393.
ing him that appellation. They were very
singular. Mons. Diavolo Devani continued
his performances for some time.
The Rousset sisters appeared through a
long engagement vamping up a number of
Celeste's hodge-podge pieces. John Sefton
also appeared and became nstalled as the
stage manager.
The fall and winter season commenced Au-
gust 2th, 1853. Mr. Josh Silsbee the famous
Yankee comedian was engaged for six nights
only his first appearance in Philadelphia
since his return from his great London en-
gagement of two years.
Mr. Denby prompter ; Mr. Wheatleigh
from the London and New York theatres
and Messrs. Eytinge Vining and Francis
made their first appearance here. Mrs.
Clarke Mrs. John Sefton and Mrs. Francis
were engaged ; the two latter made their first
appearance in this city. Mr. Silsbee gave
the old "Forest Rose" again only remind-
ing us of poor Yankee Hill and still more so
of its talented author Samuel Woodworth
the poor blind printer and his "moss-covered
bucket" at a Jersey well. He also gave an-
other of the original Yankee actor's parts--
Nathan Tucker in "A Wife for a Day"
closing his six nights on Saturday Septem-
ber 3d with "The Vermonter" "The Yan-
kee Peddler" and "The Celestial Empire;
or The Yankee in China." This was a very
funny burletta full of the usual Yankee non-
sense. Silsbee's geographical survey of the
boundary of the United States was not with-
out much humor in conception and in recita-
tion. Silsbee was attractive and possessed
abilities but they were imitative.
The Hong Took-Tong Chinese troupe were
engaged and made their first apearance in
Philadelphia. This corps of Chinese gym-
nasts were clearly very unique and supple in
their gyrations. The suspension rotary evo-
lution was very novel and clever. They
were to return to China after this tour. In
New York and the eastern cities they had
been successful.
September 6th Miss Annette Ince who
had made a successful debut in tragedy
during the summer was now engaged. She
appeared as Julia in "The Hunchback"
and was enthusiastically received and en-
dorsed as first-rate currency. Mr. John B.
Adams as Master Walter made a most lively
impression. This young actor of Boston
birth gave much promise. "Romeo and
Juliet" was performed by Mr. J. B. Adams
and Miss Ince extremely well for their ex-
perience.
September 8th "The Lady of Lyons"--
Claude and Pauline Mr. J. B. Adams and
Miss Ince. The Chinese troupe with their
new somersaults antipodean balancing Chi-
nese mill sails rotary suspension &c. nightly
amused the natives.
September 9th benefit and last night of the
young American actress Miss Annette Ince
when she appeared as the Countess in
Knowles' play of "Love" and the Chinese.
September 10th "Fazio." The successful
young tragic debutante made her last appear-
ance in Bianca. She made a most favorable
impression in all her impersonations. Miss
Annette Ince is a sister to Miss Emma Ince
the clever danseuse who made her debut as
such at the Walnut Street Theatre under
Mr. F. C. Wemyss' management in 1838 and
exhibited much skill and grace in that line
being in the French opera style. Miss Emma
soon married and retired from the stage re-
siding in Philadelphia.
September 12th Miss Jean Margaret Da-
venport now a most distinguished actress of
great attractive powers had returned from a
successful tour in Europe where she had re-
ceived fresh and glowing flowers of popular
eulogy. Mr. E. A. Marshall immediately
announced her for a series of nights at the
Walnut Street Theatre. She appeared on
the first night in the Countess in Knowles'
comedy of "Love." As the Countess Miss
Davenport was excellent. Mr. Wheatleigh
as Huron threw out those clever blossoms
that subsequently brightened with most choice
colors.
We should not here omit to say that Mrs.
John Sefton now sparkled with a most de-
lightful comic taste. In the new one act
comedy never acted in Philadelphia written
by Buckstone called "The Maid with the
Milking Pail ; or The Speaking Likeness"
as Milly Mrs. Sefton evinced much native
excellence of character. It was a clever per-
formance. In all parts of this nature she
was truly excellent.
September 13th Miss Davenport (her second
night) appeared as Pauline in "The Lady of
Lyons." Mr. H. A. Perry made his first
appearance in three years as Claude Melnotte.
This young actor was now gaining eminence in
the various walks of the drama. He seized and
wore the masks of tragedy and comedy with
equal force and truth ; but alas! the wine
cup was wreath with too many smiles for
the resistance of his taste. He prematurely
drank its contents to the very lees and fell
with the vine-clad chalice in his hand.
"Oh that man should take an enemy in his mouth
to steal away his brains!"
Mr. Perry may now be said to have been
as "a bright particular star" with Miss J. M.
Davenport.
September 14th Miss Davenport appeared
as Julia in "The Hunchback" being well
supported by Adams as Master Walter and
Perry as Sir Thomas Clifford.
September 15th Miss Davenport performed
Parthenia with Perry as Ingomar.
September 16th Miss Davenport's benefit
when she appeared for the first time on any
stage as Lady Macbeth ; Mr. J. B. Adams
acting Macbeth--a crude performance. Miss
Davenport played her part with expressive
force and effect.
September 17th "Ingomar" was repeated
Miss Davenport being re-engaged for five
nights more when was presented for the first
time in Philadelphia a new farce called "To
Paris and Back for 5ilbs"--Samuel Snozzle Mr.
Chapman; Mr. Spriggins Mr. France ; Mr.
Charles Markham Mr. Wheatleigh ; Lieu-
tenant Spike R. N. Mr. Boswell ; Railway
Conductor Mr. Howard ; Mrs. Spriggins
Miss Denham.
September 19th "Adrienne the Actress"
was presented--Adrienne Lecouvrier Miss
Davenport ; Maurice Count de Saxe Mr. H.
A. Perry ; Michouret stage director of the
Theatre Francois Mr. Adams ; Princess de
Bouillon (her first appearance here) Mrs.
Leonard.
September 20th Dr. Moore's tragdy of
"The Gamester"--Mrs. Beverly Miss Daven-
port; Beverly Mr. H. A. Perry ; Stukeley
Mr. McDonough ; Charlotte Mrs. Clarke ;
with the new farce of "The Practice Man."
September 23d Miss Davenport's benefit
when she presented for the first time in Ame-
rica her new play of "Camille ; or The Fate
of a Coquette." This new piece was taken
from a French drama which had an unprece-
dented run at paris for upwards of one year
with the single exception of Good Friday--a
dramatic success without a parallel in Paris.
Is was adapted to the English stage for Miss
Davenport by John Wilkins author of the
comedy of "Civilization." It is entirely di-
vested of all the immoral objectionable fea-
tures of the French drama or the one known
as "The Lost One" but so softened and mo-
dified as to assume the language of the moral
teacher. In this way it became in the ren-
dition of Miss Davenport an entertainment
of virtuous instruction "holding as 'twere
the mirror up to nature." The cast was as
follows: Camille Gautier the coquette Miss
Davenport ; Mons. Duval Mr. Young ; Ar-
mand Duval Mr. H. A. Perry ; St. Frivole
Mr. Wheatleigh ; Gustave Mr. Eytinge;
Doctor Mr. W. Anderson ; Monsieur de
Varville Mr. McDonough ; Gaston Mr.
Stafford ; Helene an eccentric character and
victim to fashion Mrs. J. Sefton ; Michette
an embroiderer and milliner Miss Reed ;
Ninette domestic to Camille Miss Denham ;
Madame Babillard patron of the cuisine
Miss France ; to conclude with the second
and fifth acts of the popular play of "Ingo-
mar."
In bidding Miss J. M. Davenport a final
farewell as no doubt we shall soon take our
leave of these dramatic annals we do so with
a prayer for her future happiness. Her life
has been marked by many changes of various
fortune ; yet it may be said that her profes-
sional course was a serious of triumphs
wherein she was followed by "troops of
friends." She crowned her histrionic labors
by an union with one of our patriotic volun-
teer Generals. But this blissful state which
happily conducted her to the ease and com-
fort of private life and its elegant associations
was through an inscrutable Providence sud-
denly dissolved. Her marriage fruit just
plucked and ripe ere tasted withered to ashes.
Her husband General F. W. Lander U.S.A.
perished by fever on the field of his young
military glories and his laurels were shaded
by the cypress ere new sprigs could shoot up.
Miss J. M. Davenport's professional life
adorns its annals while the honored memory
of her husband will find in her simple dignity
of character and virtues an affectionate trustee
to perpetuate its worth. The benevolence of
her spirit survives her woes for in the truly
exalted character of real life the honors of
the Christian matron still clusters around her
brow as she now assumes the robes of the lady
superintendent of military hospitals in the
department of South Carolina residing at
Port Royal. The position was conferred upon
her by the United States Government.
Monday September 28th Miss Julia Dean
appeared as Bianca in "Fazio;" the hero by
Adams. With the farce of "Miseries of Hu-
man Life" a new piece on an old subject. A
topic as old as the days of Adam and Eve
"who brought death into the world and all
our woe."
EN