Connecting across generations

Salem, Mass.
  "The work of the scene painters, M___, Doble and Callan, at the Mechanic Hall is finished and the patrons of entertainments there this session will be gratified by entirely new scenes. Charles H. Webber of this city will probably sell his play, Secrets of the Service, to a well-known star. It has been produced in Salem, Lynn and Worcester with great success. Mr. Webber, when fourteen years old, wrote a play for Yankee Locke, which was performed many times by that gentleman. Soon after this Mr. Webber volunteered as a drummer in the war and on his return, in 1864, the citizens of Salem, where he was well known as a phenomenal poet, actor and playwright, gave him a benefit, which netted him over $600. In 1866 he joined the Boston Dramatic co., in which organization E. E. Rice, of Evangeline fame, belonged at that time. In 1868 he moved to New York and studied for the stage. He dramatized Mrs. Braddon's novel, "Rupert Goodwin," here. In 1869 he came back to Salem, and is now editor and owner of the Salem Post. He has written The Banker's Crime, Secrets of the Service and other plays, and had them presented in this and adjoining cities. As an actor he is very popular here, and will eventually leave journalism for the stage."

(from The New York Mirror, about 1880)