The Strand Magazine/Volume 2/Issue 9/Portraits of Celebrities

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The Strand Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 9
edited by George Newnes
Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.
4038785The Strand Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 9 — Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.

Portraits of Celebrities at different times of their Lives.

PROFESSOR OWEN.

Born 1804.

Age 32.
Samuel A. Walker, 233, Regent Street.
Age 52.
From a Photo. by Maull & Fox.


R ICHARD OWEN, naturalist, was born at Lancaster, and in early life evinced great love of the sea, and entered the Navy as a middy; but he was only ten years old when he left the Tribune to become a pupil of a surgeon. At twenty-one he
Age 85.
From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry.
entered as a student at St. Bartholomew's, where he soon attracted the notice of the great Abernethy, who showed him much kindness, and prevented him from accepting a post as a ship's surgeon in 1826. "Going to sea, sir!" said Abernethy, "you are going to the devil!" "I hope not, sir!" "Go to sea! You had better, I tell you, go to the devil at once," reiterated rough but glorious John, and offered him an appointment at the College of Surgeons. Thus the Navy lost a good officer and Science gained one of her brightest ornaments, "The Newton of Natural History." Professor Owen is a member of every learned Society of eminence in the world, and Her Majesty has appropriately recognised his great services to Science by granting him as a residence Sheen Lodge, in Richmond Park.

MRS. W. H. KENDAL.


Age 17.Age 27.Age 33.
From a Photo by W. & D. Downey.From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry.From a Photo. by W. & D. Downey.


I T will be safe to say that there is scarcely a reader of The Strand Magazine
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Falk, New York.
to whom the features of Mrs. Kendal will not be familiar. Her maiden name was Margaret Robertson, "Our Madge," a famous name; her brother, T. W. Robertson, having enriched our dramatic literature with that series of pure and brilliant comedies, "School," "Caste," "Ours," &c., which may be said to have made the fame and fortune of the Bancrofts at the little Prince of Wales's Theatre, in Tottenham Court-road. The name by which she is known to the theatrical public is a nom de théâtre, her proper designation being Mrs. W. Hunter Grimstone. Mrs. Kendal commenced her dramatic training early; she was no more than four years of age when she took the part of the Blind Child in "The Seven Poor Travellers." Thirteen years afterwards, in 1865, she made her appearance at the Haymarket Theatre—a theatre associated with so many of her triumphs—as Ophelia to the late Walter Montgomery's Hamlet. Engagements in the provinces, and afterwards at Drury Lane and the Haymarket again, followed; each fresh engagement being marked by a distinct advance in her powers. Her successes during her subsequent career are fresh in the remembrance of playgoers. Mrs. Kendal's triumphs in the United States are too recent, and our space too limited, to need recapitulation here. She goes again to the States this year, to the regret of her numerous admirers, who are looking forward eagerly to her return, when it is hoped she will once more take her place at the head of a London company.

W. H. KENDAL.


Age 21. Age 30. Age 40. Present Day.
From Photographs.

M R. W. H. KENDAL (William Hunter Grimstone) made his first bow to a theatrical audience when he was eighteen years of age, at the little Royalty Theatre in Soho, and afterwards migrated to the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, where for five years he went through his apprenticeship, gaining experience in the company of most of the leading actors and actresses of the day. That useful engagement ended, he made what is called his professional London début at the Haymarket Theatre, making a leap to the front ten months afterwards by his performance, at the same theatre, of Orlando in "As You Like It." The professional association of his name with that of his wife is inevitable, because it was in association with her that he achieved his greatest successes, notably in such plays as "Uncle's Will," "Pygmalion and Galatea," and "The Wicked World." In 1875 he went to the Court Theatre under the management of Mr. Hare, and a year afterwards, at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, made a remarkable success as Captain Beauclerc in "Diplomacy." In this success he was associated with Mr. Bancroft and the late Mr. John Clayton, and the celebrated scène des trois hommes became the talk of the town. A long engagement at the Court Theatre followed, and then Mr. Hare and the Kendals joined business forces at the St. James's Theatre, a partnership which afforded so much delight to the public that there was a general expression of regret when it was broken.

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.

Born 1850.

Age 14.
From a Photo. by Hills & Saunders.
Age 18.
From a Photo. by Maull & Fox.
Age 15.
From a Photo. by Maull & Fox.
Age 24.
From a Photo. by Maull & Fox.


P RINCE ARTHUR, the third son of Queen Victoria, born at Buckingham Palace on the
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Maull & Fox.
first of May, 1850, was, at the ages at which our first two portraits represent him, receiving his education privately; but at sixteen, it having been decided that he should become a soldier, he was entered at Woolwich, where he studied military science for three years. Our third portrait shows him at this time in the cadet uniform of the Royal Artillery. A year later he joined the Rifle Brigade, of which he was to become colonel-in-chief in 1880, and the uniform of which he is wearing in the fourth portrait here presented. At twenty-four—the age of this portrait—Prince Arthur was created Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and Earl of Sussex. Five years later he married Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia. The Duke of Connaught has seen active service in Egypt, the cross for which he wears on his left breast in the portrait of him at the present day which is here given. His popularity with his men is great, and his efficiency as a commander is well recognised; and, according to recent reports, he is likely in the future to fill a more prominent position in the public eye than hitherto.

DR. ROBSON ROOSE.

Born 1848.

Age 16.
Willett Bros., Brighton.
Age 24.
Mayall, Brighton.


R OBSON ROOSE, M.D., LL.D., and F.R.C.P. of Edinburgh, whose name is now so widely
Age 42.
From a Photo. by Barraud.
and popularly known, was born in November, 1848. His parents were not in flourishing circumstances, and losing his father when he was eight years of age, and his mother when he was fifteen, he was left but poorly furnished by fortune to fight his way through life. Being his own pilot, and being early imbued with an earnest desire to become a doctor, he set to work to educate himself, and became a student at the County Hospital, Brighton, and subsequently at Guy's Hospital, London. He then spent some time studying in Paris, Brussels, and in various medical centres in Germany and Italy. In 1870 he started practice in Brighton, and there achieved so considerable a reputation that he opened consulting rooms in London, which he attended regularly for five years, continuing his professional labours in Brighton the while. In 1884 he took up his permanent residence in London, where he speedily made an extensive practice and became an established authority. He is the author of several works, among which may be mentioned his book on "Gout," which has passed through six editions in England, and has been translated into French and German. To a masterly knowledge of the disorders he treats Dr. Robson Roose adds the valuable qualities of a sympathetic nature, and he possesses a rare tact in inspiring confidence in the patients who throng his consulting rooms. His connection is largely political and literary, and in art circles he is greatly esteemed for his kindly manners and his skill.

MICHAEL MAYBRICK.

(Stephen Adams.)


L IVERPOOL has produced two great living baritones—Chas. Santley and Michael Maybrick.
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Debenham & Gould, B'mouth.
The latter's musical abilities showed themselves early, for at eight he had learned to play the piano, and at fourteen he was appointed organist of St. Peter's, the parish church of Liverpool, his native city, a position which he filled for eight years. As an accompanist in the concert-room, he was also held in great request. Obtaining leave of absence, he entered the Conservatoire at Leipsic, where it was discovered for the first time that his voice was a very fine one. For two years he studied singing at Leipsic and Milan; then, returning to England, he appeared in public with instantaneous success. It is strange, however, that while studying at Leipsic his vocal powers should have been discovered, while his talent for composition should have escaped recognition. It was not until after his appearance as a singer that he began to write songs for himself. "The Warrior Bold" appeared under the now familiar name of Stephen Adams. Then, in 1870, came "Nancy Lee," a song whose swing and strength of rhythm obtained for it an extraordinary popularity. Perhaps no song was ever sung, played, hummed, and whistled to the same extent. All Mr. Maybrick's songs enjoy the rare advantage of being introduced to the public by the composer himself.

HENRY RUSSELL.

Born 1813.


Age 25.
From a Painting.

Age 40.
From a Daguerrotype.
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Barraud.


F OR years enough to satisfy any man's ambition, Mr. Henry Russell's songs were in everybody's mouth, and it is to be doubted whether any composer of songs for the people ever enjoyed a greater popularity. When we were children our parents used to sing "Woodman, spare that Tree," "The Ivy Green," "Cheer, Boys, Cheer," "Man the Lifeboat," "There's a good time coming," and other songs of his. He had the happy talent, in addition to his great gifts, of hitting the public taste, and of producing songs which "caught on" the moment they were heard; and all the country sang "Buffalo Girls," "Coal Black Rose," and "Get out of the way, Ole Dan Tucker." Henry Russell was born December 24, 1813, and was singing contralto at Drury Lane Theatre when Elliston was impresario. He sang before George IV., and he relates how the King took him on his knee and kissed him. In 1825 he went to Bologna to study, and there he gained a gold medal for an original operetta. At twenty he went to America, and there commenced his wonderfully successful career as a descriptive singer. In England he drew crowded audiences everywhere, and one of his entertainments, entitled "The Far West," contributed greatly to the flow of emigration to the United States and our colonies. Mr. Russell is seventy-eight years of age, and looks twenty years younger. He is the father of Mr. Clark Russell, the well-known novelist.