BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Co. Mayo Wednesday, October 9, 1850 REFORMATION IN DUBLIN On Sunday the Rev. Richard Swayne, late a priest of the Church of Rome and member of the Order of Carmelites, with two other respectable persons, renounced and abjured the errors of popery under the spiritual direction of the Rev. Thomas Scott, and subsequently received holy communion in St. Thomas's Church. Mr. Swayne is the author of the letter recently addressed to the Most Rev. Paul Cullen, titular primate of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, entitled "Rome tried by herself and Found Guilty." He is on probation with the Reformed Romanist Priests' Protection Society. -- Evening Herald. EDMUND AND CHARLES KEAN Charles Kean, the tragedian, was born at Waterford on the 18th of January, 1811. His mother, Mary Chambers, was also a native of Waterford, descended from the respectable family of Cuffe, long settled in that county. - Charles Kean entered Eton as an "Oppidan," his father fixed his allowance for board and education at 300l. per annum. He remained at Eton three years. Edmund Kean might have maintained his family in all the elegancies of life, and left behind him 50,000l. if habits of irregularity and reckless extravagance had not gradually settled upon him. Charles Kean fortunately had contracted no private debts - a rare occurence in an Etonian. He made his way to London, and hastened immediately to his mother's lodgings. He found her in sickness, in sorrow, and in poverty. The young man first made his appearance on any stage in Drury-lane theatre on the 1st October, 1827, in Young Norval. The father and son acted together for the first and only time in London, on the 26th March, 1833. The play was Othello. The Moor, as usual, by Edmund Kean, Iago by Charles Kean and Desdemona by Miss Ellen Tree. After the first scene, Kean observed, 'Charles is getting on very well to-night-he's acting very well; I suppose that's because he's acting with me.' He was very feeble but by the help of brandy and water he went on stoutly till the commencement of the third act. He held up until the celebrated 'Farewell,' which he uttered with all his former pathos; but on concluding it, after making one or two steps towards his son, and attempting his speech, 'Villain!, be sure,' his head sank on his son's shoulder and the tragedian's acting was at an end. His son, assisted by other persons, carried him to his dressing room, and laid him on the sofa. He was removed to Richmond, where he died on the 15th of May, and was buried in the churchyard at Richmond, where his son erected a tablet to his memory. A sliver claret jug valued at 100l. was presented to him in London by a deputation of gentlemen from Waterford, inscribed as follows: - "Presented to Charles Kean, Esq., as a token of esteem for his private character and admiration of his talents, by a few friends, in his native city of Waterford, June 28th, 1838." On the 30th of March, 1838, he received the high compliment of a public dinner in the saloon of Drury-lane theatre, on which occasion, he was also presented with a magnificent silver vase, value 200l. "by the admirers of his distinguished talents." On the 29th of January, 1842, occurred the most auspicious event in his life - he was married in the Church of St. Thomas in Dublin, to Miss Ellen Tree. By this Charles Kean obtained a large addition to his worldly means, and an invaluable co-operator in his theatrical career. This marriage took place on the last day of their Dublin engagement and on that same evening, by an odd coincidence, they performed together in The Honeymoon. On the 30th of March, 1849, the widow of Edmund Kean died at Keydell, in Hampshire, the county residence of her son and where she had found a happy retreat during the closing years of her chequered existence. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/