inger among the cottages that
surrounded us; but before I quit them I must record the pleasing
recollection of one or two neighbours of more companionable rank,
from whom I received so much friendly attention, and such
unfailing kindness, in all my little domestic embarrassments,
that I shall never recall the memory of Mohawk, without paying an
affectionate tribute to these far distant friends. I wish it
were within the range of hope, that I might see them again, in my
own country, and repay, in part, the obligations I owe them.

CHAPTER 13

Theatre--Fine Arts--Delicacy--Shaking Quakers--
Big-Bone Lick--Visit of the President

The theatre at Cincinnati is small, and not very brilliant in
decoration, but in the absence of every other amusement our young
men frequently attended it, and in the bright clear nights of
autumn and winter, the mile and a half of distance was not enough
to prevent the less enterprising members of the family from
sometimes accompanying them. The great inducement to this was
the excellent acting of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Drake, the
managers. [Mr. Drake was an Englishman.] Nothing could be more
distinct than their line of acting, but the great versatility of
their powers enabled them often to appear together. Her cast was
the highest walk of tragedy, and his the broadest comedy; but
yet, as Goldsmith says of his sister heroines, I have known them
change characters for a whole evening together, and have wept
with him and laughed with her, as it was their will and pleasure
to ordain. I think in his comedy he was superior to any actor I
ever saw in the same parts, except Emery. Alexander Drake's
comedy was like that of the French, who never appear to be acting
at all; he was himself the comic being the author aimed at
depicting. Let him speak whose words he would, from Shakspeare
to Colman, it was impossible not to feel that half the fun was
his own; he had, too, in a very high degree, the power that
Fawcett possessed, of drawing tears by a sudden touch of natural
feeling. His comic songs might have set the gravity of the
judges and bishops together at defiance. Liston is great, but
Alexander Drake was greater.

Mrs. Drake, formerly Miss Denny, greatly resembles Miss
O'Neil; a proof of this is, that Mr. Kean, who had heard of
the resemblance, arrived at New York late in the evening, and
having repaired to the theatre, saw her for the first time
across the stage, and immedia