Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/719

Rh turned his attention to writing for tlie London stage, and produced various pieces of a light char- acter. This was followed with a drama, " A ]Iob Cap," at Drury Lane theatre. About this time Mr. Paul married Isabelle Featherstone, and in 1854 he made his first appearance on the stage at Bath in a farce of his own composition, entitled "My Neighbor Opposite." Subsequently he wrote and pro- duced "Locked Out," a pleasing trifle that proved widely popular throughout Great Britain and sub- sequently in this country. In 1858 he brought out "Patchwork," a combination of songs and dialogue, and the forerunner of a kind of entertainment that has since been popular. After playing his own adaptation, from the French, " Thrice Married," Mr. and Mrs. Paul came to the United States, where they made an extended tour. Their last visits to this country were made in 1866-'7 and 1869. Of late years Mr. Paul has rai'ely appeared in public, but has been more or less concerned in theatrical affairs, at times as a manager. Besides the works mentioned above, he has written " The Young Chemist ; Pastimes for Youth " (London, 1851) ; " The Book of American Songs, with Notes, Biographical and Critical " (1857) ; " Patchwork Embroidered with Art, Whim, and Fancy " (1859) ; " Clever Things said by ChUdren " (1886) ; and " Funny Stories that will make You Laugh out Loud " (1887). Mr. Paul has also been a frequent contributor to the press on literary and artistic sub- jects. — Mis wife, Isabelle Featherstone, singer, b. in Dartford, Kent, England, about 1835 ; d. in England, 6 June. 1879, was the possessor of a con- tralto voice of extraordinary power and compass. With proper training she would have taken a high position on the lyric stage, but she was satisfied with playing a range of characters that were en- tirely unworthy of her. After studying in France and Italy, she appeared in London, in 1853, as C-apt. Macheath in the " Beggars' Opera," winning an easy triumph. The opera was revived the fol- lowing season at the Hayraarket. Besides acting jointly with her husband, she made a success by singing tenor parts in an English adaptation of Offenbach's " Grande Duchesse," and in his •* Gene- vieve de Brabant " in the original French, the lat- ter being given in New York city. Mrs. Paul was perhaps best known by her almost perfect imita- tion of the English tenor, Sims Reeves. In 1869 she essayed the part of Lady Macbeth in London. Her last important appearance was in Gilbert and Sullivan's opera of the " Sorcerer."

PAUL, José Jesus, Venezuelan statesman, b. in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1825: d. in Washington, D. C, 7 March, 1870. He was the son of an emi- nent lawyer who was for many years chief justice of the supreme court. The son was educated for the legal profession, and held the office of judge, when he was chosen secretary of the house of rep- resentatives. He was soon afterward elected to a seat in that body, but did not take it, as he was at once appointed minister of the interior in the cabi- net of President Tovar. When a revolution drove Tovar from power and placed Juan Crisostomo Falcon at the head of the government,- Paul re- tired from public life for a time and devoted him- self to agriculture. The latter did not suit his ac- tive temperament, and, believing that the people were ready for another change, he visited the dif- ferent states and advised a revolution, which speedily followed in 1868. Jose Tadeo Monagas was then made president, and Paul was appointed to a judgeship, the duties of which he filled until he was sent as minister to the United States. He was a man of great firmness and much ability.

PAULDING, James Kirke, author, b. in Nine Partners, Dutchess co., N. Y.. 22 Aug., 1778: d. at Hyde Park, in the same county. 6 April, 1860. He was the youngest son of William Paulding, a mem- ber of the New York committee of safety and com- missary - general of the state troops, and hiswife.Cath- erine Ogden, of the New Jersey family of that name. Soon after peace was declared the Pauldings returned to their former abode in Westchester county. Of his early vears Mr. Paulding said : " There was little sunshine in my youth. For some time after the war there were very few schools in our part of the country, and the nearest school-house was up- ward of two miles from our residence. At this coun- try school, which was a log-hut. I received my educa- tion, which first and last cost about fifteen dollars — certainly quite as much as it was worth." At the age of nineteen he went to New York and lived with his brother William, who had secured a place for him in a public office. Through his brother-in-law, William Irving, a man of wit and genius, whose house was the familiar resort of many young men of literary taste and aspirations. Paulding became acquainted with Washington Irving. A strong friendship immediately sprang up between them, which continued unbroken to the last. They had each written some trifiing articles for the " Morn- ing Chronicle" and for other journals of the day — Paulding a few hits at the follies of society, and Irving his "Oliver Old Style" essays — when, meet- ing one evening at William Irving's, they formed the project of publishing a periodical to amuse themselves and the town. In January, 1807, the first number of " Salmagimdi " was issued. It was their joint production, with the exception of the poetical epistles and several prose articles, which were written by William Irving. It satirized the follies of the day with great prodigality of wit and no less exuberance of good nature. Nothing of the kind had appeared before from an American pen or press, and its great success was perhaps the de- termining cause of the subsequent devotion to liter- ature of its chief authors. At the expiration of a year, twenty numbers having been issued, "Salma- gundi " was suddenly discontinued, owing to the refusal of the publisher to renunierate its authors. In 1812, having in the meanwhile written occasion- ally for various periodicals, Mr. Paulding published his second work, "The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan," in the style of Arbuthnot, which passed through many editions, and may be considered as among the most successful of Paulding's productions. It was followed during the next year by a parody on Scott's "Lay of the Last Minstrel," entitled "The Lay of the Scottish Fiddle." which appeared anonymously, like most of Paulding's earlier writings. An edition of this national satire was, with the addition of a complimentary preface, published in London, and enjoyed what might be called the distinction of a