The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-07
A Tortured Actress.
TCjncinnati Eunuirer

The best house of the week, an honest
house too, was present at the Grand last
night to see Clara Morris in miss Mutton
which is East Lynne Frenchified into
stage. The play is full of sorrow and suffer
ing, and had double quota of the latter
ingredient last night, owing to the
fact that Miss Morris played during
the entire evening in the most acute
agony and misery. 1t appears that
shot in the first act of Article Az she
struck her right hip bone against the stage
with such force as to injure it severely. at
the time the accident was not regarded as
serious, but the hurt has constantly grown
worse and worse until now she has almost lost
the use of her right leg. Before the curtain
rolled up in the first act OF miss Mutton
Mr.. Wheelock made his appearance before
it, and said:
"Lsdies and Gentlemen-We ask your indul.
gence for Miss Merris, who is this evening
suffering from painful lameness. Some time
fall. At the time little importance was at
tached to it, but 1t has grown worse, and she
her duty to the public to fulfill her engage
ments. and will do SO, but we must ask your
kind indulgence for her."
When Miss Morris made her entrance on
the stage it was seen at a glance that she was
| suffering excruciatlng torture, and her
efforts to play were painful in the extreme
| to witness. She limped and hobbled about
the stage worse than Forrest ever did in his
| goutiest days. As soon as she made her
| exits from the stage she was carried to q
summoned ION" sgain. by the ex,gencies OF
the scene. Her playing In the third act
was grand beyond description, and
at its conclusion she was called
before the curtain TO receive q
basket OF flowers which the management
! and hor hr1oho nd bad M cd - lIu hax
from the contemplation Of her misery. The
poor woman was very slow in responding to
the call, but at last she made her appearances
at the edge of the curtain supported by Mr..
| Wheelock and Mr.. Norman. While the
| former stepped down to the footlights tor the
basket Miss Morris wreathed her face into
a smile that was soul-sickening to witness
meanwhile having to be supported by Mr..
Norman, who clasped her around the waist
and held her up. At soon as she was
half carried, half dragged back
out of sight of the audience
not be excelled by poor wretch on the
| rack. In the next act she limped about the
stage in most painful manner, and it was
with the utmost difficulty that she could
finish the play. Mr.. Harriott, her husband,
was adverse to her appearing at all ana was
so affected by the pain she was in that be
could not stay in the auditorium of the
theater, while she was on the stage. 1t was
the most pitiable exhibition of misery and
woe ever seen on our boards, and we sin
cerely hope, for the sake of her friends, Miss
Morris will never again attempt to perform
when lame and suffering, as she did las
night. If she must have the money
that such suffering earns, lei
her make known her necessities
and benefits will be gwen her in every city
of prominence in the country, that we are
sure will provide her with competency
sufficient to maintain her off the stage fol
the short remainder of her days. We have
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty II
Animate that will not permit a horse to b,
worked that is 10 times as fit as Miss Morri
is to play, and il there is no statute to forbit
such exhibitions of refined cruelty to human
beings, even if self-inficted, the public
should frown its disapprobatlon on them BY
refusing Its patronage to the house in which
they are presented. oa