283 Pill; STRAND MAGAZINE.

I can tell.

N

TABLE IN THEATRE DRESSING-ROOM.

round at my rooms almost as soon 4S the papers were out. He talked to me for over an hour, checred me up, and did more for me in that hour than I heard afterwards that as

soon as he read the notices 1n the papers at his Dbreakfast, hc got up there and then, left his mecal un- finished, and hurried away.

“ Mathews and 1 were one day looking through an album, and came across a drawing of the back of a man.

“tLafont!’ I cried.

“ Mathews cried out, ‘What do you know about Lafont?’

“‘T've seen him act,” I replied.

| e “ Mathews turned of one of Mr. Irving’s dearest fricnds brought to me very rc‘luietl}r, many a happy reminiscence to mind. and said: ‘To that “Alh!? said Mr. Irving, as he leoked at the picture, “the brilliancy and cxquisite T T — style of Mathews have never been excelled. .

In my carly days Mathews was a truc fricnd | to me—yes, and in the later days too. I/ remember when T first went to the St Jamess/ Theatre; I went as stage manager, / and therce were a lot of old actors / there—amongst them I'rank Mat- ' thews and Walter lLacy. T was a young man amongst these old stagers. 1T admit to fecling nervous, and was fearful lest 1T might do something which the older men might resent. The first day came. All went very niecly, and we were just commencing to rchearse “T'he Belle’s Stratagem,” when who should skip on to the stage but Charles Mathews ! Stopping the rehearsal for the moment, he rushed up to Frank Matthews and Walter Tacy.

AR D Frank, my boy o -Walter ! Onc moment. My young friend, [rving Lrank, Walter. Be kind to him. Good-byce. God Dless you!’ And he was gone.

“ Mathews had a tender heart. Here 1s another kindness of Mathews. I once played a part in London, and was very much cut

e e o CHARLES MATHEWS, up b}’ the DPress. Mathews was Wrom the Painting in Mr. Irving's Dressing-room.