MY EARLY ACQUAINTANCE WITH CHARLES MATHEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 26

MY EARLY ACQUAINTANCE WITH CHARLES MATHEWS.

The present generation knew Chas. Mathews Only as the brilliant comedian, the audacious Dazzle, the delightful raconteur, who always contrived to make himself en evidence in this "village" even when he was at the antipodes. Thirty years or more have elapsed since he bade adieu to the cares of management. Even then his administrative capacity appears to have been losfc sight of in the train of misfortunes which invariably overshadowed his every managerial speculation. " Gentleman " Hooper, under whose banner I served in my juvenalia, told me that when he was Mdme Vestris' manager, he engaged Charles Mathews for her at a salary of six, pounds a week! Six pounds! Why the veriest tyro of a walking gentleman gets that novv-a--days. , My own acquaintance with Mathews commenced this wise. In my boyhood, at one period of my career, my friends had hoped (heaven save the mark) to make an architect of me ; but alas ! I was stage-struck from childhood. Our principal was a man of property, and had some houses to let. Mathews took one of them. With what wonder and delight I gazed on this vivacious gentleman when he first entered our gloomy office, bringing the sunshine with him. How he talked, and rattled, and jumped about like a parched pea, and what a *' swell " he was ! with his tall hat curled up at the brim ; his high black stock with his collar turned down over it ; his frock coat fitting like his skin ; his wris.tbands turned over his cuffs, and his pink coral links ; his primrose kids, his gaiter-bottomed trousers, and his patent-'.eather boots. I had never seen him in my life before, but I had heard of him continually, for his debts and his difficulties, his extravagauce and his accomplishments were in everybody's mouth. A few days after this visit I had to take the draft lease to the Haymarket, where he was then acti«g. - It was aft.er office hours, and I might have left the lease at the stage door, but that would not suit my purpose, as I had a deep-laid scheme in view.

It was five o'clock when I inquired of the porter at what time Mr Mathews was likely to arrive. Cterberus looked at me suspiciously, and growled : "Don't know; perhaps he won't arrive at All «."

This was unsatisfactory— the play-bill, however, was reassuring — for there was my hero announced for Dashwood, in " Know Your Own Mind," and Motley, in " He would be an Actor." Madame, too, was announced for Lady Bell — so I prowled up and down Suffolk street till six o'clock. At length my patience was rewarded. Just as the clock struck— up drove a brougham, and out jumped the airy light comedian, to assist Mrs Mathews from the carriage. His back was turned to me, so approaching timidly, I touched him on the arm. Turning round like a shot, he inquired : "At whose suit?" As soon, however, as he saw me, he burst out laughing, as he exclaimed: " Oh! it's you, young shaver. By Jove, I thought it was a copy of a writ, but come along." Thus, under his protecting wing, was I permitted to penetrate behind the scenes of the Haymarket. * Had I been alone, I think I should have dropped on my knees, as Hans Anderson did at the theatre in Stockholm. As soon as we reached his dressing-room I took heart of grace, and told Mathews " I wanted to be an actor— could he help me to procure an engagement?" He laughed again, and asked me ■" what I would like to play ?" With the modesty of youth (.jetat 1 5) I replied, " Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth." He dryly suggested " that was rather high-flown to begin with, but " (for I was tall for my years— as tall as lam now — and had put a year or two on my age) " he would try to get me an engagement for Utility Sn the Norwich circuit," (which engagement iiever came to hand, by-the-bye). Then he asked me, " woijld I like to see the play?" " Would a duck swim ?" He gave me his card and dismissed ute-v-tbs next minute T was in the pit.

In the comedy besides fljn.tb.ows and Madame Vestrig who, in Lady Bell, introduced the ballad nf , " Rise gentle moon and guide me to my lover," there were William Farren, the elder — Tom Stuart, tho growler— r-Mr Henry Holl, a very handsome man, who unfortunately had a pair of legs like a parallelogram — had they been

straight they would have been us handsome as their owner. Even as they were, they contrasted most advantageously wibh poor Dashwood's pipe stems, which were as attenuated then as they were 30 years later. There was the great Mrs Glover, most superb of comediennes, aud there was Mrs Edwiu Yarnold, whom I remember chiefly because 'of her wonderful head of hair, which was as remarkable for its colour as its abundance. It was red-deep — Titianesque red — and came down literally, to her knees. I'm afraid (I was always a susceptible youth !) I was very much gone on that young lady — and although I didn't know him, cherished and instinctive ami insensate hatred for Mr Edwin Yarnold, whoever that gentleman may have been The comedy was delightful enough, but — " He would be an Actor " — Oh ! Mathews never had a note in his voice, bat how charmingly he sang " Jenny Jones." He was the only actor who ever " sold " me in the matter of a disguise. When that elegant French lady came on, it was in vain I nonsuited the huge, splotchy playbill (in those days programmes were not), the fair Parisian's name was conspicuous by'its absence. It was in vain I consulted my neighbours of more mature years, they were as ignorant as myself ; indeed, it was not until the French beauty lifted up her skirts nnd made a bolt of it, that I recognised Master Mottey uuder the petticoats. What a capital actor Strickland, the " Dicky Darling," was— or at least I thought so—for of course I knew nothing about it in those days. The next time I went to the Haymarket was to see the prize comedy. The Mathewses had thrown up their parts aud seceded, and I saw no more of them until I met them at Edinburgh, where they played a variety of their pieces. I think they must have been with us a month from my recollection of their repertoire. They did "Used Up," "Grist to the Mill," "The Queensbury Fete," " Somebody Else," " Loan of a Lover," " The Golden Fleece," &c. In these particular works they carried everything before them, but Master Charles took it into his head to try his hand at Goldfinch and Young Rapid, both of which were " about as bad as they make 'em," even now-a-days. Although both Mr and Mrs Mathews were personally most kind to me, my slight acquaintance stood me in little stead, professionally — in fact, it was rather to my disadvantage. In " Grist to the Mill" I was cast for a somewhat important part — an antediluvian page, who is in attendance upon the Marchioness. After I had tried my prentice hand ineffectually, Madame cut me short, and sans ceremonic, called out to the stage manager, " Take away this boy and send me an actor." Accordingly I was taken away, and to my supreme mortification George Honey was put in my place. Matthews tried to console me, pointed out that there was no affront meant to me — that youth and inexperience were faults I should grow out of in time — and as a solatium to my wounded feelings, invited me to dine with them on the following Sunday. I was the only guest, and a very pleasant time I had of it. Unable to gain an engagement in town in consequence of the feud with Webster, the Mathewses were again driven into management at the Lyceum, where I had the good fortune to see most of their admired productions. — John Coleman, in the Dramatic Review.