RIDDLES OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
267
company, and from Montreal Mr. Riddle went to Philadelphia, and ob-
tained an engagement to play at the Chestnut-street Theatre. The first
question addressed him, on arriving, by the manager, was, "Mr. Riddle,
have you any voice?" "Let us settle that now," replied Mr. Riddle;
"let me go on the stage and recite something to you.' The trial was
satisfactory, and he was engaged forthwith. That was a Friday, and the
following Monday Mr. Riddle appeared as Clifford, in the "Hunchback."
The Philadelphia press gave him a favorable verdict, and he remained at
the theatre five weeks, when, being out of the bill, he came to Boston on
a visit. During that visit Professor Pierce invited him to give a reading
at his house in Cambridge on an afternoon. President Eliot was of the
little company assembled in Professor Pierce's parlor, and took occasion
to ask Mr. Riddle to accept the place of substitute to Professor Baxter,
the instructor in elocution, who was then ill. Mr. Riddle declined out-
right, for he had, as he thought, fairly entered on his dramatic career, but
President Eliot, in his quiet way, said: "I will give you two days to con-
sider the matter," thus implying that he was not ready to take "No" for
an answer. The result was that Mr. Riddle assented, and became in-
structor of elocution at Harvard, a position he still holds. The place has
been of the greatest value to him, in that by training the voices of others
he has been able to overcome his old defect of insufficient voice. Since
his return to Boston, Mr. Riddle has given readings throughout New Eng-
land, and has achieved great and merited success.
Mr. Riddle appeared at the Boston Theatre in 1881, playing Claude to
Miss Mary Anderson's Pauline, and his performance was a great success,
the audience being the largest ever seen in the theatre. He was the chief
actor in the tragedy of "Edipus" in the Greek drama at Harvard Univer-
sity, and proved such a success that his fame was established. Mr. Rid-
dle's acting has been criticised as more modern than Greek, some contend-
ing that, in the Greek drama, there was little passion and forceful acting;
but Mr. Riddle's conception of his part has received the approval of high
classical authority, the hearty praise and commendation of learned and
enthusiastic classical scholars. It is not a little curious that the classical
glory which has come to the venerable university, should have come by
the first actor graduated therefrom.
RIDDLES OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
Richard Riddle¹ (1), descended from Scottish ancestors, was born in
Dublin, Ireland, about 1802; married Catherine Eustes, and had issue six
children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Riddle came to Boston, Mass., many
years ago, and engaged in the blacksmith and carriage-building business.
He died about 1879-80, and was succeeded in the business by his two
sons, of whom hereafter. Mr. Riddle had brothers in Ireland.
SECOND GENERATION.
Sarah Riddle² (1), a daughter of Richard' (1), was married to Wil-
liam Conners, of Maine; resides in Boston.
