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DEATH OF MR. ANDREW MELVILLE…

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DEATH OF MR. ANDREW MELVILLE (EMM.) END OF A SUCCESSFUL THEATRICAL CAREER. We regret to record the somewhat sudden death on Sunday morning last of Mr. Andrew Melville, the well-known and popular actors theatre proprietor and play-wright. On Thursday in last week deceased, in company with his wife, paid one of his usual visits to Swansea to transact business in conneotion with the New Theatre, Wind-street. On his way to Christina-street to take lodgings he was suddenly seized with illness. He met Dr. Jabez Thomas, who had for some years medically attended him, and placed himself in his hands. He was at once driven to Clark's Restaurant in Wind-street, where he frequently stopped, and placed under proper eare. His condition oecame worse, in spite ot the efforts of Dr. Thomas and Dr. Griffiths, and on Saturday morning it was found necessary to telegraph for his father, who, with his grandchildren, were stopping at Brighton. On Sunday at 4 a.m., Mr. Melville passed peacefully away in the presence of his wife and his local manager, Mr. Chappell. The cause of death was diabetes, to which deceased had been subject for nearly two years. He was 54 years of age, and leaves a wife and four children -two boys and two girls—who mourn the loss of a fond father and a devoted husband. The late Mr. Melville was the eldest son of George Melville, a veteran tragedian of the old school, who was one of the finest Shakesperian actors of his day. George Melville, who now lives in retirement at Brighton, after winning honours everywhere as an actor settled down in South Wales, and it was at Cardiff, more than forty years ago, that his eldest son first saw the light. The family finally went to Swansea, where Mr. George Melville became lessee of the Theatre Royal, Temple-street. Just after Andrew came of age his father, who desired to retire from the management, handed over to him the complete control of the Theatre Royal. The theatre being found too small for the growing demands, he acquired the site of a circus in Wind-street, and, converting it into the present New Theatre and Opera House, he conducted it with every success up to the moment of his death. His acquirement of the Swansea theatres was the beginning of an unique career as a theatre proprietor and manager. When Mr. Price gave up the management of the Philharmonic at Cardiff Andrew Melville took over its control, and shortly after he also acquired a theatre at Newport, and another at Bristol. Then he built the theatre which is still undoubtedly one of the finest in the provinces—the Grand Theatre,Birmin.gham-and, leaving Swansea and residing at Birmingham, he devoted himself so thoioughly to its management that he made it from first to last a great success. These were followed by the acquisi- tion of St. James's Theatre, Manchester; the building of the theatre at Derby; the pur- chase ot the Queen's at Birmingham, of the Grand Theatre at Glasgow, the Standard Theatre, London, and the Queen's Theatre, Battersea. Of late years his health began to fail him somewhat, so he decided to take life easier, and disposed of the Grand Theatre, jjirmingbam, and his theatres at Bristol, Newport, Derby, Manchester, and Glasgow, and returning with his family to Brighton, he contented himself with the management of his old theatre at Swansea and the Standard and Queen's Theatres at London. His last appearance on the stage at Swansea was about two years and a half ago, when he gave a benefit for the local hospital. Mr. Melville married at St. James's Church, Swansea, about 24 years ago, Miss Alice Brinsley, then a very popular actress. Telegrams and letters of condolence were received from the following:—Mrs. Bandmann Palmer Mr. Hogg-Frenche, Strand, London Messrs. Isaac Cohen and Percy Cohen, Pavil- lion Theatre, London; Mr. Forse, Bristol; Mr. Phillips, solicitor, Birmingham Mr. and Mrs. Barnard, Gaiety Theatre, Birmingham; Mr. J. W. Turner, Birmingham; Mr. D. Humphreys, Talbot, Newport; Miss Florence Lee, Brighton The Staff, Standard Theatre, London; Mr. Uptoo, printer. Birmingham Mr. Clarence Sonnes, Grand, Cardiff; Mr. Maddens, manager Birmingham and Midland Bank, Birmingham; Mr. F. Mouellot, of the firm Morell and Mouellot; Mr. Pursell, Grand, D^rby; Mr. W. W. Kelly, "Royal Divorce," Dublin; and Mr. Benjamin, Theatre Royal, Cardiff. THE FUNERAL. The funeral took place on Wednesday amid every public manifestation of regret and esteem. It was the intention of the family that the funeral should be strictly private, but such was the anxiety to pay a last tribute to his memory that several old friends outside the family circle were permitted to attend. Ihe list of wreaths included the following --A very handsome wreath of various coloured roses, the favourite flower of the departed, from the widow and familv a handsome wreath of choice roses and other white flowers" in affectionate remembrance, from his sister Florrie" (Mrs. Percy Shuttle- wood), a handsome representation of a lyre with a cord broken, from Mr. and Mrs. Chappell,a very beautiful wreath from the staff of the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, and other from Mr. and Mrs. Hogg, London Mr. Dennistown, Birming- ham Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson, the staff of the New Theatre, Swansea; Mr. John Irwain, Dublin Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Phillips, Birming- ham Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Madders, Birmingham Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Sounes, Cardiff; the staff of the Standard Theatre, London Mr. and Mrs. if, W. Purceil, Derby Theatre Miss Roae Darcy, Swansea Theatre Mr. Wilson Darcy, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Mitchell, Empire Mr., Robinson Smith, Mrs. Hamilton Collinson (Miss Constance Lewis), Mr. J. K. Murray and Miss Emile Dawson, and Mr. A. J. Canton. After the bereaved widow had herself placed her handsome wreath of roses on the coffin, the corpse was conveyed to the hearse, and the cortege started for the Mumbles Cemetery in the following order -—-Mourning coach containing Mr. Walter Melville the eldest son of the departed Mr. Percy nhuttlewood, brother-in-law of the departed Mr. D. Humphreys, of Newport; and Mr. Chappell, oJd friends of the family. In succeeding eirriages came the following personal friends -.—Mr. J. W. Phillips (Birmingham), Mr. Purcell (Derby), Mr. Clarence Sounes (Cardiff), Mr. H. A. SForse (Bristol), Mr. Will Smithson | (Merthyr). Mr. A.;Redfern (Birmingham), Mr. Robinson Smith, Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. W. Mansel, Mr. Jnmes Yox, lwh:" Harry Fox, the Rev. Watkin J<mes, Mr. W. F. Hulley, Mr. Fred jDowman, Ms. J. Pearse, Mr. Wilson Darcy, and the fo! 'owutf- .Ts^eTObcTs of the staff of the New Theatre :-Mosers, W. Jones, Tom Morris, Alfred Jone-t W. Thomas, D. Griffiths, H. Francis, W. Walters, Eggerton, and Palmer. Arrived &t tfoe Mumbles Cemetery, the Rev Watkins Jones 0icar of Christ Church, Swansea) read with much feeling the beautiful Burial Service of the Church of England. The rev. followed the reading of the service with a few appropriate remarks, and quoted those well-knwvvn lines of Shakespeare's, All the world's a ^sfcage, and all the men and women players in ist:, they have their entrances and exits," and went on to say that all men played thtir own parts, and sometimes found at the end of life that tfeeyhad not been playing their true pare. Some were compelled by ci!-cnm=tan<xa to play parts for which they were not snifed, but in the raod that wts to come, where the pM-t would saft.eaeh itwli Vidval, they would find men in their true colotrs. They were all pressing forward to a, goal of U.ife some- understood and som^i-mes misunderstood, Wt one had tbia great confidence that, however 1]Ji.ch the world 'may misjudge, there wes One abwve who wouui read human life correctly, and interpret men not by what they had done^ but bj .irhat they had tried to do; nor by whatdhey are, hut by what they can become by I lis gcece. He believed that their departed brother idid his best, and He who looked upon hearts attd character would give him a more kindly judg- ment th,m the world could ever give him. He t (the rev. gentleman) knew that some of those present belonged to a profession which wag mis- understood, .and which was passing through the intermediate .stages, but it was a profession which would iii,the future play a large pnrr in the education of fthe human race. He trusted that the time was,-pot far distant, and then aU in the profession the departed adorned would be able to take a high position in the world. The service at the gwf<?side was simple, but touching. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. D. & G. PhiWps.,

SWANSEA. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.…

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