United States -- Description and travel; United States -- Social life and customs
Those who were visitors to, or residents of New
York city during 1867 will remember the advent of
Walter Montgomery, the English actor. He came
almost unheralded, but in the brief period of his
sojourn
ACHIEVED A DRAMATIC TRIUMPH
unparalleled in the history of the American stage.
In form and appearance he was a magnificent
creation. A trifle larger than Edwin Booth, with
a physique modelled by the master-hand of nature,
a physiognomy of classic outlines, and a genius
for his art, that is said to have rivalled that
displayed by the most noted histrions of the
English stage. In all respects he is said to have
been as ravishingly perfect as the forms Angelo
hewed from blocks of marble, or Guido traced on
canvas, which to-day haunt the memory as a
vanished gleam of sunlight, that kissed life's
rippling river--and then was gone. In addition to
the qualities mentioned there was entire absence
of the shilly-shallying practices many actors
delight to indulge, in their efforts to secure
applause or attract the admiration of susceptible
females. He was esteemed, an accomplished artist
and true man. He opened at Niblo's in "Ruy Blas,"
making his headquarters at the Metropolitan, and
frequenting a theatrical club-house on Houston
street, known as the "House of Lords." Socially,
he was never received by the Knickerbockers of the
Empire city, his relations with men of letters and
the professions were extremely cordial. How Mrs.
R. and himself became acquainted is not clearly
defined. But that acquaintance on her part was
resolved into an infatuation irresistible and
indescribable, and she succeeded in inspiring him
with
A RECIPROCITY OF FEELING
that was not to be misunderstood. Wherever he went
professionally, she was constantly included in the
list of his admirers. Upon the Eastern circuit,
throughout the West, from Pittsburg to the Pacific
slope, the susceptible Madeline was first and
foremost among those who worshipped at the shrine
of this gifted exponent of Melpomene.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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