Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-29
"REMINISCENCES AND RAMBLES
ABOUT DRIA.
THE GRAVE OF AN EMINENT ACTRESS

BY far the most pleasing specimen OF the
memorial art within the enclosure, as well
in design as in execution, is the grey stone
sarcophagus 10 which rest the ashes of one OIL
the mcSt gifted and unsullied female characters
that shed delight and adornment upon the
stage 10 her day. Her career, in its public and
iu its domestic walks in this country, is inter
woven with mauy of the greatest recollectioDs
that diguify and charm in the early annals oil
the American stage. Miss Anne Brunton-
for that was her maiden name, and the one by
which she is kuowo in Theatrical Annals
the daughter of respectable manager and ac-
tor of Bath England, was born in l769. She
was educated with great care by an excellent
mother, who never for a moment contemplated
her for the stage till the year ln which she ap-
peared at Covent Garden, with the greatest
triumph, before she was sixteen years of age.
Al the request OF her mother, who was training
her daughter for the duties of good wife, Of
which she herself Was au example, the child of
fifteen years repeated some select passages be-
lore her father, and this fixed her destiny.
Though she was not gifted with that dignity Of
stature so desirable 10 the embodiment of tragic
parts, the father never from that day indulged
the slightest doubt of the career of fame aud
fortune that awaited her. She appeared at
Bath for the first time, at her father benefit as
Euphrasia, the Grecian daughter. She was
without stage practice, and having rarely seen
the inside OF theatre, had pro6ted but little
from the observation Of other actresses Friends
tremGlcd, and even predicted failure; but her
triumph was complete. Bluntou filed the part
of the aged father, and when father and
daughter appeared upon the sceue, the enthu-
,iasm burst forth iu acclamatioD. So was it
with Kemble and bis daughter, Fanny Ken
ble. aud Cooper and his daughte Mrs. Rob
ert Tyler in later seneration. ln the same
year, 1885. Miss Bruutou appeared at Covent
Garden as Horutiu, 'and for the succeeding
seven years she was the favorite of London
critics and playgoers 10 tie greatest tragic char
acterS, AT the conclusion OF the engagement
in 1872, she was married to Robert Merry, a
ventcman of literary a;tainments, and at the
wish of her husbands family, retired reluctant
ly from The profession which she loved. Merry
soon wasted his fortune 10 extravagaut living,
and when Wiguell went over to Eugland to get
Accompany for the pew Chestnut Theatre in
Philadelphia, 10 1896, he was wiling tor his
wife to make an engagement with hun. Mrs
Merry had seen Cooper at Covent Garden
when he appeared n his native city at nlne-
teen years of age with the most conspicuous
success, and had formed the greatest opiuion
of him He was summoned from Wales, where
he had goue 10 sccluSiou because he had been
Extensively treated 10 London on account OF his
guYrdiaps, Goodwin aud Hucroft, who we're un-
popular, as we'll known Jaoobius. He gladly
iolncd the company, aud the same ship, after a
voyage of tweuty one days, Landed Nlguell,
Warren, Cooper. and Mr.. and Mrs. Merry III
New York 10 1896, Jefferson coming over In
another vessel the same year.
w!GNELL, WARREN, COOPER, JEFFERSON, AND
ANNE BRUNTON.
These are the exalted characters whose great
memories hover around this lonely and forgot
ten monument. They were friends in the fresh
ness of their lives aud rising fame, and their
friendship and their love was severed only by
the relentless grave. Mrs Merry made her
first appearance in America as Julia, at Phila-
deIphia, on the 5th of December, 1896, rose
immediately iuto the greatest repute, and her
fame EXTENDED throughout the country. Merry
died at Bait more in 1898, and 10 1893 bis wife
was married to Wigue, who, seven week
after the marriage, suddenly died 10 Phlladel'
phia. Wignell was the son OF aD actor IN Gar
rick ) company, remembered Garrlck distinctly
on the Stage and was himself distinguished
comedian. In 1893 he came to New York with
what is known in the annals OF the stage as the
"Old American Company" the most powerful
combination of histrlonic ability that has ever
been produced in this country. The pestlence
which ragged in New York 10 those years, with
other mislortunes broke the company 10 pieces,
and hence his second company in 1896. Three
wears after the death of Wignell his wife was
married to Warren, who, ten years earlier had
been passenger with her across the ocean. Ii
wss an exceedingly happy marriage. After the
death of Wignell, sSho was chief manager and
part proprietor with Reinagle, his widow be,
came joint manager and proprietor, and in the
ha l,l ~
duties. When near his wite's confinement, il
1908. compelled to 60 with his company in theil
South. rn tour, he yielded to her earnest solici-
ta,ions, and took her on the journey They hao
barely arrived at Alexandria when she was seiz-
ed 10 trav, and died with epileptic fits, in the
fuIness of her physical aud intellectual strength,
and in the full radiance of professional fame.
Dunlap, in his History of the Stage" says
''The year 1908 was rendered remarkable IN
theatrical history, wherever the English Ian
guagc is spoken, by the death of Mrs. Anne
Warren, 10 the thrty-eighth year of her age,
1.-THE epitaph shows it to have been in her
thirty ninth year. aod iD the full possession OF
all those emineDt qualifications which rendered
her as a tragedienne only second to Mrs. Sid
dons." We are reminded here OF the statement
of Wood, in his 'Recolections of the Stage,
that Mrs. Warren would never attempt the
part OF Lady Macbeth, though sue naa uueo
the greatest characters with the most signal
success 10 the presence of London audiences.
Her plea was that Mrs. Siddons' representation
of the part had left au impression on her mind
dispiriting to any effort at competition or sue
cess. Her great part was Juliet.
The story which.we have given of her lite
makes the following tribute, that We copy from
the memorial which enshrines her ashes, ap-
pear as tull Of truthfulness as the language is
full of tenderness and beauty:
THE EPITAPH.
Beneath this stone are deposited the remains
of Mrs. Anne Warren, daughter of John Brun-
ton, Eng } and wife of William Warren, esq,
one of the managers the Philadelphia and Bal
tlmore theatres By her loss the American stage
has been deprived of its brightest ornament.
The unrivaled excellence or her theatrical tai
entS Was only surpassed by the many accom-
nll. .hments which adorned her private Life. In