O F LYONS GEORGE ” R IGNO LD ROSE MICHEL STEELE MACKAYE JOHN PARSEL L E AND CHARLES THORNE TOM TAYLOR

I F my memory serves me , the next important production that followed “ Led Astray” at the “ Union Square Theatre was The Two Or ” t o phans . As this play contains w leading He n ri e tte L oui s e woman parts , and , and as I o f l was the leading woman the theatre , I cou d

not see my way to appearing in the play . M r P M y decision caused . almer a good deal o f chagrin , and many talks between us resulted

therefrom . At last a compromise was reached . I consented to play M ari an n e for the first fort of night , that the cast might have the strength

my name . for six The play ran months , and for the

of d al a whole that perio I w ked bout , drawing hi my salary , and doing not ng . This was not

230

ROSE EY TINGE

sure that this was through so me mistake on the of M r R i n ld . o part the man , I sent to g to M . M r inquire y surmise was correct , and . Rign old promptly placed the dressing- room at

my disposal . But when I next saw Charles Thorne I was overwhelmed with the assurances of his admira tion an d approval for the stand which I had taken in forcibly ej ecting the burly British The spian from his stronghold in the disputed

- of dressing room , whether at the point the

or . sword with a broom , I was not informed In vain I protested that nothing o f the sort

hi s o had occurred . Thorne had wn version o f n n o the circumsta ce , which had really been circumstance at all . But it was a good story , and I was covered with partisan and patriotic

glory which I in no way merited .

About thi s time I decided to go on a starring tour in preference to remaining lon ger at the

r P Union Square ; but M . al mer was very averse as to my withdrawing from his theatre , and , f an inducement for me to remain , he o fered “to secure a piece in which I should play the

2 3 2 J OHN PARSEL LE

-rOle of title , and which, at the end its New York run , I could use as a vehicle in starring . o f ffi After a good deal di culty and delay , ” Rose M ichel was settled upon . The next step was to obtain a good translation and adaptation o f the play . Several versions were m d a e , but not approved , until at last Steele M e ssa e d hi s ackaye v the work , and version was accepted . M Then be gan the rehearsals . Steele ackaye

n conducted them . Thorne played the you g Coun t de Ve rn a Par se lle hero , the y, and John ar e a s an played the B on d M r . Parse lle was r a ve y valuable actor , but by n H e no means a brilliant o e . was a handsome old n man , with a fine man er and a dignified bearing , and he had an excellent quality in t an actor, a knack Of wearing the cos ume of the period of any play in whi ch he might be cast , as if he had worn that particular style of dress all his life . The stately garments of o f X V the period Louis suited him admirably , and he presented a most picturesque an d dig n ifi e d r Hh d e a pictu e . passed his novitiate in the theatres of London and Edinburgh , and

233 ROSE E Y TINGE had the additional advantage of being thorough ly familiar with the French stage . He was a a great stickler for the etiquette of the st ge , and for a strict adherence to its traditions .

Thorne was a social and dramatic iconoclast , and he had no respect for either etiquette or i tradition . Hs great scene occurred in the i i th rd act , indeed the scene had been wr tten

n especially for him , and in its setti g there d appeared a small esk and one particular chair, which were used by Thorne . Although Par se lle did not use either o f these articles of furniture , he argued that their place on the stage had a very important bearing on hi ” M s business in the scene . orning after morning , at precisely the same juncture , there

P ar se lle would occur between Thorne and , o f with many and various changes language , precisely the same argument . Thorne would have the chair here ; Par se lle would have it hi . s own n there Each would claim , from sta d

h : hi t at s . point , was the only just demand As

Par se lle Thorne grew warm , grew cool , and I cannot recall that the burning question was ever fi settled . Up to the very rst performance , and

2 34

ROSE EY TINGE

attributed those misfortunes to his own in e ffe c

tive work . One of the most signal of these failures was

In his endeavour London , to play the leading ’ “ ’ part in Tom Taylor s drama of Ar kr ight s ” Wife . Tom Taylor and Steele M ackaye were warm friends , and Taylor was greatly pleased when negotiations were completed whi ch brought about this result . Now , at last , Taylor was n so about to e joy the satisfaction , dear to the o f d an d dramatist , seeing all his ideas realise carried out to the very minutest detail . The first performance foun d Taylor early in his place in the stalls , eager with anticipative

M w . delight . ackaye began his ork As the ’ first act proceeded , Taylor s face began to an d lengthen , and he projected himself farther w farther for ard in his chair , quite oblivious of the backward glances o f annoyance that were being flashed at him by the occupant of the stall immediately in front of him . M The longer ackaye went on , the deeper and darker grew Taylor’ s vexation and disappoint ment ; and the more vexed he became , the more

236 M ACKAY E ’ S STAGE DIRECTION

unconsciously he flung himself forward , until he was seen to be merely hanging o n to the of o f back the chair in front him , and was heard “ : ! to mutter in gruesome , grinding tones Idiot ! !” Idiot purblind , doddering idiot But whi le it must be confessed that Steele M act m all ackaye could not hi self , he knew was about actinHg , and his stage direction most e . masterly . was very nervous and excitable ha d o f So was I . I made a close study the part of R os e M i che l; in fact I had devoted myself to it so closely that I became in a way pe rm e ated with it . At some crucial moment in a scene M ackave hi would interrupt me , a circumstance w ch for the time would chill my enthusiasm and paral f se ff . o y my e orts While we were both , course , working up to one end , we were , of necessity , on l working para lel lines , and therefore it was not possible for us to meet at any point . This condition of things led to friction between us many times . There came a day when a crisis was reached . I laid the part upon the prompt M im table , and , telling ackaye that as it was possible for both of us to play the part , and he

2 37 ROSE EY TINGE did not seem willing to permit me to perform it , I thought it would be better that he should so Off play it himself , and marched the stage . Before I had time to leave the theatre I was ff” M o . headed by my managers , essrs Shook P M 81 . almer ackaye was sent for , and we ” - four had a pow wow . The result o f it was that M ackaye bound hi mself not to interrupt the rehearsals with corrections or suggestions o f to me , but to make notes anything in my of work which he did not approve , and submit them to me afterward , when I was to accept or an d ffi them , give him good su cient reasons for not doing so .

This arrangement was strictly adhered to , but , greatly to my surprise , there were no notes , and the rehearsals proceeded rapidly and smoothly . The night of the first performance I was M greatly wrou ght up . ackaye was in a stage e l R os e M i ch . box . I knew that I played well so There were too many persons who said then , and who have said so Since , for there to be any doubt about the matter ; but I also know that I never played the part so well as I did

238

ROSE EY TINGE ter of fact it was arranged to placate Thorn e and to give him an opportunity for a strong scene as I have stated above . At first the in ou t o f tention was to leave me the act , an ar i rangement to which I gave my heart est assent ,

for it would have given me time to . rest , and “ ” pull myself together for the two last acts .

Later , however, it was decided that I should l appear in this act , but with very litt e to do ; I was merely to come on for a brief scene at the beginning and be on for the curtain at the

a ff end . I s w a possibility for some very e e c tive work in this entrance , though I had nothing

o f to say . I availed myself this opportunity . At the end of the act Thorne looked gloomily “ ’ n o at me , and said in rueful tones , It s use , ” she hogged the whole persimmon !

240 CHAPTER XXIX

— — STARRING BUYING E X PERIENCE THE WEST BEN D E ” — o - B AR BOB MILES MRS . j HN DREW THE LITH O GRAPHQUESTION A SANDWICH M AN

“ ” AT the close of the run of Rose M ichel at the Union Square Theatre it lasted about half a year I went starring with the piece , and never did Wight embark upon an enter prise worse equipped and less fitted to carry it to successful issue than was I . I am sorry to be obliged to confess that I am always have been , and , I fear , always will be a very poor n of u business woman . I k ow nothing fig res but figu res o f speech . With the exception o f some intermittent weeks some years previously , I had had no o f experience starring , and at that time I had not been called upon to look after any details f n o . the busi ess Augustin Daly , then himself a young manager , had always taken entire charge of the business . All that I had ever

al a been c led upon to do was to go to , at the p hi pointed time , the city and the theatre in w ch

24 1 ROSE EYTINGE

n the e gagement was to be played , rehearse the piece with the regular stock company , play my own o f m part , and at the close the engage ent M r n receive from . Daly a ice little pot of money .

Therefore in this , my first independent busi on e ness , and in which I was thrown entirely on upon myself , I was victimised every hand , and by nearly every one with whom my busi ness relations brought me in contact . I had

about me only strangers , and they were all far too busy looking ou t for opportunities to advance their Own interests to devote any time o or thought to mine . I was s entirely ignorant o f all the details of starring that I did not even know what percentages I had a right to de

n ma d , and so I went groping and stumbling on , u a b ying my experience , and p ying for it at a u pretty high fig re . Notwithstanding all these crippling circum “ M ” stances , however , my tour with Rose ichel was very successful in both an artistic and a o f pecuniary sense . At the end the season I was not onl y many thousands of dollars richer of in money , but far , far richer in recognition r f artistic merit and in admi ers o my work . I

242

ROSE EY TINGE

The stock company was extremely poor, and of when , in a talk with De Bar , in the course whi ch I was pretty severe in my criticism of old some of its members , the man scratched his “ ll : head , looked ruefu y at me , and said Well , what is a manager to do ! Somebody must ” f have these people . I learned the secret o the ’ downfall of De Bar s Theatre and the dissipa ’ H tion of its owner s fortunes . e allowed his heart to rule his head . Another old - time manager whom I met R M during that season was . E . G . iles , better “ ” M l n . H e k own as Bob i es , of Cincinnati ,

- - too , was a great hearted , genial , good tempered m an hi s , the friend of actors ; indeed , in those days of the actor- manager there was a free masonry of friendship and comradeship b e tween man ager and company which would be impossible to find in these days of syndicate an d speculator .

hi During t s season , and for several following

seasons , I played at the Arch Street Theatre ,

P M rs . hiladelphia , under the management of was John Drew . It , without exception , the

244 THE LITHOGRA PHQUESTION

- best conducted , cleanest , most orderly and most all - around comfortable theatre that I ever

M r s . acted in . Of Drew herself, eulogy from me is n ot necessary . She was a woman whom it was an honour for a fellow- woman to call a friend . M r It was during an engagement at s . John Drew ’ s theatre that I was brought face to face

u with the lithograph question . The stage e trance was , as is the case with the majority of o r theatres , up a dark and more less noisome to alley , on which opened the side entrance a

ki - i drin ng place . As I was passing up th s alley o f way the first evening my engagement , I was greeted by the sight of my pictured face looking down upon me from the window o f the afore “ ” said shebeen . Filled with indignation and disgust , I at once sent for my business manager .

on He had not yet arrived . Some e about the

r theatre m entioned to M s . Drew that I was evidently much disturbed about something , and she came to my dressing- room to inquire

. she about the matter On being told , drew of s at w her chair in front me , do n , looked at me with her calm , quizzical expression , and

24s ROSE EY TINGE

“ ’ : M l said y dear , don t be a fool ; we wi l all be obliged to come to it , and God knows where l se e we wi l next ourselves pictured . But whe r it l ” ever may be , we wi l have to submit .

I remember with much pleasure the produc “ ” of M M r tion Rose ichel as arranged by s .

Drew at her theatre . The third act of the piece represents the s alon of a ducal chate au f of X o the period Louis V . The hangings of the scenes and the covering of the various C of couches , divans , and hairs were pale blue , covered with white lace . Every article of of furniture was white and gold , and strictly correct as to period . And I may mention , of as an evidence her excellent management , that all this furniture was made in the property of room the theatre , and the apparently rich lace used for the hangings was picked ou t from old lace curtains that from time to time had been retired from active service .

On more than on e occasion I found that ’ being a star and at the head of one s own com r e s on sib ili pany carried with it many cares , p

246

ROSE EY TINGE

o f scene ; his face was a picture woe , great tears were rolling down his cheeks , and they o fell where they listed , for b th his hands were

n occupied holdi g an immense sandwich , which at frequent intervals he lifted to his mouth . AS he helped himself to a huge bite , it would have been difficult to decide which he enjoye d

or . most , his sorrow his sandwich Need I say that my sorrow was for the time quite for P— al gotten and I joined in the gener mirth , and the scene was brought to an abrupt conclusion .

I remember at this moment a thing which my business manager told me , showing a rather quaint form for admiration to take . After the manner o f business managers he was standing “ ” in the front as the audience fil ed ou t after mati n e e o f : a , and overheard this bit dialogue

ac M o the r ! an old lady). I never want to see that

E tin e . tress , Rose y g , again

Dau hte r . g ! an elderly woman) Why , mother, you

he r said you liked .

M h r — I I ! . . ot e . do love her She is a great actress I’ But ve got trouble enough at home .

248 CHAPTER XXX

THE SAN O ; M c CALIFORNIA THEATRE , FRANCISC JOHN — — — C U L LO U GH- J UL 1A L A 1) Y M A CB E THCA M I L L E MARY ANDERSON EAST LYNNE

AT the close of my regular season I conceived “ a rather wild scheme to play across country . ’ I was under engagement to play a four weeks starring engagement at the California Theatre , of San Francisco , under the management John M cCull ou h g , opening , if I remember rightly , M in August . y supporting company was to continue with me to some point west of the M ississippi River , after which I was to pro ce e d alone to San Francisco , breaking my ’ journey with a two weeks engagement at Salt

Lake City . M y four weeks in San Francisco was a de lightful experience in every particular . The theatre was as nearly perfect as it is possible

w e t sce n to imagine , equipped ith very hing in ery , properties , wardrobe , etc . , that the most

249 ROSE EY TINGE

can sa exacting star could demand , and I y with

truth that I was by no means an exacting star . The company was of exceptional brilliancy as

to ability , and most complete in numbers . During those four weeks I played several t importan parts for the first time , among them “ ” u l H J i a L ad being in The unchback , and y acbe th J u li a M . Of , as I played it , I remember M cCu llou h John g was greatly enamoured , and o n this occasion , breaking through his rule not Si r to support any woman star , he played s li ord H u e l a Thoma C fi . pronounced J i my

best part . !Lester Wallack had thus commend “ J uli an a in of H ed my , the comedy The oney

The night I played L ady M acbe th for the

first time I was very nervous ; indeed , I had a

pretty severe attack of stage fright , and I had so little confidence in my own memory that in the banquet scene I had a young member of the company ensconced behind my throne

chair, armed with a book of the play , prepared

to give me the word if I needed it . Cami lle was another part which I played

an d for the first time during this engagement ,

2 50

ROSE EY TINGE

I nothing of the piece , had never even seen t

!a perfectly true statement), he promptly and sternl y refused to credit s o altogether improbable

M c a statement , and the position taken by Cu llou gh was held by every member of the company . When I repeated , with every form of emphasis at my command , that I had never ” seen East Lynne , they jeered at me and u of laughed me o t court .

So , despite my protests , the announcements were made that “ in compliance with a universal ” L ad s a e l request I would play y I b . But now

a veritable crisis arose . We could not find a

f hil o f book o the piece . W e every membe r “ ” the company knew the piece backward , it was very soon learned that none o f them knew

it forward , and there was nothing for me to do “ ” but to vamp the part as well as I could ; and when I turned reproachfully to M c Cullough

and appealed for sympathy and help , he said , “ o f with a fine appearance confidence , O , ’ r that ll be all right ; just sob , and look so ry , and i ” it w ll go . Archi bald Carli sle Thomas Keene played ,

and from scene to scene he would , in language

2 52 STAGE INSTRUCTION

more direct than didactic , instruct me as to the particular form of emotion that was supposed “ ’ I s abe l to hold in its thrall , as , Now she s a ” “ ’ ” jealous cat ; Now she s kitteny ; Now

’ ' ‘ ’ s h e waS su ch she s sorry a fool , and gets back ” “ at the other fellow ; Now s he wants her young ” “ ” ones ; and Now s h e ups and dies And or from such instruction , more less fully elab L ad I s abe l orated , I played y to a crowded house , which exhibited every indication o f satisfac tion at the performance , and I received from M cCullough a clear half o f the receipts and much praise . I have assumed the character occas ionally since , and to my shame I confess that I have

n - never succeeded in playi g it letter perfect . I remember performing it once under the man m n f i H a e e t o on e g W lliam enderson , who was o f ou r - Af old representative actor managers . M r H ter the performance . enderson came to

- my dressing room for a chat . I felt a little uneasy as to what he might have to say about o f su r my version the piece , but to my great prise and correspondin g relief he expressed r A ve y great pleasure at my performance . fter

2 53 ROSE EY TINGE

“ a thoughtful pause he said : What strikes me so with surprise is , when you give fine a per form an ce of the part , that you never took the ” trouble to study the lines .

2 54

ROSE EY TINGE o f o r food there was little none exposed for sale . The business of the town also seemed to i n olude the public playing of all sorts of games

A on e of chance . S passed along it was common to se e in these places for the doors were all o f wide open great piles gold and silver , sometimes in coin , often in its crude state , heaped up on the small tables with which the fil places were led , and around which could be found seated , at all hours of the day and night , of all sorts and conditions men , playing , play ing , playing . The hotel was most primitive in its arrange f so . o ments , the theatre more But the spirit M idas might have presided over the place , for everywhere there was gold . Nevertheless the men of that rude mountain minin g - camp could have taught their brothers in the capitals of o f al o the world the fine art chiv rous , c urtly , respectful bearing to women . The distance between the hotel and the theatre measure d not more than on e of ou r city blocks . Along and up and down this of on little line street , my way to and from performances and rehearsals , I passed many

2 56 AN AUDIENCE OF M INERS

times , and at any time from midday to midnight , and that same little journey was always marked by the reverent courtesy that might have been bestowed upon a queen o n her progress to h e r coronation . If , as was the common custom ,

o f a group smoking , spitting , swearing men

filled the small Sidewalk , at my approach every pipe and cigar was for the moment relieved from active service . Every man uncovered , and in a pause of respectful Silence I passed through o f on e of a line men , every whom was , I know , my faithful adherent . ul Of this faithf adherence I had , during my

o n e . brief stay among them , more than proof

on e For instance , night there was a disturbance in the audience which momentarily interrupted of the performance during one my good scenes . M y business manager was in front , and a man standing beside him took from his belt , which

of formed no small armament , a revolver , and “ fe r e d P it to my manager , saying , epper the how dare he interrupt the lady !” At the time I write of there was but on e daily train between New York and San Fran o cisc . The train going east passed through

2 57 ROSE EY TINGE — Reno which lay at the foot of the mountain at some wretched hour about dawn . Virginia o r City was at , nearly at , the mountain top ,

- and was reached by a Single track railroad , which also ran on e train either way once in — every twenty four hours . The usual thing for travellers going east from Virginia City was to take this train in the evening , reach Reno ,

- - five distant about twenty four or twenty miles ,

o f in a couple hours , spend the night at the “ ” hotel at Reno , and be ready to board the east - bound train as it passed through in the morning . This train did not run Sundays ; of therefore , in the ordinary course things , my engagement closing Saturday night , I would be obliged to remain all Sunday in Virginia

City , and not catch the eastern train until

M onday morning .

This loss of time was peculiarly distressing , as time just then was of great value to me . On enquiry I discovered that t he mine - owners were in the habit of sending trains of pack mules , loaded with panniers of ore , down the

O - mountain . S down that mountain side I determined to go o n Saturday night after the

2 58

ROSE EY TINGE

’ behind , penetrated one s soul . Of fear I had not on e impulse ; the onl y feeling I experienced

on e of of . was peace , perfect rest Not a sound disturbed the air except the occasional cry of

- — some night bird , or some four footed denizen — Of the sage brush . Occasionally , however, a solitary figure would loom up ou t of the dark

cool cl e ar ness and disappear . In the , dawn we

reached Reno , and were soon whirling toward the East . At a little station a few miles from Reno I received a touching and convincing proof of the loyalty o f the friends I had made in Virginia

City . A letter was handed to me , bidding me

- good bye and expressing every good wish , and signed

THE B OYS WHO PATROLLED YOUR RID E TO O REN .

That explained the presence of the shadowy figures I had from time to time seen loom up through the darkness .

While I was in Virginia City my courage was

260 DOW N IN A SILV ER M INE

submitted to a severe test . The great Cali for n i a and Ophir M ine !I think it was called)

was in full operation , yielding almost fabulous

f r o o e . amounts Archibald Boland , familiarly w “ ” kno n as Archie Boland , was the super in te n de n t of the mine ; and on e o f the many courtesies which he extended to me was an i n vit ti a on to go down the mine . What with long rehearsals and the many demands upon my time I found that I could not manage this excursion

during the day . So it was decided that the descent should be made some night after the

performance . It was a glorious moonlight night when ’ in a man s o il - Skin suit - I stepped into the

cage . As we descended , and the bright moon , sk the blue y, and the shadowed earth passed

from my gaze , I had a curious sensation , a

o f mingling curiosity as to when , if ever , I se e should those things again . Or if not , what should I se e in their stead ! Of fear I had M r none . . Boland accompanied me , and as I thought , at theHtime , unnecessarily held e my two wrists . afterward told me that his object in doing this was to note the action

26 1 ROSE EY TINGE of to s e e or my pulse , if it would quicken flutter with fear, but it remained perfectly steady . I cannot say that I found the visit very in r in te e st g . We went to the level which they were then working , some feet below the o f saw surface the town , and we silver, silver , i Silver, everywhere S lver ; and everywhere men or in more less savage undress working , and darkness and noise , and great beams overhead o f H ot propping up the walls silver . , dusty , thirsty , tired , we again mounted the cage and old reached the earth , the dear , , familiar earth , with the blue sky over ou r head and the moon ! sailing gloriously And oh it was a fine sight , finer than all the silver that ever was dug out of the earth .

62

ROSE EY TINGE

Straight through this strip of plain ran the o f lines iron rail , flanked by a rude platform and the various sheds pertaining to the business o f o n the railroad , and a line with it and close so to the track , ingeniously arranged that the s ad sojourner , who might by adverse circum stances be compelled to stop in it , might not o f of be spared a single clang the bell , a toot or C the whistle , a grain of dust , smoke or inders . “ ” o st od the hotel . f o This had grown to the dignity o tw stories .

- It was a glaring white , square , wooden shed , with innumerable shutterless windo ws piercing

u n it on every side . Nothing could be more promising oi rest o r comfort than the exterior o f this building , unless it was its interior . Of anything in the slightest degree like a m theatre , hall , or lyceu , or of anything that held out hopes o f entertainment or intellectual relaxation in any form , there was nothing visible . With this picture fixed in my mental vision I hesitated to close with the offer of a brief engagement at Reno . But in the end greed prevailed . I believe the terms I asked were

264 THE RENO THEATRE

e of the ntire receipts and my fare out the town , o r m so ething just about as reasonable . I forget where my supporting company was

to come from , but , as I recollect their work , they ought to have been returned to the spot

from whence they came , and never to have been

permitted to leave it . ll i to . We , I went to Reno play one n ght The

first thing to do was to see the theatre . I went

forth in search of it , and it was promptly pointed

ou t. It was a long , narrow, unpainted wooden

o n e barn with a wide double door at end , and

another barn tacked onto it at right angles , the

first being the auditorium , the second the stage . When I first s aw this structure it was bare

and empty , empty , that is , save for an odour . ! Oh such an odour . The combined essences o f Cologne !the town , not the perfume), the o f bay Naples , the Roman Ghetto , the the an o can any , y mal dorous spot that be remembered or imagined , cannot convey the f faintest idea o what that odour was .

After the first overpowering moment , when , in ve s I confess , I fled before it , I pursued my rigation with the spirit o f the explorer and

265 ROSE EY TINGE

d the pioneer, determined to pursue that o our to its source ; for I kn ew that it and I could not both occupy that temple of art at the same

time . By this time I found myself surrounded by o f a goodly escort small boys , and I called

loudly for the man in charge , the janitor . A chorus of voices came to my rescue ; they knew M him , they would find him . eantime we penetrated deeper and deeper into the build ing , steadily approaching the Odour and being guided by it . At the end of the auditorium we encountered three or four steps . These led up to the stage , ou r escort swarming up with us . Suddenly the air was rent with cries o f triumph . The janitor was found . And when we found the janitor , we at the same time found the source of the Odour . The guardian of thisHtemple o f the fine arts e was a noble red man . was seated in a large ,

- - comfortable , leather covered arm chair, look

o f ing , with its air civilisation , as incongruous with its surroundings as its occupant did with

It.

266

ROSE EY TINGE o f hi s air that struck him he opened eyes , hi s shrank away from it , grunted disapproval of such heroic measures , and , on looking about him and finding himself exposed on every hand to fresh air and sunshine , he reluctantly took his departure , followed by an enthusiastic if not sympathetic train of followers bearing his belongings . The next step was to examine the dressing ' r e r e rooms . At one end of the barn which p sented the theatre there was a door on which “ ”

. on was scrawled Star This, examination , : on e proved to be fully occupied half by coal ,

- o il the other half by cans of coal . I think the most impartial and easily pleased jury would have decided that these arrange ments were not calculated to increase dramatic ardour . But when the auditorium was swept and sprinkled with clean sand , and filled with a o f o n gradually ascending forest trestles , which

- were extended foot wide planks , and was lighted

- oil ff by clean coal lamps , it looked very di er ent . When it is taken into consideration that every foot of those foot - wide planks brought

268 P URIFICATION

three dollars into the treasury , its crudities B were not so painful to the senses . rooms and buckets of water, a vigorous scrubbing and judicious distribution of bolts o f unbleached

- muslin did wonders for the dressing rooms . CHAPTER XXXIII

’ SEE KING REST AND FINDING NONE WHY DON T YO U ! Go INTO SOME DECENT BUSINESS N EW- MOWN HAY — THE PROPE RTIES O F THE RENO THEATRE

ALTHOU GHin my various pilgrimages I have found many places in many parts o f the world which provided me with much unrest , yet that town of Reno is marked with a white stone in my memory as having given me an ideal and

al most idyllic rest , albeit under somewhat unusu circumstances . I had come in from rehearsal such a re he ar sal in the early afternoon of the day o n which the performance was to be given tired , hot , hungry , and with a severe headache . A glance at the dining- room a long white hr barn , t ough the bare windows of which poured su n , heat , dust , and flies , and the government o f which was administered by a cabinet of

- waiter ladies with clicking heels, small waists, short aprons , and shorter manners sent me on e of dinnerless to my room , the window which , being bare also , admitted the same visitors that

2 70

ROSE EY TINGE

her little boy play elsewhere . She turned her she face it was a bright little face , and was

a bright , pretty little woman toward me , and “ ’ ’ : - ! a- said No , I Sha ant I ain t goin to spoil ’ ’ ou ! my kid s fun fer y . Sleepy Why don t you go inter some decent business, where you kin Sleep nights ! ” I felt that her remarks were at least unan r l swe ab e . , and I retired Feeling disinclined woo on to the drowsy god again , I sat a hard , straight—backed chair and mechanically looked u f of o t o the window . On the other side the

su n - railroad and the white , smitten sandy road of there lay a great field grass, and there also

- of - was a high , cool looking mound new mown

. A hay s I sat , bolt upright , in that hot , com for tle ss o f cell a room , it was a most tempting

vision , and as the time dragged along and the shadows about it lengthened it seemed to my tired eyes and wearied fancy to stretch out its arms to me and invite me to find rest beside it ; so I made a hasty toilet , and , taking a book ,

I passed over to that rick of hay .

Oh ! how cool and sweet and delicious it was ,

as I sank down upon its fragrant softness , and

272 NEW - MOW N HAY

how I did enjoy the sweetness and the quiet , and I settled down in a hollow of my fragrant to retreat rest and read ; for I felt that , much as SO I should have enjoyed doing , it would not

ui te be q the thing , even in unconventional to Nevada , yield to my great desire to take a so nap there ; I would just rest , and read , and think , and and Eh ! What ! Where was I ! The sun had o f gone down , the dark shadows night were closing in , and here was my business manager — with the face expressive o f the condition of a manager who sees a Sinister possibility of a full house being dismissed , and the money returned bending over me . “ ” It was nearly time to ring up ; the house was full ; the lamps were trimmed ; the hotel and its inmates were in a state of excitement in which disappointment at the possibility o f “ ” missing the Show and anticipation of a spicy tragedy were about equally divided ; and here had I been asleep for hours on my happily found

of - couch new mown hay .

The play, selected by popular choice , was

Camille Of the performance , the scenes,

2 73 ROSE EY TINGE

of the properties , the costumes , no amount description would do justice to all or any o f

- them . The supper table was a study at once o f l Simplicity of detai and ingenuity of resource . The e pe rgn e of fruit which decorated its centre of old consisted an straw hat , inverted , and containing three withered apples ; and the glasses from which we were supposed to quaff champagne were two thick tumblers of unequal size and one thick coffee - cup with a broken

handle .

Arman d s a ab so Of my , to y that he was lu te ly ignorant of the lines o f his part is but faintly to express his shortcomings . It was not so much what he did not say that was di d so painful as what he s ay . And he was entirely and airily satisfied with himself and his efforts .

Realising the situation , and being anxious to keep the performance somewhere within the lines of the story , I adopted a desperate course . As he stood regarding me with a smirk of senile “ - su ffi ci e n c self y, I would exclaim , Ah, Armand , ” I know what you would say , and then I would speak such of his lines as were necessary to

274

CHAPTER XXXIV — — SALT LAKE CITY THE GUEST OF BRI GHAM YOUNG THE KING OF UTAH —POLYGAMY

ALT AKE I TY - S L C is to day, as I understand r from recent visitors there , a typical , th iving , f e Western business centre , di fering in no sp cial features from any other town of like size ; but of a quarter a century ago it was unique . I o n was think no other spot earth like it , and it was like no other spot on earth ; it was such a of mingling the savage and the civilised , the fervid pietist and the reckless agnostic , the thrifty money- spinner and the careless spend thrift . The same strong contrasts that marked its social aspects characterised its natural features .

It was a great strip of sandy desert , backed by frowning mountains , and made all the more awe- inspiring by the mysterious presence of the Great Salt Lake . But this sandy desert had , by the marvellous energy Of the sect that had put up its tents in it , been transformed into

276 GUES T OF BRIGHAM YOUNG

a garden . The streets were shaded by trees , hi and made sweet and refres ng by pure water , both having been brought down from those l frowning mountains . Clean iness , order, quiet , and apparent peace reigned everywhere . To this most interesting spot I was invited to come and play an engagement . I timed my acceptance so that my season would close there , and thus I might devote a brief time to a visit in the city and its neighbourhood . On my arrival I was waited upon by a couple o f

- - white whiskered , reverend looking men , the bearers of an invitation from Brigham Young to become his guest during my stay . When I learned that I was to be entertained at the best

hotel in the place , where the best suite had o f been reserved for me , and not in any one or so the score of his marital establishments , I promptly accepted the great polygamist ’ s hospitality .

b v The next morning a fine carriage , drawn

a pair of spanking bays, drew up in front of the was hotel , and a message sent me that this carriage was at my disposal for the period o f P ’ my stay . romptly at nine o clock every

277 ROSE EY TINGE

com morning it appeared , and a great joy and i fort t was to me . I lost no time in paying my respects to my host , aHnd a very interesting old man I found e him . certainly was a most courteous , thoughtful , and attentive host , and he lost no opportunity to make my visit agreeable . Day after day parties were formed to go to some on e of the many marvellous spots with whi ch the surrounding country abounded , and these parties were usually recruited from members of his very numerous families . There were scores o f young and middle - aged men and women who called him father, and they one and all treated him with great respect and deference . I soon found , however, that his of many wives were very chary meeting , and always referred to each other in cold , grudging terms . This state of feeling seemed to be uni M versal among ormon wives .

In all essentials, but not in name , Brigham hi s ab so Young was a sovereign , and rule was lute . Nothing could exceed his pride in his principal ity and in his own part in its estab lishm n He e t . would point to the great range

278

ROSE EY TINGE

To which I replied “ Do ! I would dance on her !” The old man dropped on a pile of lumber o that lay c nveniently near, and laughed until

I thought he would do himself an injury .

280 CHAPTER XXXV

’ PLAYING A BOY S PART FOR THE ONLY TIME - CL E OP A TR A HENRY BERGH ’ S EULOGY

T odd V o f I is a rather circumstance , in iew the large range of characters I have impe r so n ’ ated , that I have never played but one boy s was part . That when I was a green girl and of Vi ole n te was cast for the part , in the comedy “ ” of The Honeymoon . In those days I made was my own costumes , and in a general way i my own m lliner and dressmaker . So I set to work, studied the character , and made myself a nice little costume for it . of The night the performance came . With some pride , but with more trepidation , I donned ’ my page s suit . During the progress o f my

o f com dressing for the part , the women the

- pany, whose dressing room I shared , submitted me to a running fir e of comment and criticism m r c e pertinent than polite . as as I bore this well I could , though I con

28 1 ROSE EY TINGE

fess that it stung . But it was when I went to the greenroom , and was made the target for the remarks o f the masculine members of the ff company , that my real su erings began . They were quite frank in the expression of their opinions as to my appearance on this particular ’ occasion , and my general fitness to play boys parts . I had found the comments of my pro fe ssion al sisters quite hard to digest ; they were tonic , if somewhat bitter ; but those of my pro fe ssion al brothers were much more unpleasant , though they were sweet , cloyingly sweet , and f their e fect upon me was to reduce me to tears , nl o f partly of embarrassment , but mai y help less indignation . The result o f all this was that Vi ole n te went on the stage with a pair of red eyes , a swollen nose !which no amount of powder could reduce to symmetry), and a voice choked with unuttered sobs . The end of the performance came at

- last . I went to my dressing room , and , as I ’ dropped my pretty little page s suit , I laid it in a neat heap on the floor with the remark that the costume was entirely at the service of any one who liked to take it , as I should

282

ROSE EY TINGE

to answer this question conclusively . But I certainly enjoyed playing Cle opatra more than was any other part , and I think that , perhaps , because of many contributing causes the b e most potent , may ,. being the fact that at the time when I first playe d the r ole I had but recently returne d from a residence of some ’ a was or years duration in the E st , and more less permeated with the Oriental atmosphere . Whil e in Egyp t I had actually lived for a while upon almost the identical spot where , long ago ,

had stood a summer palace of Cleopatra . Then I had brought with me from the East many things that I used in arranging my cos tu m e s , Silks , quaintly fringed scarfs from P Damascus , shawls from ersia , and ornaments o f virgin gold and silver, rudely beaten out and

set with gems . From drawings and photo i at graphs wh ch I was great pains to procure , from copies of ornaments which had from time to time been discovered by the researches of a i n arch eologists and preserved the museums ,

I had had made crowns and other headgear,

jewelled belts , girdles , armlets , bracelets, ear a of rings , and various orn ments , all which were

284 AN TONY AND CLEOP ATRA faithful counterparts of the gewgaws with which women of that faraway period had bedecked themselves . All these details helped to fix in my mind a certainty and clearness that I would be able look to the part , at any rate ; and I think that every actress will agree with me that to feel sure that on e looks a part is always a great help i n playing it .

Another important factor, and one which added greatly to my enjoyment of the perform ance , was the complete , correct , and gorgeous o f was character the production . It at the ’ al M cCu llou h s C ifornia Theatre , under John g e management . There had been an arrang ment M cCu llou h entered into between g and myself, of at the close an engagement , that I should return the following year and play a Shake s e ar e an p heroine , for which he would make a or production . Whatever I may may not have com done , he most nobly kept his share of the pact . After much discussion Antony and Cleo ” patra . was the piece settled upon , and with much tribulation I se t to work to study the

285 ROSE EY TINGE

part ; and , without overstepping modesty , I c an say I played it well . There is no doubt Cle o atra com that p is the strongest , the most m ffi all plex , and ost di cult to realise of Shake ’ speare s heroines . It calls upon the actress to run the gamut of every emotion and every passion which the heart is capable of feeling or the tongue is capable of expressing , and to be able to depict her in all her varying moods

i is to elevate histr onism to its apex .

The production had a run of four weeks , an unprecedented success in those days in

California . Afterward I played the piece in the various cities North , South , East and West , but never under the agreeable circumstances or with the artistic surroundings that marked its first production . I remembHer on e incident that marked this f of di ference . enry Bergh , the founder the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani o f mals , was a man more than ordinary intellect and literary attainment , and was a loving stu of H e dent Shakespeare . attended a perform ance of the piece when I was most inadequately supported . Afterward he called upon me , and

286

CHAPTER XXXVI — — LONDON AND ITS NOTAB L E s TOM TAYLOR THE OLYM — — PIC THEATRE BEERBOHM TREE THE EFFECT OF — ’ TOO REALISTIC ACTING A NOBLE LORD S CRITICISM “ ANNIE THOMAS ”

M Y second visit to Europe was at the close of a long season , and for the same reason that

- occasioned the first , to obtain a much needed ou t rest , for I was pretty thoroughly worn , having played Cle opatra during the preceding year almost exclusively .

I had no intention of acting while abroad , for, before my departure , I had signed a con tract with Colonel Sinn to play under his man a e m e n t i i g the following season , beg nn ng in

September . As he had arranged to have me play a pretty extensive repertory , the necessity for the devotion of many weeks to preparatory rehearsals made my early return imperative . While in London I had the good fortune to of fall into a most interesting social set actors , writers , and other notables . Among them were “ ” Charles Reade , Tom Taylor, Wilkie Collins,

238 TOM TAYLOR

M A . . nnie Thomas , Sir John illais , W S Gil

H r . . bert , enry I ving , Ellen Terry , J S Clark

!who , though an American , had long been known as a London manager), B . F . Chatter o f ton , the Duke Beaufort , Lord Londesborough , Robert Buchanan , Edmund Yates , JohnHCole M r s . man , Charles Kean , Lionel Brough, enry

M r i o f s . J . Byron , Ch ppendale , and a host others . I have a particularly pleas ant recollection o f P of Tom Taylor . ossibly my memory him is onl y another proof o f the power of mutual admiration , for, from our first meeting, although e he had never s en me act , he conceived a great admiration for my dramatic powers , and he seemed to be impressed with the idea that there were characteristics in my personality and general presence which , to his mind , seemed eminently to fit me to re alise the tragic and heroic . So impressed was he with this idea that he was very anxious to write a tragedy for me , of with Boadicea , Queen Britain , for its heroine , n o t but somehow the subject did appeal to me, i and noth ng ever came of the scheme .

289 ROSE EY TINGE

In his personal appearance Tom Taylor was the very opposite of the usual literary man ; he

l — - H e looked much more like a we l to do miller . ff a ected grey clothing and a soft grey hat , and

s aw when one his fine , strong face crowned with

- iron grey hair, he looked like a miller powdered with his own stock . Both Tom Taylor and Charles Reade were very desirous that I should play Cle opatr a in

London , predicting a great success ; but as by

this time it was June , and I was to return to

America in August , such an appearance was

ou t o f . the question I did , however, play two of short engagements in London , in both which

I had the good fortune to be very successful . M y first character was N an cy Syke s at the

Olympic Theatre , London , where the audiences

c like d my N an y much better than I ever did . I always disliked the part from the first time I played it in association with Wallack and

Davenport . As a result of this brief engagement I received f l n hi o fers from severa Lo don managers , w ch,

if I had been free to accept them , would have l ou t . fi led a year in that city , in that part alone

290

ROSE EY TINGE

be convinced of my safety , but he feared in no other way . I slipped on some garment and went with him . The theatre was dark and empty , save for a little group which the dim light o f a lan tern in the hand of the night watchm an showed me at the top o f the three steps leading down on t o the stalls . There , sitting the top step , was a fair young woman , her dress dishevelled , her beautiful brown hair fallen about her shoulders , her hands pressed tightly over her eyes . She was rocking herself , and moaning and muttering incoherently . I sat down beside her , took her hands in mine , drew them from her face , and cheerfully begged her to see for herself that I was not in the slightest degree the worse for all the dreadful scenes she had witnessed . At the sound o f my voice she threw back her head and listened , slowly opened her eyes , looked searchingly into my face , and , being o f was at last convinced who I , flung herself “ cr o f into my arms with a y Oh , you poor dear, they didn ’ t kill you after all !” After which she pulled herself together and went home , to

2 92 A NOBLEMAN ’ S CRITICISM the great relief of all o f us who wanted to do likewise .

The criticism of Lord Londesborough was was o fl e r e d quite as hearty and sincere , though it in a somewhat original fashion . After the cur N an c tain had fallen upon poor dead y , he came

- to my dressing room to pay his respects , but when he found himHself there he seemed to be a bit bewildered . e peered at me through of his glasses , his face wearing an expression helpless amazement . Finally he took my hands in his , but seemed to be at a loss to know what o w to do with them , and , lo king do n upon me , hi s exp ression of amazement momentarily ih “ : Extraor creasing , he muttered at intervals ’ ’ ” din ar ! Pon ! y my life , mos extraordinary

Then , dropping my hands , he backed toward the door , only to return and repeat this cere mony several times , at last making his exit .

But even then there Still floated back to me , “ ’ ’ ” M o s extraordinary ! really mos extraordinary !

I found much to interest me in “Annie Thomas I had long been familiar with her

2 93 ROSE EY TINGE

n - ame , having often read it on the title pages of

her novels , and had as often wondered why she

had never come to the front , for I thought her literary work far in advance of that of many of

- her fellow workers in the same field , who had

achieved success . After meeting her I no longer

wondered , unless it was to wonder how, with

the many claims She had upon her , she managed

M r s . to do so much . In real life She was Annie u dli He r C . pp husband , a clergyman , was in

charge of a large , turbulent , East End London W parish, here he held three daily services and

drew a salary of fifty pounds a year . She had of a large family small children , and was a devoted wife and mother . Besides being a bright , pretty woman , fond of society , she managed , despite all these claims upon her time and energies , to keep in touch with her other work . He r One morning I met her on the Strand . appearance denoted that She was in some “ ” “ ! she trouble . Oh, my dear exclaimed , I am in such a scrape . When I left home this ‘ ’ ‘ i n morning I had fifty pages of scrip for T . she had This , being translated , meant that

2 94

CHAPTER XXXVII

WILKI E COLLINS CHARLES READE THE INFLUENCE OF CHARLES DICKENS N A N C Y S YKE S CONVERTS A B AP TI ST

AM ONG the literary men whom I met in as London , perhaps Wilkie Collins was great a surprise , and , in a way , as great a disappoint ment , as I ever experienced in a first meeting “ ” ’

M r . i with a notable . In all Coll ns s stories

I had read , his men , especially his villains , had been big , portentous , heavy men ; while he , in his own person , was the exact opposite o f ou t all these , and certainly , in dealing all l these fine proportions to his characters , Wi kie Collins displayed a modesty unusual among pe ople of his craft . “ H - e was the mildest mannered man , and was almost the smallest , I ever met , who not Hi s positively a dwarf . hands and feet were sat o n almost dwarfed , and as he perched up — a rather high chair at his writing table , with hi s his grizzled beard flowing over breast , and his low, soft voice flowing out in silvery accents ,

2 96 AN AUTHOR ’ S W EAKNESS

his head surmounted with a quaintly shaped

- ca skull p , he looked rather like a wizard who a o f had f llen under the ban his fairy godmother ,

who in anger had deprived him of his legs . f The first time I met him , he was su fering

f r from on e o his frequent attacks of gout . I e

member, when I mentioned this circumstance

to Charles Reade , that gentleman said and o f o f there seemed to be a sort gusto , a sense “ satisfaction in his tone : Ah ! Wilkie has been ! He will drinking champagne do it , though ’ hi m he knows it s poison to . The very moment o ff he gets a bit better, he will trot to the club ‘ ’ and have a good tuck- in o f lobster and ”

so . champagne , and gets another attack This gloating over the weakness of his liter as ary brother struck me particularly human , ’ n f M r R e ade s for this was precisely o e o . many i . H s weaknesses enemy was dyspepsia , and any deviation from simple fare was sure to be followed by a Sharp attack of this malady , with the inevitable result of reducing hi m to repen tance , abstemiousness , and bad temper . He was Under the influence of this combina tion when , one day , I visited Covent Garden

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with him . With the inconsistency that so b fte n marked his conduct , he bought for me the rarest b fruit and the most beautiful plants , exhi iting in his selections the finest taste and the most lavish generosity ; and then he dragged me , shamefaced enough , through the length of the

- market , begging of every stall keeper the gift of i a bruised peach , of wh ch dainty morsel he expressed himself as being extravagantly fond . I think it is conceded that Charles Dickens was a powerful teacher of Chr istian charity ; and it was once my privilege to be his apostle , the knowledge of which came to me in rather an o dd way . I was crossing the Atlantic on s at my return voyage , and as I huddled in my

- steamer chair , looking , as I always do look on i sh pboard , more like a bundle of rags than a reasonable woman , I noticed among my fellow

n - - passengers a ve erable looking , white haired man in the garb of a clergyman . One day , the captain , with whom I had crossed many

' times , said this old gentleman wished to be presented to me . I consented , thinking that rofe ssron knowing my p , the minister felt it f his duty to make an e fort to convert me . I

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ROSE EY TINGE the poor creature shining out amid the gloom and wretchedness and s in of her surroundings .

In Short , he told me that when the curtain fell he awakened to the truth that he had received o n e - i of the deepest , most far reach ng lessons hr C in C istian harity of his life , and he felt pro found gratitude to Charles Dickens for having given the world the story , and to me for having revealed it to him .

This confession , as it were , on his part , led to long talks between my convert and myself, with the result that he expressed the de te rm i nation to enter upon a new course of reading o f humanity , which , beginning with the great teacher , Shakespeare , should include all the standard writers of English fiction from the

Elizabethan to the Victorian era . ou t That he carried this resolution I know ,

for the acquaintance , which was begun under

such unusual circumstances , ripened into a friendship which was brought to an end only

by the death of my friend .

00 CHAPTER XXXVIII

R w Y T M S . ATEs . E EDMUND ROBER BUCHANAN . GLAD STONE PROFESSOR BLACKIE PALGRAVE SIMPSON

AM ONG the men whom I met in London were

Edmund Yates and Robert Buchanan . It is rather paradoxical to mention them together, for no two men were ever farther apart . They had had , at some time , a very bitter quarrel , and , being both very bumptious , and holding very exaggerated opinions of their own im portance , each nursed his wrath against the hi was other, w ch , as a consequence , always was at whi te heat . It quite understood among their mutual friends and acquaintances that Buchanan ’ s name was not to be mentioned in ’

Yate s s vi ce ve rs a . presence , and Occasionally , however, someone , bent on a bit of fun , would hi break t s rule , and then ’ Tu Edmund Y ate s s wife was the daughter o f a saddlemaker who had accumulated a fortune , a large portion of which had fallen to this — daughter . She was letting her tell it the

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greatest lady in London . About the time I met them they had jti st moved into a fine house

- in an ultra aristocratic neighbourhood , and , in speaking o f the arrangement of her new “ she : o n abode , said I shall not use the rooms the first floor at all ; they will be used for offi ces

- and reception rooms for writers and actors , and that sort o f person that Edmund always ” “ ” has about hi m . As Edmund was the s on “ of of an actor and actress , and that sort per ” son , her remark was in peculiarly good taste . Robert Buchanan and hi s wife were o f quite

ff - a di erent sort , whole souled , hospitable , and unconventional . Indeed it sometimes struck me that Robert Buchanan was a trifle too u n conventional ; as , for instance , when he walked into a box at the theatre to pay his respects to me , arrayed in a heavy tweed suit .

I often found Englishmen more careless in of matters dress than Americans . Charles Reade once gave me rather a shock when he

called to take me to some social function , and

he was dressed in a long , loose , black velvet

garment , that , if he had worn it at home , would

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ROSE EY TINGE

burgh University . No man was more beloved and revered in the university and in the com m u n it t han y was this gracious , kingly old man . Never shall I forget the sensation whi ch his advent created in a usually quiet household on the occasion of his first call upon me . I was “ ’ having my afternoon tea wi a wee b itte e hot

- of scone , in the cosy sitting room my Edin

burgh lodging , when my hostess fell in , and with starting eyes and heaving breast gasped , “H’ ’ e s ! with bated breath , bye he s ben the ’ ’ ’ ! he s ! hoose comin up the stair It s you , mem , ’ ’ ’ it s you he s wan tin ; I her- e d hi m speak yer name !” ou t s he e And rushed ; while I sat amaz d , and wondering whether this visitor was a M a ff hatma from Tibet or a Sheri from New York ,

that his appearance created such consternation . From without I heard mysterious sounds o f o f scu fflin opening and shutting drawers , g and f fli of . shu ng feet , and whispers in excited tones o f Then Silence , followed by the sound a firm

footstep on the landing .

The door opened , and my landlady , looking inches taller and miles grander than I had ever

3 04 A PACKED HOU SE

c seen her before , and arrayed in a long , bla

s silk apron , and a cap with flowers at the side

and flowing Gibbon strings , handed me a card , ’ d bearing the Professor s name . When I rea

n it , and calmly asked her to Show the gentlema cu he r in , and fetch another p and saucer , n consternation was complete . But it was whe the Professor departed that the great sensa

tion occurred ; I accompanied him to the door, and we found awaiting his appearance literally of a packed house . Every inch available space l old was fi led . The dear , kindly man , accus tom e d o f n ot as he was to these marks love , did

share my surprise at this demonstration , but

passed down through the crowd , flinging quips

and pleasant greetings ; and a fine , pleasant — sight he was , with his snow white hair flowing about his neck , under his black , soft , slouched o n hat , and carrying his shoulders a mantle o f the Stuart plaid . Palgrave SimpHson was another English writer e whom I met . always struck me as being

- H u m e the most Bohemian writer I ever knew . was a quiet , serious , unobtrusive gentleman ,

305 ROSE EYTINGE and when in his company it was hard to realise that he was the author o f many comedies and rattling farces that have held a place on the o r English stage for the last twenty thirty years . He wanted me to play L ady D e dl ock in his “ ” d o f H ramatisation Bleak ouse , but I had had the good fortune to se e M adame Janau e b Ha r s ek play that part , in conjunction with te n se - o f , the vindictive waiting maid her haughty ladyship , and I was not willing to disturb my recollection of her admirable performance of those two parts .

ROSE EY TINGE permitted herself to enter the public rooms of

- the hotel , such as the parlour, reception room ,

- He r and dining room . meals were always own she served in her apartment , and when left or entered the hotel she would pass s wiftly and silently along , not only her face , but also her head and shoulders , draped in a

- heavy black lace veil . Even in her own room she always kept this veil near her, and , if a knock came to the door , she would invariably cover her face with it before the summons was answered . This conduct on the part of Lucille Western ma y have been a little extreme , for she was an intense woman and given to extremes , but the rule of exclusiveness and aloofness from o b se r vation used to be general with actresses .

Two men , with whom I had personal inter course , and each prominent in their respective paths of life , were Louis Aldrich and James A . H f o erne . Of the former more perhaps than any man I ever knew might in truth be quoted these lines

None kne w him b u t to love him ,

None n me d him b u t to se a prai . 308 AN INV ETERATE GUYER

When the grave closed upon him every actor and actress lost a true friend . Though Louis Aldrich was in the fullest and

o f freest sense the term a legitimate actor, there is no denying that he was also an inveterate “ ” “ ” guyer, and he could guy so artistically , so so with serious a face and dignified a port ,

- with so much poise and self possession , that while those in the scene with him would b e convulsed with laughter, and would have much ado to hold themselves together, the audience him would never for a moment suspect . An example o f this occurs to me . I was in the cast with hi m in a war- piece “ written by Augustus Thomas , called Surren ” hi - der . In t s piece there was a court martial , r at which M . Aldrich enacted the part o f the

- judge advocate . There was an amusing inter change between the president of the court and the come dian . Now this comedian was a bit of a “guyer hi so mself, they had several tilts . On this particular night , when the comedy man came

M r . up for examination , Aldrich straightened w himself up , looked at the witness ith severe ,

309 ROSE EY TINGE

judicial dignity, and in a deep , portentous voice “ went on to s ay : I know what you are about ” ' i r - s . to tell me , You would tell me , and then proceeded to give the unfortunate wight ’ s ’ entire scene , gags and all . That comedian s face was a study . Of the famous Herne I saw much less than o f or I did Aldrich , either as actor as man , but the little I did se e endeared him to me for both his art and his heart . “ f r The recent death o M . Newell Orpheus ” — f C . Kerr reminds me o the onl y time I ever s aw or ll o f , what is rea y more worth, heard M Adah Isaacs enken . o f L i ttle B u tte rcu In the words p, many years ” ago , when I was young and charming, I used to patronise a French hairdresser named Gentil .

One morning I went to his place , and on enter ing I saw a swathed and b e towe lle d form

- occupying the operating chair . Apologising , I was about to beat a hasty retreat , when the saw on e figure turned toward me . I then of the loveliest faces I ever beheld , and a voice begged me to remain . Never, either before or since , have I heard anything so perfect in

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