James Harvey d'Egville Shows His Playful Side

Charles Mathews (1776-1835)
by C. Turner (1825)

One morning at rehearsal, "His Innocence" (casually, of course) remarked, as Mr. Mathews left the room (who was, at this period of his life, the thinnest of human beings, and far from possessing even tolerable health), that "it was hardly to be credited, while looking at his slight form, what extraordinary muscular strength he possessed."

"What-what-what, Mathews!" cried Dowton— (for whom the snare was laid) startled by so transparent a fallacy, "why-why, he 's a poor weak creature !—what can you mean by strength ?—why, I 'd undertake to knock him down with my little finger." (Mr. Dowton piqued himself upon his really muscular frame.)

"Don't you be too sure of that" said Russell, coldly; "have you ever tried?"

"No," said Dowton ; " but I can venture to say that he has not the least muscular power—a poor, consumptive young man; poor fellow, without an atom of sinew or muscle in his whole composition."

"Well!" mildly, yet reprovingly, drawled Russell, "but you shouldn't speak, Dowton, without proof—now I have seen Mathews perform the most marvellous feats of strength, and therefore I know what he can do. Why, D'Egville (of course, D'Egville was promptly confederate in this trick), muscular and Herculean as is his frame, he would find Mathews more than his match, if they came to the test."

"Oh, nonsense and stuff!" said Dowton, impatient at the manifest folly of Russell's assertion; "don't make a fool of yourself;" and D'Egville, affecting also to laugh at the idea of his being overcome by Mathews in a trial of strength, Russell coolly expressed his convictions that "Mathews, in wrestling, would conquer D'Egville," and declared he would back his opinion with a five pound note; and just as he took it from his pocket, Mr. Mathews, (quite unconscious, of course, of what had been going on), returned. The sight of his spare figure seemed to stimulate Dowton's courage and opposition, and he hastily dived into his pocket, saying—" Well, for once, I-I-I-I will lay a wager, and get that-that-that eternal five pound note from you, for you deserve to be punished for your obstinacy; so, here, Barrymore, do you, do you hold the stakes." Hereupon, Russell calmly and confidently placed his note in Mr. Barrymore's hand, and Dowton began to count from his purse a similar sum; but as he was about to place the coin with the umpire, his metal was shaken at the tranquil and assured air of Russell, and he drew back his cash, declaring that he would not indulge Russell in the love of betting on every occasion—and recanted; at the same time repeating his conviction that "he should be robbing the foolish fellow of his money if he betted upon such an absurdity."

Mr. Mathews having however cheerfully consented to this proof of his superior strength, wrestled withD'Egville, who acted his part so well, that he frequently fell under his antagonist's extraordinary bodily power, and in fact, was so worsted in the struggle that he admitted with much apparent mortification, that he had no chance with him. At the same time, Dowton, pale with amazement, declared he would not have credited the fact had he not witnessed it, and ever after, while he could not withhold his wonder that a man of such apparently weak frame, could be capable of such vigorous energy, Mathews was ranked amongst the Athletes by his brother comedian.

Anecdotes of Actors: with other desultory recollections, Anne Mathews, 1844