The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-13

Adah Isnncs Nenkeu.


On Tuesday last, in the city of Paris, Adah Isaacs
Menken, well known in this country as an actress OF
only meagre ability, died. Though cut OF at COM
paratvey early age her life has been marked by
many changes OF capricious fortune. Adah was
born in the city OF New Orleans in the year 1885, and
was consequently at the time OF her death about
thirty three years Of age Her parents were both
sraetes, and though she herself never exhibited any
marked religious proclivlties, still her sympathies
were ever with the suffering ones OF her parents
creed. Her father died when she was quite young
and her mother married again, DR.. Campbell then
surgeon in the United States Army GAS Adah grew up
she evnced great aptitude aud with increasing years
exhibited remarkable talent, which being noticed by
her stepather he had her educated in careful man
ner. Her progress at school was noticeable, and her
literary productions even at the early age of twelve
years exhibited bright indications OF what she
might have in future years attained had not circum
stances and the strange fascination OF the stage
turned from their true the natural gifts with
which the deceased seemed even at TINS age to be
possessed. The death OF her stepfather when she
attained her twelfth year, threw her mother upon
her own resources, and a short time after we find
the young Adah makes her debut on the
s S der anSns
some time in the Crescent City she appeared at tho
Tacon theatre In Havana, where she at once became
paid visit to Mexico, where her love OF adventure
frequently caused her much danger. Here 1t was
late years distinguished her began at first
to develop itself. She returned to New Orleans
played an engagement and then determined 70
leave the stage and follow literary pursuits. She
contributed to two or three newspapers but finding
this rather Improbable work she again embarked In
the theatrical sea- In some OF the principal cities OF
the West she played with some degree OF success,
attributable more to her free and easy style rather
than to the display Of dramatic ability. While In the
| Western country she contracted marriage engage
ment with a man named Menken, whose name she
bore throughout the many changes OF her peculiarly
changing career. She visited California where she
claimed TO have been married to the pugilfst john
G. Heenan. Mr.. Heenan's dtsavOwal Of the marriage
| 1850 deceased appeared In this city, and played an
| engagement at the old National theatre In Chatham
| street, then under the direction OF the late Man
| ager Purdy. She appeared on the bills a.
| Captain Adah Isaacs Menken. She subse-
| quently appeared at the Bowery theatre and
Canterbury Music Hall, then located on Broadway,
| near Bond street. About this time she became the
| partner, for short hme however, OF r. H. Newell,
| better known In the newspaper world az Orpheus
determined try her fortune in the DID, and In 1884
she made her appearance as Mazeppa In the Theatre
| Royal, Astley's, London, and created quite Juror
thQpgR per acting Was severely criticised and
demned. She next visited Paris where she made
the acquaintance OF Dumas, pere, who was evidently
captlvated by the dashing American girl Beoom.
ing homesck she paid visit To this city about f0ug
years ago, and opened In her fav0rite piece Of Ma.
zeppa I'd the Broadway theatre. This engagement
was not particularly remunerative 10 the manager.
After short stay here she returned TO Europe
Ever affecting love for poetry 1t Is no wonder tnat
her affections should drift towards the poet Agern0u
Swinburne. Many we're her lasons not only at home,
bnt abroad. In the gay capital OF France where q
late she loved to dwell, her last hours were spent
and there she died.