We are indebted for these portraits to the courtesy of Mr. Black.
[Illustration: _From a Photo. by_] AGE 20. [_Cramb Bros., Glasgow_.]
[Illustration: _From a Photo. by_] AGE 30. [_Sarony, Birmingham_.]
[Illustration: _From a Photo. by_] AGE 45. [_Messrs. Elliott & Fry_.]
MR. CHARLES WYNDHAM was, at eighteen, the age at which our first portrait represents him, a medical student at Liverpool, at which city he was born; but having taken his degrees of L.R.C.S. and L.S.A., he went, at twenty-one, to America, and made his first appearance as an actor at Washington, with John Wilkes Booth, to whose _Hamlet_ he played _Osric_. Booth, who perhaps was never wholly sane, and who three years later made himself a name of world-wide infamy by shooting President Lincoln in a theatre-box, saw so little sign of genius in the new actor that he discharged him for incompetency. Mr. Wyndham then served as surgeon to the 19th Army Corps, and was present at some of the most deadly battles of the Civil War. His appearance at that time was that of our second portrait, which represents him in his uniform. Two years later, on his return to England, he again went on the boards, and entered at once upon the career which has long been recognised as that of the finest light comedian at present on the stage.
[Illustration: _From a_] AGE 18. [_Miniature._]
[Illustration: _From a Photo, by_] AGE 22. [_Purviance, New York._]
[Illustration: _From a Photo, by_] PRESENT DAY. [_Vernon Heath._]
AT 19, John Rowlands, a poor Welsh boy, had emigrated to America, had been adopted by a merchant of the name of Stanley, and had assumed the latter name. At 22, his adopting father having died without a will, young Stanley was serving as a petty officer on board the war-ship _Minnesota_. At 26 he had become a journalist, and was about to represent the _New York Herald_ with the British army in Abyssinia. On returning from this expedition he delivered lectures on his adventures, a handbill of which we reproduce on the page opposite, as a veritable curiosity. At 31 he had discovered Dr. Livingstone, and had returned with glory. What Mr. Stanley has done recently is known to all the world.
[Illustration: _From a_] AGE 19. [_Photograph._]