256 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

as when engaged in some disinterested act of kindness or minis-
tering to the pleasure of others.

Nature had been lavish in her gifts to him. No one could be
in his company, for however short a time, without feeling the
influence of his rich and unctious humor, his genial bonhomie,
his entire unselfishness, and not admire, also, the exhibition of
that virtue which so few of us possess, the desire to avoid, even
in the slightest degree, anything that might give pain to others.
He had a fine ear for music and sang with wonderful sweetness
and expression; his voice was not cultivated, but his tone was
singularly soft and perfect, like the mournful sighing of the
breeze through the lofty pines of the forest. We were boys
together, and I knew him well; ‘‘a fellow of infinite jest, of
most excellent fancy, whose flashes of merriment were wont to
set the table in a roar.” Green be the turf above and lightly

may it rest upon him, for the earth covers not a heart more
generous nor one more entirely unselfish.
Dr. Alfred O. Bradley displayed histrionic talent of a very

high order. He was inimitable as Sir Able Handy, most excel-
lent as Max Harkaway, in London Assurance, and as Beauseant,
in The Lady of Lyons, was decidedly the best representative of
that character we have ever seen on any stage. In the beautiful
play Feudal Times he appeared as Lord Angus, a fiery represent-
ative of the haughty Douglas, and played it with a vehemence
and power that astonished all who witnessed the performance.

James A. Wright was one of the most youthful members of
the association, and his career upon the stage, though very brief,
was full of promise. Few men in our State—few men in any
State of his age—had brighter prospects of a more brilliant
future. Descended from one of the oldest and most influential
families on the Cape Fear, he inherited in large degree the vir-
tues for which they have always been so justly distinguished.
Nature had been kind to him, and education had given polish
and brillianey to the jewels with which he was endowed and that
adorned his character. But alas! for human hopes and human
calculations. The dark cloud of the War between the States,
whose mutterings had been heard for years, at length burst sud-
denly upon us, and the State called upon her sons to go forth
and battle for the right. He was among the first to obey the call,
and at the head of his company marched to Virginia to meet

the hostile invaders, and at Mechanicsville, at the early age of
twenty-six, he sealed his devotion to his country with his heart’s

blood.

Interesting Memories 257

We have not the space to speak, as we would like to do, of
the merits of Cushing, Hill, Lippitt, Cowan, Pierce, Waddell,
and Stephen Jewett. They played well their parts in the
world’s great drama, and “after life’s fitful fever, they sleep
well” in the vast and silent city of the dead.

This association continued to occupy and use the theatre
building until the old building was sold, as already mentioned.
The authorities of the town had determined upon the erection
of a city hall on the site of the Old Academy, and purchased the
property for that purpose. The association received one-half
of the purchase money. Thalian Hall was the result. Mr.
Donald MacRae was at that time president of the association,
and to his energy, perseverance, and acknowledged business
ability are we indebted for the beautiful theatre which reflects
so much credit upon our city. The new building was leased by
Mr. Marchant, a well-known theatrical manager, and opened to
the public in October, 1859. The members of the association
had now grown older and were more averse to appearing upon
the stage, and the organization found itself hampered with a
heavy debt. Under all these circumstances, a proposition was
made to the authorities of the town that if they would assume
the responsibilities of the association, all the right, title, and
interest in that part of the building used for theatrical purposes
would be surrendered. This was acceded to—the transfers
made in proper form—and the Wilmington Thalian Association
as a theatrical organization ceased to exist.

However, it is worthy of note that before its dissolution, the
Wilmington Thalian Association contributed a stone, inscribed
with its name, to be placed in the monument to George Wash-
ington in Washington City, and that stone, now imbedded in the
monument to the Father of his Country, perpetuates its memory.