AN ACTOR OF THE LAST CENTURY,

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 35

AN ACTOR OF THE LAST CENTURY,

No actor of the eighteenth century wa3 more eminent in his day than James Quin. Without the supreme genius of Garrick or the "obstreperous broad-faced humour" of Foote, he was, nevertheless, an actor of the first rank, a man of superior intellect, and a noted sayer of good things. His wit doubtless has now grown somewhat tarnished. Piobably even when first uttered we might not have found it so mirth-provoking as Dr Johnson found Foote's ; but Quin must have been excellent company, and some of his witticisms may still bear repetition. He was certainly a more amiable, as well as more estimable, character than Samuel Foote, a man of great benevolence, who was always ready to assist a friend, and one who Beldom bore a grudge to a successful rival.

Quin was born in London in 1G93. His father had been lord mayor of Dublin, and Quin studied at Trinity College. He afterwards entered himself at Lincoln's Inn and was called to the bar ; but pecuniary difficulties soon obliged him to give up law and go on the stage. He made his first appearance in Dublin ; but shortly afterwards was lucky enough to obtain a minor engagement at Drury Lane Theatre. A few months later the sudden illness of the tragedian who played Bajazet gave the young actor an opening of which he was quick to avail himself The r6le of Bajazet was given to him, and, to the surprise of his fellow actors, he filled it with the greatest applause. Quin next, distinguished himself in the character of Kal staff, a part in which he is said to have excelled all other actors. In person he was tall and stout, of a majestic bearing. His voice was clear and melodious, his memory extensive, and his elocution, according to the taste of the day, excellent. He retained all his life an ardent admiration for Shak'-speaie. During many years he was the chief support of the old school of acting; but he could not compete with the spontaneous geniusand natural styleof Garrick'saoting, and was at last eclipsed. The older actc 1 is reported to have said of the younger, '■ that if the young fellow was right, he and the rest of the players had been all wrong." Finding the new school was victorious, Quin retired in 1759 to Bath, where he lived for some years comfortably on his savings, surrounded by many friends.

Twice in his life Quin was drawn into fighting a duel, and in one, unhappily, killed his opponent. He was aoting Cato, one of his greatest parts. A young Welshman, named Williams, in delivering the message, ••• Caesar sends health to Cato," gave the current vulgar pronunciation, "Keeto." Quin replied : " Would that he had sent a better messenger." Williams' hot Welsh blood took fire at this; he vowed revenge, and sent Quin a challenge. The latter did all he could to soothe the young actor's wounded feelings, but without success. Williams retired to the piazza, lay in wait for Quin, and drew upon him. In the scuffle the Welshman was killed. Quin was tried at the Old Bailey for murder, bat the verdict was manslaughter.

Never was there a more benevolent man than Quin. When Thomson the poet, soon after the publication of his famous " Seasons," was confined for debt in a sponging house in Hoi' born.hewasimmediately visited by Quin, who presently gave him a note for £100. When the poei expressed surprise at such un-looked-for generosity, the aotor replied ; " Soon after I read your • Seasons,' I took it into my head to make my will, and among the rest of my legatees I set down the author of the • Seasons ' £100 ; and hearing that you were in this house, I thought I might as well have the pleasure of payingit myself as to order my executois to pay it when you might have less need of it." So, too, when Ryan, a fellow-actor and a lifelong friend, asked in an emergency for a loan, Quin answered that he had nothing to lend, but that he had left Ryan £1000 in his will, and he might have it at once if he were inclined to cheat the Government of legacy duty. To fully appreciate Quin's generosity it must be remembered that in his day the leading actors had not yet begun to receive the high salaries they soon after obtained, so that he was never a rich man, and but for his prudence in money matters might have been a very poor one. Many stories are told of Quin's powers of ' repartee. Once he was even a match for Foote. The two actors had quarrelled, but had become reconciled. Foote, however,, could not forbear referring to the provocation. "Jemray, you should not have said that I had but one shirt to my back, and lay abed while it was washed." "Sammy," retorted Quin, " I could not have said it, for I' did not know you had a shirt to wash."

A foolish young follow hearing the actor lament that he was growing old, asked him : " What would give to be as young as I ? " " I would be almost content to be as foolish," was the reply.

On another occasion, when Quin was in company at Bath, after one of his witty sallies, a nobleman, not remarkable for the brilliancy of his intellect, exclaimed : " What a pity it is, Quin, such a clever fellow as you should be a player 1 " The actor flashed a quick glance at the speaker and retorted : " Why, what would your lordship have me ? —a lord 1 "

But the most famous of Quin's retorts was the one he made to Bishop Warburton. They were discussing .he exeoution of Charles I. " By what laws," inquired the bishop, " did these regicid"s justify it ? " " By all the lawa he left them," was Quin's reply.

He was once in a company with a parson who kept boasting of the situation and profits of his parochial livings, but 'whoso hands were in need of roahlDg. a So»6o,

doctor," said Qain ; " I think you keep your glebe in your hands with a witness." Now and again there is something in his personalities of a rudeness that reminds one of Foote. No objection, however, need be made to his criticism on Garrick, " that in Othello, David looked like the black boy in Hogarth's picture." And Quin could sometimes utter a graceful compliment as well as a rough one. A lady speaking of transmigration, asked him what creature he would prefer to inhabit. The lady had a beautiful neck. Quin looked at it, and, seeing a fly upon it, said : " A fly's, madam, that I might sometimes have the pleasure of resting upon your ladyship's neck."

Quin died unmarried in 1766. The dignity of bearing which, in spite of some occasional coarseness and a weakness for wine, was so characteristic of him, never forsook him. Shortly before his death he remarked to a friend that he oonld wish the last scene were over, though in hopes he should go through it with becoming dignity. His hope was fulfilled. When his will was opened it was found that his friends were remembered at his death as they had been in his life.— Chambers' Journal.