"Families are chequered as in brains, so in bulk."--FULLER.
The children of many obscure performers have become eminent: but there
are very few instances in which the descendant of a considerable actor
or actress has been distinguished. To take instances within recent
recollection, or of the present day, for example--Mr. Elliston has a
son upon the stage: with none of the striking talent of the father.
Mr. Henry Siddons, the son of Mrs. Siddons, was a very bad actor
indeed. Lewis had two sons upon the stage, neither of them of any
value. Mr. Dowton has two sons (or had), in the same situation. And
Mrs. Glover's two daughters will never rise above mediocrity. On the
other hand, Mr. Macready and Mr. Wallack, are both sons of very low
actors; and the late Mr. John Bannister and Mr. Tokely were similarly
descended. Almost the only modern instance of the immediate descendant
of a valuable performer turning out well, was in the case of Mrs.
Jordan's daughter, Mrs. Alsop; who was very nearly as good an actress
as her mother. We doubt, too, if there is an instance on record of a
very young man being a considerable actor.
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