Mr Vincent

In the 'Sportsman' (25/5/'04) I made casual mention of the charming singer and burlesque actress, Julia Mathews, who made her first Australian appearance in Sydney in the old Victoria Theatre, in December, 1854, when she was but ten years of age, the character being Little Pickle, in the 'Spoiled Child." Julia, however, had commenced her theatrical career at the MarionetteTheatre in Leicester-square, London. From there she went to the Strand Theatre in the opening of a pantomime produced there in 1853, while Mr. Aldcroft was manager. At the Strand she appeared in several juvenile characters with marked success, gaining the approval or the London press. At the Victoria, Sydney, Miss Mathews remained 12 months, when Mr. George Coppin induced her parents, who were always her "agent" to accept an engagement at the Olympic, Lonsdale-street, better known in those days as "The Iron Pot" from the nature of its structure. Here Miss Julia increased her popularity until she became the idol of the people. In parentheses, it may be said that in juvenile parts Julia Mathews had a rival in little Anna Marie Quinn, about whom more at another time. At the termination of her engagement with Mr. Coppin, Julia went on tour through the goldfields of Victoria, then studded with theatres, and yielding showers of gold, Dannae-like. Next we hear of her with G. V. Brooke at Melbourne Royal, in such parts as Moth in "Love's Labors Lost," the fool in "King Lear," and other juvenile Shakespearean parts. Later on, we are told, though I don't remember it, and know her career for many years, she appeared as Ophelia, Margaret Overreach ("New Way to Pay Old Debts"), and other characters of that class with Brooke. If she did it must have been as understudy to Fanny Cathcart (Mrs. Robert Heir-Darrell), or when Miss Cathcart had fallen out with the Coppin-Brooke Combination, a severance which lasted a couple of months. Miss Mathews' first appearance in burlesque was in the "Nymph of Lurleyberg." Subsequently she joined George Fawcett (Rowe, but he was never known as Rowe in Australia) at the old Princess' Theatre in Spring-street, one of the very few old houses that fell into the hands of "the knacker," instead of becoming a prey to fire, the usual fate of the theatre. At the Princess' Miss Mathews appeared in all the burlesque and singing parts, which helped to make her famous on the stage. Here also she played many light comedy parts in "The Irish Heiress," "London Assurance," etc., etc., in Irish parts such as Anne Chute in the "Colleen Bawn," in which latter, with Dick Stewart, she made a decided hit. From Melbourne Julia went to New Zealand, where she married Mr. W. H. Mumford, much to the disgust of her parents, who thus lost their "gold mine.'" After some months absence from the stage, she reappeared at the Princess', Dunedin, and at Christchurch and Hokitika. Upon her return to Melbourne, she appeared at the Haymarket under George Coppin's guidance. Here she drew great audiences, her singing and histrionic powers having matured wonderfully. From this engagement she went straight to London, where Mr. Russell, director of Covent Garden Theatre, secured her for the role of the Grand Duchess, in which, and other operatic parts, she gained much distinction. I am afraid that her visit to London was not of such a character as would enhance Julia's reputation before the world. We heard that she had attached herself to a high up member of the British aristocracy; that she kept her brougham and liveried servants, and had done with the stage. The 'cad' of the British aristocracy of the sixties was not built on the lines marital, as poor Julia soon discovered. When she severed this connection, Miss Mathews toured the Continent and America, meeting with success wherever she went. I forget who it was that piloted her, but I know that it was not Mr. Mumford. At the now famous City of St. Louis, Julia was struck down with rheumatic fever, and on May 18, 1876, succumbed to the attack at the early age of 32 years.

I do not think poor Julia's life was a very happy one. From her infancy on the boards she was the breadwinner for her parents ; her teens being simply the drudgery of the stage. Her mother's eye A  never off her on the stage, and her father, who was a check-taker at the pit entrance, had his eye on her from the front. Julia was never seen without one or other in attendance. I had it from Julia's own lips at a rehearsal of "The Irish Heiress," on the stage of the old Princess', that she could have married R. O'Hara Burke, explorer, then an inspector of police at Castlemaine, and that it was her rejection of his suit that induced him to accept the leadership of the expedition, which ended so disastrously to himself and others. Yet she wore his miniature on her breast, and mourned his death. Perhaps it was a good advertisement.
Having reminisced about 'old Rogers' ("Sportsman," 6/7/'04), let us have a turn at 'old Lambert.' He differed from Mr. Rogers inasmuch as he had a very long English training in good theatres before he came to Australia. I heard him on a 'farewell' benefit night (which was not a farewell), say that when he first met G. V. Brooke at the Theatre Royal, Hawkins-street, Dublin, he (J. C. Lambert) was playing juvenile parts. The actor who passed successfully the ordeal of a Dublin theatre of 60 or 70 years ago was somebody. Dublin was the top rung on the ladder of fame, which landed the actor in London. Mr. Lambert commenced his theatrical career in his native county of Norfolk, and his commencement was that of a strolling player, and he has left in a MS. autobiography some amusing recollections of his barnstorming and stroller's life. His first appearance in Australia was at the old Queen's, in Queen-street, Melbourne, another of the old houses that did not go down by fire. Strange to say, be failed to immediately impress the Melbourne public, but the time did come when the play-goers by the Yarra Yarra, next to Brooke, swore by Lambert. My first sight of Mr. Lambert was as Mr. Aspen in the "Nervous Man," G. V. Brooke being the M'Shane. Heavens! what a scream it was from start to finish! The name indicates the character. About the year 1865 there was published a handsome quarto volume entitled 'The Lambert Album.' It contained 16 character portraits of the actor, and there were but three copies of the volume published! The portraits were by the old firm of Batchelder and O'Neil. There were two portraits of Mr. Lambert as Sir Peter Teazle, as Sir Anthony Absolute, as Lord Ogleby, as Justice Shallow, as Sir John Falstaff, as Sir John Vesey, and as Daddy Hardacre. I have seen Lambert in all these characters and many more, excepting Lord Ogleby. In everything he did Mr. Lambert was as perfect as stage effect could make him. In the smallest, as in the largest, characters he was simply perfect in his make-up. As the Apothecary in, "Romeo and Juliet," a character of half-a-dozen lines, he took as much pains to make perfect as he did in Sir Peter Teazle or Anthony Absolute. Many good critics say that Lambert, as Sir Peter Teazle, has never been equalled upon the Australian stage. I have seen Wallack (Julia Harland's father), Lambert, Rogers, Coppin, Cathcart, Hoskins (Julia Harland's husband), and some others in the part, and I must admit my preference for Lambert. Mr Rogers was, as I have said, more the bucolic Sir Peter, but a fine performance nevertheless.

In the mid sixties, when Barry Sullivan, having raised the Theatre Royal and its plays to the highest pitch of excellence, returned to England, Mr. Lambert and five others, having private means, leased the theatre and made money. The five were H. R. Harwood, Richard Stewart, T. S. Bellair, Vincent, and Hennings, the scenic artist. On Mr. Vincent's death I think his widow, Miss Clevland, stepped into his shoes. It was under this management that Mr. J. C. Williamson and the genial Maggie Moore first "Struck Oil." And in this connection a good story is told. Mr. Harwood (real name Biggs, a carpenter by trade, who made his debut as an actor at the old Victoria in Pitt-street in 1855; conducted the negotiations. The Williamsons wanted a certain figure. Harwood demurred, as 'Dutch comedy' had been done to death by Emmet, and the negotiations were about to fail, when, with keen business instinct and a knowledge of what they could do with "Struck Oil," Miss Moore asked if Harwood would share the house after a certain sum for expenses, Harwood jumped at the offer, and closed with the "Muricans." How did Mr. Harwood bite his nails for weeks after, when he stood on the pavement in Bourke-street and watched the people flocking to the Royal. He and his partners gained, of course, but Harwood said that he missed "all the tat" through not giving the Williamsons the salary they asked.

At the Royal, Mr Lambert and his partners made money, and the former retired into private life at a time when his powers had reached maturity. Having only his wife, who also played occasionally, Mr Lambert's income need not be heavy to enjoy the later years of life. As a citizen he was above reproach. He was not a society man; he habitually attended divine service at St. Peter's and carried the plate, "and was so quiet, demure and respectable that he might be taken for a bank manager, or for the respectable bank clerk in a large commercial house."

Mr Lambert retired to the town where he was born to spend the evening of his life, the now cathedral city of Wells. From "Buttlands," Wells, in September 1868, he wrote to a Melbourne friend a chatty letter, in which he showed that he was perfectly satisfied with his life and its cheerful coming close: — "I am living in my native town, which possesses about three thousand inhabitants, among whom are many old school fellows and ancient friends. My life is passing very happily in reading, writing, shooting, sleep, billiards and bowls. The place is attractive enough to induce professional people to visit it. Emma Stanley was here for one night, and we had a long-chat together. We have now a company of actors, gentlemen in appearance, not devoid of talent, and playing to good houses.

On Monday next a circus opens; so you will see my dear friend, that I am not quite mentally, as I hope not for some years to be physically, buried. The happiest portion of my professional life , was spent in Melbourne, but the greatest felicity I have enjoyed from my birth I now experience.'" And when the time came to "ring down," Death found J. C. Lambert quite ready.

"Died at Hobert Town on the 19th of March, 1862, Sir William Don, aged 36 years." Such was the unexpected announcement that met the Melbourne public three days later. Ten years before that I saw the dead walls of the city of Dublin placarded with the announcement that "Sir William Don, Baronet, the Eccentric Comedian," was about to appear at the Theatre Royal. His advent to Australia had a special interest for myself and all who came from the city by the Liffey; for had not Sir William Don taken unto himself for wife one of the prime favorites of the old Queen's, in Dublin, Miss Emily Saunders? There were three of the name at the Queen's Charlotte Saunders and a brother, a co median, bow-legged, whom we gallery boys nicknamed “Bandy Saunders." But Dublin had known Sir William Don be fore he took to the stage as a profession. He had been A.D.C. to one of the Lords-Lieutenant of Ireland, and well up in Dublin society, and had well advertised himself in private theatricals before, on loss of fortune, he took to the boards as a professional. The first appearance of the Dons in Melbourne was made in 1860. Lady Don in "The Daughter of the Regiment," and Sir William in the farce of "Toodles." Just imagine a 6ft 6in man in such a character as Mr. Toodles. The Marsh troupe of child comedians had previously introduced the farce to Melbourne, when Master George played the part; the contrast between the 4ft-nothing boy and the 6ft 6in baronet was ludicrous. To add to the fun, Don had all the stage furniture made in miniature, so that he walked as easily over chairs and tables as he did over footstools. His greatest hit, however, was as Queen Elizabeth in Kenilworth burlesque, with Lady Don as the Earl of Leicester. Six feet six inches, and splendidly made up, as the red-haired virgin Queen! But Sir William Don did not confine himself to English comedy; he excelled an Bailie Nicol Jarvie, Jock Howison, Dandie Dinmont, and suchlike; but perhaps one of the most extraordinary performances he ever took part in, and certainly one of the most extraordinary that I ever witnessed, was when "The Rivals" was produced with an "Ollapodrida" company — all stars and all good men in their several lines. Amongst them was Sir William Don, as Fag! John Drew, the Irish comedian, was Bob Acres; so you may guess what a 'screamer' it was. Of Lady Don's ability no eulogy can be too high. As a vocalist and an actress she was attractive in everything she appeared in, and even without her husband she held her own on the stage until the baronet's family thought it was but right that his widow should "retire on her rank." There was no estate, but I believe the Wauchopes of Edmonstone, near Edinburgh , and Newton House, Mussellburgh, N.B., to whom the barren title went on Sir William's death, saw to the widow's comfort. Sir William Don had gone through two large fortunes before he had taken to the stage, and when he threw up his commission in the Guards and took to the boards, it was in the hope of being able to buy back his old Scottish home. In a stage speech at Melbourne, in which he advised everybody to avoid debt, he said that he had been in the hands of usurers since he was "so high," indicating about 8ft from the boards. "To owe £20," said he, "and have £19 19s 11d to pay it with, was simply misery, but with £20 1s heaven!" To a friend in Melbourne he wrote from Hobart Town, a fortnight before his death, in a very cheerful strain :— "I have been dreadfully weak and pulled down since I have been here, and in bad spirits; but within the last two or three days I have Sir Walter Raleighed wonderfully. This is the most magnificent climate in the world. Come over at once. We shall be here for a fortnight longer and then Launceston two weeks, then back to Melbourne for Adelaide. Our success has been very great, Behold the proof:
Receipts at Launceston, one week    £416
Receipts at Hobart Town, one week £360
Total ................................................ £776
Our share ..........................................£388

The journey from here to -Launceston is really wonderfully beautiful. You will be delighted with It. Come at once." Even then the grave was opening for him, and he knew it not. Lady Don survived him 13 years, dying in England September 20, 1873, leaving an only daughter. To Sir William Don is attributed a freak which has been set down also to the credit or debit of W. E. Gladstone. Sir William had a habit of travelling third-class on the railway out of Edinburgh. To break him off the habit, the officials one day caused a number of chimney sweepers, with their bags and brushes, to be put into the same compartment. Don took in the situation. 'Come along with me, my lands," and after "shouting" for them in the refreshment room, he purchased first-class tickets for the lot, and planted himself and the sweeps in a first-class carriage. When they reached the end of their journey the drab cloth linings of the Carriage were sooty indeed.

(To be continued.)