Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-20
MISS AvONIA JONES.
She Is III and Cannot Come--A
Sad Letter-Belle Boyd to
Open the season.

When Miss Avonia Jones (Brooke)
returned from Europe few weeks since,
she promptly notified Mr.. Thompson, OF
the New Memphis Theater,. that she
would be here to open the season ac-
cording to engagement. The thester
will open on Monday, and hundreds of
our citizens have already enjoyed in
anticipation the rare intellectual treat
so soon TO be afforded by this distiu-
guished artistic, who in. few years
attained world wide celebrity, They
will be grioved to learn, not only that
their anticipations in this regard must
fail Of realization, but that there seems
little probability of their old favorite
ever reappearing before them. Miss
Jones returned flushed with triumphs in
the old world, and SO buoyed up ny
hopes Of the future that the inroads OF
an organic disease which at one time
threatened to render her q physical
wreck, we're other forgotten or regarded
as checked. Since then she has daily
declined; disease has ruthlessly forbid
den her enjoyment Of new triumphs !
all her engagements have been aban'
doned; and her struggle for higher
histrionic fame is changed to one for
life. In a letter to Mr. Thompson she
communicates the unwelcome intelli-
gence. He has kindly placed it at our
disposal and we print it below. Every
word seems to come from the heart, and
the almost countless admirers Of this
gifted lady throughout the country, will
read il with mournful interests
CAxBRIDGRPoRT, MAS. Sept. Il, 1855.
Ny DEAR Mr.. THOMPSON: 1t is God s
will, not mine, that prevents my fulfilling
my engagement with you and it is the
source of deepest griefto me that cannot
come; for dearly love Memphis and
its people You, and all who care for
me, will, / am sure, be grieved to know
that without great care | have little
chance of life left. For eighteen m onths
| have been gradually going into deep
decline, but did not completely break
down till l reached home You will
know how utterly powerless ] am to act,
when | tell you / cannot walk across
the room without assistance, can scarce
ly speak without violent coughing, and
am only moved from my bed to an easy
chair for an hour or two q day. All my
engagements must be given up, and it
will be at least year before ! can re-
sumo my profession, If it is Heaven
will | should recover. ] have had a
consultation of physicians, and the de-
cree is that | am to be carried to New
York in ten days, then after resting, to
20 to Cuba for the entire winter. This
plan they consider the only chance Of
life l have left.
1t is very hard to bear; TO have your
brain and intellect clearer than ever be-
fore; with every will and desire to do
and yet be utterly powerless. Explain
this to my kind friends in Memphis; tell
them it causes me many sad hours to
think that perhaps | may never see
them again; and their good hearts will
exonerate you from all blame. Tell
them il come back from Havana with
recovered health and strength, WILL
keep my promise, and come to them
first, and will try to make you all the
reparation in my power, Their gift to
me-my dear old Nero-is the most low.
ing, faithful creature ever created.
Hoping you will not blame me now, be.
lieve me ever sincerely yours,
AvoNIA Brooke.
The following, a copy of the certificate
of her physicians, was forwarded with
the letter:
We the undersigned attending and
consulting physicians Of Mrs. G. Y.
Brooke (Avouia Jones). hereby certify
that she is absolutely unable at the pres
ent time to appear on the stage; the
state of her health being such that she
would be sure to break down should she
attempt it.
(Sigred) II. L. CHASE,
Attending Physician.
DAVID THAYER,