et me OTL OL A IE AR a 3: whee OEM OR ORM oor es 6 250 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer ability. Later, he was naval officer of the port and president of the Bank of Cape Fear. Dr. James F. McRee* was one of the foremost men in his profession, in this or any other State; a most successful practi- tioner and a bold and brilliant operator. He had great scholarly attainments, was fond of the classics, wrote with ease and ele- gance, was equally at home in the researches of philosophy and the mazes of metaphysics, the natural sciences and the polite literature of the day. William M. Green, later bishop of Mississippi, remarkable for intelligence, suavity of manner, and for a beauty somewhat feminine, and David M. Miller, father of the late lamented Col. James T. Miller, played with success the rdle of female char- acters. William C. Lord sustained the réle of the sentimental gen- tleman with great dignity and propriety. He was one of nature’s noblemen. John Cowan was admirable in genteel comedy. His fine figure, graceful manner, and correct gesticulations appeared to great advantage on the stage. He was the eldest son of Col. Thomas Cowan, one of the old settlers of the town, and was one of the handsomest men of the day. He became cashier of the Bank of the State. William H. Halsey frequently appeared on the stage and was as natural as life. He was prominent in his profession, and left the reputation of a lawyer of great learning. , Charles L. Adams played well his part among the choice spirits of those days and added much to the success of their representations by his versatility of talent, knowledge of scenic effects, and unfailing good humor. Thomas Loring was an excellent performer in the higher walks of tragedy. He had a face of marked expression, a voice deep-chested and sonorous, and in his rendition of the characters of Shylock and of the Duke of Gloucester there was an earnest- ness and a passion not easily forgotten. Mr. Loring was one of the best known editors in the State. After an existence of some years this organization ceased, but not until it had been of much service to the community. Not only had it afforded entertainment, but it had been still more beneficial in the development of talent and in fostering an inter- Interesting Memories 251 revived by another set of aspirants for the buskin who did not in point of talent disgrace their predecessors. Among them were Joseph A. Hill, Dr. Thomas H. Wright, Robert H. Cowan, Dr. James H. Dickson, Dr. John Hill, Lawrence D. Dorsey, John Nutt Brown, and many others. They played with very great success. Joseph A. Hill shone on the mimic stage, as he did upon the actual stage of life, with unfailing lustre. A son of William H. Hill and a grandson of John Ashe, he had no rival of his age as a debater and orator, and no superior of any age in North Carolina. Dr. Thomas H. Wright played female characters with great success. He became president of the Bank of Cape Fear. Robert H. Cowan was a very popular member of the associa- tion and bore a prominent part in all their representations. After preparing for the law, he abandoned it for agriculture. Dr. James H. Dickson was a prominent member of the asso- ciation, appeared frequently upon the stage, and was regarded as an excellent performer. Embracing the profession of medi- cine, he sprang at once into a large and lucrative practice. He possessed great power—was a student all his life, a lover of books and a thinker, a man of scholarly attainment and fond of scientific study. He fell at his post of duty, one of the earliest victims of the fearful epidemic of 1862. Dr. John Hill frequently appeared upon the boards, always in genteel comedy and as the gentleman of the piece, which harmonized well with his graceful figure and easy manner. He was a remarkably handsome man. Endowed with versatile talents, he graced equally the stage and the drawing-room. While eminent as a physician, he achieved a particular fame for his literary accomplishments. He became president of the Bank of Cape Fear, and was known as Dr. John “Bank” Hill, to distinguish him from his kinsman, Dr. James H. Hill. Eventually this association, like its predecessor, dissolved ; but there came along a strolling company of actors who leased the theatre for two or three seasons, and after their departure, interest in theatricals having revived, a third organization was formed. The members of the new association well sustained the repu- tation of the former players. For a long time they offered the only source of amusement to the public, and crowded houses ti : ; : oS NN CENTOS YET RT - wegen nue ee TG RO A a Mt i ae est in the drama, as well as disseminating culture generally among the citizens. Nor was it long before the association was eR Ra en a eI om A ALLE SENS LOLI EO: GS SORE SA SR always greeted their performances. On the list of members we pe RO Ae i LE LL DELO EEE OO LL SELLE LE LILLE LLL LLL! ALLELE: CEN A A Bm “oe es LEE_CAD ALLELE ELLA AL OEE nies one ows