The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-27
OUR ACTR Ess Es
THE LADIES OF OUR LOCAL STAGE.
Principal, Prominent aad Promising Ones

|
| Some Of the gentlemen of our local
stage have had an airing through our
columns, and now we propose to intro
duoe beyy of the fairer sex, who,
though not entire strangers. are but SUI
perticially known to the public. Then,
without more ado, strike the bell and
usher upon our stage
MISS GUsSIE DIE FORREST,
leading lady OF the Grand opera-house.
We do not know whom to compare her
to; not to any actress of modern times
surely, for there are very few who still
continue IN the fields of the legitimate
that resemble her in the slightest. To
compare her to Helen Faucitt, that
greatest of "Rosalinds," or Miss O'Neill,
or even going farther back, to Ireland's
greatest boast, Peg Wellington, would
be considered extravagant. Yet there
are many who no doubt remember the
time when Clara Morris played the
Heading business" at Woods, in this
city, the people then as little
dreaming that great actress,
in fact a genius, was ripen-
ling day by day in their midst, who
before long was to make the world ring
with her tame. as they do now that Miss
De Forrest is any other than a pretty
and pleasing actress. Miss De Forrest
has not the commanding form nor majes-
tic beauty that Dibdin says enabled
lWoflington to interest her auditors to
such a degree of astonishment in "Cleo-
patra" and "Jane Shore" but as "JulieW
or "Rosalind' we can almost picture
grace which the poet has made its prin-
cipal attribute and most exquisite ac-
ton" which caused Fletcher 10 say, af-
ter seeing Helen Faucitt, "Truly
there is something in female genius, and
female energy--something worthy of
|. Shssks kspeare-worthy. to be cherished
with the holiest of all sacred feelings,
that of affectionate veneration." To the
: nicely critical, not to say the hypererit-
icnl, she is possessed of certain faults
and mannerisms, one of which ls a pecu-
liar jumbling OF certain words or thick
mouLned utteranceS that jar harshly
uron the ear, like discerd IN beauti-
iul recttdtigo. But there is natural
ness, grace anu vlvaclty about every
thing she does, however, that bespeaks
} talent of hlgn order,u not genius. Mss
De Forrest is comparatively a young act
ress, tnls being the beginning OF her
filth season upon the stage.
How she came ehere we shall relate,
as she comes OF a very pious and aristo-
craLlc family, and never dreamed, III ner
widest moments, OF ever becoming an
actress.
Her liie had been, IL 1t is not so yet, a
life OF romance, and probably OF The
many mlmac heroines that sue mas per-
SON atea and lead the hearts OF the people
to syMpaLlIze with, none OF all these
creatures oi romance. ever had history
such as her own. Sne WAS born in the
beautiful little village OF White Plains,
= in West Chester county, New York, in
IY4y, Her rather, VINO was a wood con.
tractor, cIed when sue Was four years OF
age, alter which The family moved tn
New YORK city. Little Gussle, however,
as she was 1umillariy called, returning
"A lew years later 10 her native village
10 attend boarding school. SAorGry after
her return nome, before she had fairly
reached her slxteenLh year, she was mar.
Irleu, contrary TO the Wishes OF mother,
brothers and friends, to George Hill, the
notorious gambler, whom she had aeci.
: aeutiy met On tue ice at Central Park
, With MIN she led life OF gaiety and
extrayagauce, for everything Lnat heart
could Wish, even to iavlSnness, was be-
3 slowed upon her, his IDOL Extrava
t gance ana dissipation fmally, as every
, one knows, brought George Hdl amosl
nltA tlF AM
l full wife was lett to sniff for herself
After u consultation Win friends, the
stage Was Selection MS inst whiCn prom
, isea TO be the most remuueratIve III the
future. irnotindeed i'll Che present. Ac
cUuiilgly her debut Was made ut Troy
. New York, III ISL.
FL Her success VAS remarkable, and Ii
, less than three months from ner frs
appearance, she Was engaged AS IeadIng
iady at w Vod's Museum, IN New YorE
city, at u seemingly exIavagant salary
Here sne remained three seasons, ,becOm
! ing great 1avorite with her auulences
! Tue next season found her in the city o
Baltimore. at Ford's, opening as ''Adelia
e Bloougood," in "AHer DARK" While
n playing at this house a little inciden
occurred which, though IL does not prop
eriy beIOng to the public life OF Miss Dt
4 Forrest, we trust we may be pardone,
tor alrudiHg 70, connected as IL is witt
Q one in whom Tue publIc ieei so deep al
: interest as this LADY. One evening JUS
, as she stepped from The stage on ne
D way 20 the dressing room, she was me
by u messenger with a dispatch, saying
( .sGussie, come home at once, Georg,
r Hili is dying, his last request is to set
D his wife," An answer Was Immediatel,
: sent asking IL she could not uelay unit
: the next evening, as the management o
. tne house couid not fill her position
Q without great trouble. The fo1lowin,
t was the reply:s "Under the circum
stances, considering Georges condition
a L YOU will be too late." Sne managed &,
! get through with the part, but the cur
4 tain had no sooner descended than
!. dressed as she was, she threw hersel
! into . hack, drove like mad to the depet
caught the train and the next morning
!. was in New York, at the bed side of he
! diving husband, whom she had not seel
. for nearly four years. She had scarcei
y entered the room, when Doctor Hough
y ton, from the "Little Church 'roun
u the Corner" followed with q baske
lof flowers, and placed theI
Il near the bed beside anoJhe
y cluster that. she herself had brought
I..I,..I Amos thinL n vyonIh oats,,a .