The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-01-05
MRS. sIDDONs, THE ACTRESS.

aHJ InlnS " ~ II 40 wing
Laughter. .
MRS. SIDDONS, THE ACTRESS.
Roger Kemble was manager Of 8
company Of strolling comedians
It was reported in the profession
that he began life as a hair-dress.
er. He claimed to belong to an
old English Catholic family which
had furnished martyrs to Protest
ant intolerance; and his old-fash-
Toned courtesy of manner, his am,
bilious views in regard to his son,
and the well-cut and refined fea-
lures of all his children, seem fair
evidence Of good breeding and
extraction. Early in life he had
joined a band Of strollers, and
married the daughter of the mana
ger, an Irish actor. The lady was
very handsome, and, we are told,
chad once been tempted by a coro-
net" Her father vehemently OPP
posed the match, but when he
found opposition was of no use,
he reluctantly consented, consol-
ing himself with a rough thrust at
his new son-in-law. He had wish
ed her, he said, not to marry an
actor, and she had complied with
his wishes.
The fruit Of this marriage was
twelve children, of whom Sarah
and John Philip were the eldest
and greatest. Most Of them were
born on the circuit; only eight at
tanned maturity. Sarah, the most
gifted and famous Of the family,
was born in Wales, July, 5, 1755.
At the proper age she was sent to
respectable day schools in the
country towns to which the cir
cult brought the troupe. A very
aged lady, alive short time ago,
recalled perfectly how the young
girls in one of these schools were
inclined to look down on the "play
actors dapGhter, until, some pri-
vate theatricals being set on foot,
her histrionic taste and experience
put her forward, and made her
services extremely valuable. She
won universal popularity by ex-
hibiting a device for initiating a
sack back with the thick paper
that covers sugar-loaves. But her
education must have been OF a fit
full sort, for the manager could not
well afford to forego the assistance
of a clever girl. Even when she
was almost child the future Mrs.
Siddons was announced, on some
benefit, as a sort of "Infant Phen-
omenon," to add to the attractions
of the evening. AS she came for
ward, some confusion arose in the
gallery which overpowered all her
attempts. Then her mother, who
was a woman of promptness and
spirit, led her down to the foot
lights, and made her recite the IA
BILE of "The Boys and Frogs"
which at once lulled the tumult
and restored good humor.
Where the troupe went, the
young girl, who was a great beau
ty, attracted attention and admira-
ton. Her coquettish staging Of
"Robin, sweet Robin" enslaved
the heart Of wealthy squire, who
proposed for her hand. The will
full beauty WAS then engaged to
be married to an actor by the
name Of Siddons. Fearful of the
superior attractions of the squire's
purse, her lowly admirer proposed
an elopement. She refused, and
he was dismissed from the troupe;
but being allowed the compliment
of q farewell benefit, he meanly
took advantage Of it to reeite, in
doggerel verse, the story Of his
wrongs. A hearty boxing of the
ears from the angry mother of the
Miss awaited him at the wings as
he retired from the stage. But
Sarah proved constant and forgiv-
ing. After spending a few months
in retirement as lady's-maid to a
Mrs. Greathead, she won her faith
er's consent to their union, and
they were married in November,
1878.
For two years subsequent to her
marriage Mrs. Siddons and her
husband remained connected with
Roger Kemble's company Of stroll
Ling players. While playing in
the "Fair Penitent," at the Chel-
tenham Theatre, she was closely
observed by an emissary of Gar
rick's, who gave his employer q IA
vOrabie account of her talents.
Later, the great actor dispatched
the fighting clergyman, Bate, to
make more careful report. The
result was an engagement at Drury
Lane at a salary Of five pounds q
week. The great actress herself
tells the story Of her hopes, fears,
and final triumph with touching
simplicity and modesty. The play
selected for her debut was "Isabel-
la fine Though ponderous dra-
ma, full Of gusts of passion and
the very deepest tragedy. For one
gifted with the tragic powers OF
tenderness, grief, and rage, moth
ing better could have been chosen.
At one Of the rehearsals an Incl.
dent occurred which, though tri-
fling, must have afforded her iafi.
mite encouragement. Her little
boy, who was to take a part in the
play, was so affected by her acting
that he took it for reality, and
burst into passionate crying,
thinking he was about to 1ese his
mother. This satisfactory prooi
OF effect deeply impressed the &C.
tors and the manager, and Sheri.
dan had the story conveyed to
friendly newspapers.
The evening came, and every
thing was favorable. There was 3
vast house, crammed to the roof
and extraordinary excitement and
curiosity. Though she had been
acting for years, she was almost
unnerved. When she found her.
self on the stage she felt, she said
''the awful consciousness that ont
is the sole object of attention Ia
that immense space, lined. as II