New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-11

ed al the spirit, force, feeling and pathot
! that characterized her earlier efforts. She
| here babe farewell to the profession. having
! reached her fortieth year, and. won by the
promise Of atiluence and comfort in her re-
! tirement. accepted the hand OF ME-
! Seaver, whom che accompanied TO Now Or
leans where for many years her home was
found. Here, without the duties OF the
stage to interest or occupy her thoughts,
a devotion to religious pursuits became
the main object Of her life. Adjui-
ing the Catholic faith. in which she
had been educated, and to which
she had hitherto been ardently attached
she entered. with meek and lowly spirit.
the humble communion OF the Methodist
Church. She SOON became noted for her
deeds of charity and mercy, for her loving,
gentle spirit. which, indeed, she had a.
ways displayed during the prondes. peri
eds OF Ler theatrica! career; for her per-
sussive entreaties to the SHINING. her elo
duent exhor:ations to the repentant, and
her kindly manifestations TO the sick and
suffering. Her yolun teer services to those
dying OF cholera on board vessel bound to
New Orleans. wherein she was passen
ger, are gratefully recorded in the papers
Of the day. which pronounced her name
more truly !lius,rious by these deeds than
by the highest LClors she had achieved on
the mimic stage.
III Boston her society has been courted by
the intellectual and cultivateu-in New Or
leans she was the centre of religious cir
Gle, from whom the bounty of her hand and
the comfort of her prayers We're never with
held. She avoided play ers and playhouses.
AID seemingly strove to forget SHE had ever
been among them. Her husband it was
said, l,io!ized her, and furnished her with
every facility !or gratifying her generous
inclinations. Whatever his faults, or how.
ever inferior he was to her in taste or intel
iect, they were supposed to be the happiest
Of couples. until political opinions rendered
him unpopular in New Orleans, and in 1881
they departed from the city where the
changed actress had enjoyed such deep re.
Ggous happiness, ostensibly for Texas.
And here comes the shadow over her
movements, which. to the public eye. has
never been removed. Years passed by,
and inquiries began 20 be made a. to what
had become of Mrs. Duff. Her children.
who wereMsked, could not tell: members of
old time theatrical familss-her former as
sociates-were applied to in vain. The
Warrens, Jetiersons. P!acides. Waliacks.
Blakes, Fishers. Mestayers, Mr.. Barry and
Mr.. Gilbert. and innumerdble other celeb. !
rites could shed no light upon her fate. !
SuppOsitions were made that she had died in |
Texas, unknown to her family or friends. |
Finally. 4 few months ago. by the per- !
severing efforts of y few old admir-. !
ers. it was discovered that instead of |
visiting Texas. Mrs. Duff, accompanied by /!
her husband. had reached the residence Of a |
widowed daughter IN New York. where, !
after long suffering from an inward cancer, !
she was seized with a hemorrhage which !
resulted in hey death on the fifth of Septem. !
Der. 1857, in the siXtythird year of her age. !
These circumstances might cause no special |
but the silence tina: rested tor ;
years On the grave Of SO distin.
guished au actress-unbrOken even 10 the !
ears OF living children and grandchildren
10 probably the most remarkable event in |
American dramatic history. Mr.. Seaver
was not with her at the time Of her decease,
but he is known to have died within the
following year. and n near relative of his
recently stated that his widow sMra. Duff
was probably still living in New Orleans.
One OF her former intimate friends, . well
known dramatic historian, wrote to
gentleman in 1857: Mrs. Daft mus: still be
:ould not have passed away without my
showing it,
In the same naEe!ees, flower covered !
grave in Greenwood Cemetery lie the re.
mains Of the daughter in whose house she
lied, and who did not long survive her: and
Who would imagine, as they pass the spot,
hat the grandest and the greatest actress |
Il her DAY was sleeping beneath that iOwly !
tone. bearing the simple inscription.
Mother and Grandmother The cause of
he silence ard secrecy observed a, her
ecease We leave ;ov Others to determine.
Browns Record Of the American Stage
nports tia. Mrs. Duff married Mr.. Seavcr, !
Tho was "a member of the New Orleans
ar. Il must be that there are those here
ho car add I. chapte: to the unw!:tten
!s.ocy 0: sae once great actress.