Theatrical Biography - Or The Life Of An Actor And Manager (1848) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ing Sandy Hook, the first intelligence we received from the Pilot was very flattering to a foreigner; it was simply this? " Gentlemen, I think you had better not venture up to the citv, the yellow fever rages there very badly." What a delightful reception, after a long voyage; however, we did go up to the citv, and without any evil effects, although the populous city of New York looked like a deserted village. The gloomy impression made on my first approach has never been totally obliterated; the words "infected district" will occur whenever I think of my arrival. I slept the first night at the Courtland House; but by the recommendation of Capt. Sherburne. removed the following morning to Niblo's Hotel, corner of William and street, where I remained until my departure for Philadelphia. On Saturday evening, mvself and fellow passengers visited the Park Theatre, to see Matthews play Dr. Ollapod, in the Poor Gentleman. The house was not crowded, and the play very indifferently acted, civing me a most unfavourable impression of the actors. It was certainly the worst company I had ever seen in a metropolitan theatre. After the performance, I met my old friend Joe Cowell, who was attached to the theatre, having arrived in America only a few months before me. He afterwards became very popular, both in New York and Philadelphia. In his company I wandered through the streets of New York, visiting such places as he pointed out to me, and feeling as only those can feel who, in a foreign country, meet a friond whom they know takes some interest in their welfare, relieving the horrible knowledge of being alone among multitudes. On Saturday, the 23rd of November, 1822, I took my departure from New York for Philadelphia, and by some unaccountable mistake got on bosrd the wr...