A THEATRICAL JONAH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 30 May 1914, Page 17

A THEATRICAL JONAH.

HERO OF MANY FAILURES. "MYSTERY HOUSE" OF QUEEN'S GATE.

Many strange and eccentric characters have from time io time sought success in the theatrical world. In the annals of stageland, however, there is no more amazing story of failure than that provided by tbe carper of a rich and extraordinary I theatrical manager, Mr. William Hamilton Codrington Nation, who died Teeeutly in London. Nation was the Jonah of the theatrical profession. He spent many thousaneds of pounds financing scores of plays, and yer never scored a single success. He began his theatrical ventures by takiug Sadler's Wells Theatre as long ago as lSttn, where he produced, among other plays, "The Golden Dustman." an adaptation of Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend." Then he went to the old Astley's in Westminster Bridge Road, long since demolished, and ultimately to tha Royalty, still existing, in I>e»an Street. Soho, and the Ch-aj-lng Crosa T_ee__.ro. afterwards known as Toole's Theatre, now covered by the extenesive Charing Cross Hospital. , AN" AUDIENCE OF ONE. After this he seemed to tire of theatrical labour, and turned bis attention to editing papers and magazines, which were equally disastrous from the financial point of view. The etage, however, was apparently so attractive, in spite of his failures, that Nation returned in 1906 and leased Terry's Theatre, which is now a picture palace, where he produe-ed more failures. In fact, snch ii frost was one production, that the company often played to an auditorium In which Mr. Nation was sitting alone, like the mad King of Bavaria at the opera. The refreshment receipts on souie nights fell to two shillings, and then the theatre elo6ed. Nothing daunted, Mr. Nation went to the Scala Theatre, and then again to the Royalty, and only a couple of years ago he secured Wyndham's for two months to produce "A Danghter of the Danube," with costumes designed afteer sketches made by himself on the banks of the Danube, a play which was one of the last of his theafiascos. A LIFELONG TRAGEDY. >tr. Nation's life, however, .seemed to be one tragedy. Ho came of an excellent Devonshire family, and when he -was twenty-three years of age became engaged to a beautiful girl. He tCMjk a house in Queen's Gate, and furnished it with taste and luxury in readiness for his wedding. A sumptuous breakfast was spread for fifty guests, and Mr. Nation weas about to start for the church when t.he news came that the bride-elect had eloped with another man. Mr. Nation gave instructions that everything should remain just as It was, and for ten years the wedding, breakfast was allowed to stand there, dosty, in a lockepd and shuttered room in a large house tenanted only by a caretaker. Occasionally the disappointed bridegroom visited t_e house, thoogh wtjen In Ix>ndon he always loelged ln modest chambers in St. James', and at last he gave orders for the pictures and furniture to be removed. But he refused to sell or let the boosee, and it. remained for fifty years the "mystery house" of Queen's Gate. Mr. Nation owned large estates in Devonshire, being lord of the manor of Roc.kbeare. but though it is believed that he made a will, no trace of it has yet been fonnd.