This was followed by "A Roland for an Oliver":

This was the first appearance in America of H. Loraine, and the début at this house of A. H. Davenport, Thos. Placide, and Mrs. Place.

A brief season of German opera began Dec. 29, with "Fidelio," thus cast:

The conductor was Carl Bergman, and Theo. Thomas the leader. The opera nights were Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Dec. 31, "Der Freischütz" was sung. Edwin Forrest commenced Jan. 5, 1857, and acted Damon for the first time in fourteen months. Daly was the Pythias his first appearance in this city; Jan. 6 "Martha" was sung; Jan. 7, Forrest as Richelieu; Jan. 8-17, "The Locksmith;" Jan. 9, 13, 15, the comic opera "The Czar and the Carpenter;" Jan. 10, "Othello;" Jan. 11 the company gave a Sunday evening concert; Jan. 12, "King Lear;" Jan. 14, "Virginius;" Jan. 16, Jan. 16, "Pizarro;" Jan. 19, 23, "Macbeth" Jan. 20, 24, "Fidelio;" Jan. 21, "Hamlet;" Jan. 22, "The Child of the Regiment;" Jan. 26, the Gabriel and François Ravel company, consisting of Gabriel and François Ravel, Yrca Mathias, and the Martinetti Family; Jan. 27, "Richelieu; " Jan. 29, "Brutus; Jan. 31, "Richard III.;" Feb. 2, 4, 6, “Jack Cade." Forrest was then taken ill, and did not appear again until Feb. 14, when "Jack Cade" was acted, and Feb. 16, "William Tell." The Ravels closed Feb. 13.

On Feb. 17, Henry Placide played Job Thornberry in "John Bull," and there was also acted the farce of "A Nabob for an Hour," with Thos. Placide as Dick, and Henry Placide as Sam; Feb. 18, 20, Edwin Forrest was seen in "William Tell;" Feb. 19, "The Poor Gentleman," with Henry Placide as Dr. Ollapod and Wm. Rufus Blake (his first appearance this season) as Sir Robert Bramble; Feb. 21, "The Comedy of Errors," H. Placide as Dromio of Syracuse, T. Placide as Dromio of Ephesus, Lizzie Weston Davenport as Antipholus of Syracuse, and Olive Logan as Antipholus of Ephesus; Feb. 23, "Richelieu;" Feb. 24, "The Poor Gentleman," with this cast:

On Feb. 25, "The Comedy of Errors;" Feb. 26, "The Old Guard;" Feb. 28, for the benefit of Henry Placide, when he acted Dufard in "First Night," Blake in "The Last Man," and Dromio in "The Comedy of Errors." Sunday evening, March 1, the German Opera Troupe gave a sacred concert. Edwin Forrest returned March 2, as Richelieu; March 3, "Romeo and Juliet,' Mme. Ponisi as Romeo, Lizzie Weston Davenport as Juliet; March 4, Forrest as Rolla, in "Pizarro;" March 5, "William Tell;" March 6, "Jack Cade;" March 7, "Romeo and Juliet; March 9, and all the week, old comedies were acted. On March 16, a spectacular drama by H. J. Conway, entitled "The Elephants of Ino Kami" was first produced, when Sands & Nathan's performing elephants, Victoria and Albert, appeared.

April 6 "The Last Days of Pompeii" was given, with this

On April 10, "Madeline, or the Foundling of Paris;" April 20, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Davenport were seen in "De Soto," its first production here; April 29, for his benefit, Davenport acted Brutus, to the Cassius of J. W. Wallack, Jr. Loraine was the Mark Antony, and Mrs. E. L. Davenport was Portia; May 4 saw the first production of Charles Gayler's play, "The Son of the Night;" May 18 "Faustus" was given, with Mme. Ponisi as Faustus, Barrett as Count Ossini, and Mrs. E. L. Davenport as Adine; May 29 A. H. Davenport took a benefit. In consequence of the building of the adjoining property and the walls of the theatre being unsafe, it was not until Sept. 14 that Marshall could open his regular season, which he did on that date, with Charles Mathews as his first star, in "Married for Money." The programme began with this cast:

and was followed by "Patter vs. Clatter," and concluded with "The Maid of Croissy, or Theresa's Vow," James Browne acting Sergeant Austerlitz in the last named drama; John Sloan, Walter Berrier; Mrs. F. B. Conway, Theresa; and Mrs. John Sloan, Nanette. On Sept. 22, 1857, Mathews played his original

character of Affable Hawk, in "A Game of Speculation. Chippendale was the Prospectus; Mrs. J. H. Stoddard, Julia; J. S. Browne, Earthworm; and S. Eytinge, Hardcore. Oct. 2 "The Busybody" was done, with Mathews as Marplot, F. B. Conway as Sir George Airy, and Mrs. F. B. Conway as Miranda. This was followed by Kate Pennoyer in a dance. The Ronzani Ballet Troupe, under the direction of Domencio Ronzani, appeared Oct. 6. The company consisted of Louise Lamoureux, Emma Santolini, Gaetana, Gaspare, and Giovanni Pratesi, Filippo Baratti, Cesare Cechetti, and a large corps de ballet. "The Morning Call" was the farce, with Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Conway in the principal rôles. McKean Buchanan made his first appearance in America, since his European tour, Nov. 9, acting "King Lear;" C. W. Couldock and Lizzie Weston Davenport in the cast. Wm. Davidge, who had been absent from the city, reappeared, and acted Poor Pillicoddy; Buchanan also played in "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Pizarro," "Damon and Pythias," and "The Bride of Lammermoor." Charles Mathews returned Nov. 16, as Levator in "Not a Bad Judge," also appearing in "The Practical Man." "A Conjugal Lesson" was the afterpiece. Mathews' engagement terminated Dec. 5, and the theatre was closed week of Dec. 7, during which time extensive alterations were made, and the house refitted for amphitheatrical purposes.

The house was reopened Dec. 14, with Van Amburgh & Co.'s cage of wild animals and an equestrian company, consisting of Van Amburgh, Eaton Stone, the bareback rider, the Nicolo Family, R. Hemmings, E. H. Perry, Den Stone (clown), and the performing elephant, Tippoo Saib. James M. Nixon, equestrian director: R. White, ring-master. Prof. Langworthy, a noted performer of animals in their den, was engaged. It was announced that, for the first time in America, and in presence of the audience, the wild animals would be fed at the matinée, Jan. 9, 1858. May Livingston (a pupil of Langworthy) made her début Jan. 13, and entered the den of animals. "Cinderella" was produced in grand style Jan. 18, by children, under the training of James M. Nixon. The other first appearances were Virginia Sherwood (equestrienne), G. W. Sargent, Miss Ida, and Charles Sherwood. Sam Lathrop, clown, and Mme. Olinza, tight-rope artist, appeared Jan. 25.

James Melville, bareback equestrian from Australia, made his first appearance here Jan. 31, 1858. He was one of the best and most daring riders that ever appeared in America. Except Eaton Stone, acknowledged to be the champion bareback equestrian of the world, Melville had no competitor. Feb. 6 W. B. Donaldson, the negro clown, appeared. "Gulliver among the Liliputians" was presented Feb. 15 for the first time. The same children who had been so successful in "Cinderella" were in the cast, as was M. Bihin,

the giant, as Gulliver. The Lancers Quadrille, by eight ladies in military uniform, had its first presentation in this country. "Cinderella was revived Feb. 22; March 1 Mme. Tourniaire (afterwards known as Mrs. W. C. Brown, died in Philadelphia, April 12, 1901, aged seventy-six years), equestrienne, first appeared here. Eaton Stone took a benefit March 27, when he appeared as a clown for the first time. The theatre was closed night of March 15 for a dress rehearsal of "Nana Sahib, or the Demon of Cawnpore. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Prior, J. Canoll, Sam Lathrop, R. White, and Nicolo were in the cast.

After an extended European tour, D. W. Waller reappeared April 5, in "The Duchess of Malfi," Mrs. Waller making her American début on this occasion as Marina, in the same tragedy, her husband playing Ferdinand. Mr. Rogers made his American début the same night as Narcissus, in "The Dancing Barbers. F. C. Wemyss was stage manager; N. L. Griffin, acting manager. "The Duchess of Malfi" was the only play presented the first week. Mr. Waller's reading was always judicious and in accordance with the spirit of the lines. His voice was full, clear, and flexiblein the lower register singularly melodious and powerful. He was a natural, judicious, original actor. He died in this city, Jan. 30, 1882. Mrs. Emma Waller was a great actress. She grasped all the elements which make up a character, and ruled them with rare power. The great charm of her acting was that she always kept the actress in the background when placing her characters on the stage. Her Lady Macbeth was a wonderful performance, and I doubt if its equal has ever been seen on the American stage. Her personation of Lady Mabel in "The Patrician's Daughter" was an amazing delineation of character. Her delineation of Meg

Merrilies was wild, fearful, startling. She gave it all of Charlotte Cushman's powerful impulses, but blended with it a feeling and pathos that lulled the whirlwind of passion and smoothed the ruggedness of its features. Mrs. Waller retired from the stage several years ago, and died in New York, Feb. 28, 1899. On April 21 Ben Yates took a benefit. April 27 J. J. McCloskey reappeared in this city, and made his début, acting John Strong, in "Your Life's in Danger." He continued at this theatre, under Edward Eddy's management, and played in all the horse-dramas, most of the dialects, character, and general business. He was engaged by Eddy for Niblo's Garden, and from there went to the New Bowery Theatre, where he continued until the breaking out of the Civil War. He acted at Wallack's (Broome Street) Theatre with J. Wilkes Booth. He then went to the Old Bowery with Geo. L. Fox. For several years he has been employed in the City Court, this city.

The season closed May 1, 1858, and E. A. Marshall retired from

the management. During the last few years of his reign the theatre did not prove profitable, owing to rapid uptown movement of citizens for residences. While managing this house, up to his last days here, he lost so much money that he publicly announced that he was about to retire. A committee of citizens got up a benefit for him, at Castle Garden, Aug. 12, 1851, the full particulars of which will be found in my history of Castle Garden. Mr. Marshall died in Philadelphia, January, 1881. How common it is for many of the old actors to say: "The good old days of the Park! Ah! we had acting then!" Now it is a question as to whether we have actors as great as figured in those days, and it is open for debate. Perhaps, however, it is true to say that there is now more talent and less genius, and that the stage has become rather a profession than a passion. On the other hand, our ancestors seem to have had more of the enviable faculty for being amused than is possessed by a modern audience. They were receptive, impressionable, and somewhat indifferent to surroundings, while we study comfort, insist on a well appointed theatre, artistic scenery, and appropriate costumes.

The house was reopened for a benefit to T. D. ("Daddy ") Rice, May 14. "Day After the Wedding," "Lavater, or Not a Bad Judge," Robertson's Band, and Peel's Minstrels were the attractions. On May 22 H. B. Phillips took a benefit. The attraction was "The Windmill," "London Assurance," "Virginia Mummy (T. D. Rice as the Mummy), "The Dancing Barber" (Jas. Rogers in the cast), and "The Limerick Boy," with Billy O'Neil as Paddy Miles. Lola Montez began a series of lectures May 24, and continued for about two weeks. On May 26, in addition to her lecture, she acted Mrs. Chillington, to Aug. Fenno's Sir Edward Ardent, in "Morning Call."

The same comedy was also acted, with Fanny Morant as Mrs. Chillington, and A. W. Fenno as Sir Edward Ardent. "The Miller's Maid" was the afterpiece, with Alice Grey as Phoebe, H. Bland as Giles, G. L. Aiken as George, J. O. Sefton as Matty, D. C. Anderson as old Granger, Salvaria as Williams, Irving as Sandford, and McCloskey as Miller. Julia Dean Hayne closed Nov. 6, and was followed Nov. 8 by James H. Hackett as Sir John Falstaff in "Henry IV. ;" also in "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Rip Van Winkle," and "His Last Legs.' For his last night and benefit, Hackett appeared, for the first time in twelve years, as Sir Pertinax McSycophant in "The Man of the World;" also as Mons. Mallet. Mme. Ponisi reappeared here Nov. 16, when she played Lady Macbeth to Eddy's Macbeth; Nov. 17, "Othello" was given for the first appearance of Charles Carroll Hicks as Iago. Barry Sullivan made his American début here, Nov. 22, in "Hamlet":