CHARLES JAMES MATHEWS.

Staunch playgoers who live quite up to the end of this century will not forget Charles Mathews, whose versatility on and off the stage was singularly lively and interesting. On the stage he was always the bright star of any scene or act, and off it, almost up to his last days, he was rare good company in any room or society. His admirers never passed him in the street without remembering enjoyable evenings at the theatre. I had almost said Charles Mathews was never dull on the stage in his life. But I am afraid I once saw him try to play a villain, and then he was almost dull. Am I right in saying that he played two melodramatic villains in his time, one in “The Chain of Events,” and the other in the dramatic version of “Black Sheep”? But his wonderful personality in light comedy parts would often make poor dialogue bright, if not sparkling. That he remained too long on the stage was a serious fact; but he was never a saving man, and could never have known the value of money, as a provision for old age. I remember when he was lessee of the Lyceum Theatre, he owed some money to William Brough, who wanted it rather badly; but William was by no means a resolute creditor, so he tried letters and messengers, but, as all were of no avail, he at last went to the genial comedian himself.