New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-16
OBITUARY..
ADELAIDE NELSON
LONDON. Aug. 15.-Adelaide Nelson died sud-
dcnly to-day at the Continental Hotel. PARIS.

shire for Fanny Kelly. 1t was at his
theatre that Charles Dickens played with
an American company. About seventeen
years ago it was announced that a young lady
would make her debut as Juliet. Her budding
beauty and extreme girshness gave realism to
Shakespearc's character and the critics at once
acknowledged her complete success. The Ahea@Hm.
one OF the highest critical journals III England,
commended the fair Juliet with out stint, at
ono time comparing her with Rachel. The
theatre at Soho had not been fashionable,
but the magnet of talent was 81 strong that the
building was soon crowded. From the first her
success was assured and there was never break in
her popularity.
On July 2, 1866. Miss Nelson appeared at the
Princess's THEATRE London, in w ats Phillips
drama THE Hugucnot Captain" Afterward
she supported j. l.. rooe, the comedian.
IN the domestic drama of Uncle Dicks Darling"
About eight years ago she married Philip Lee, the
sob of Church of England minister. lie had no
fortune and profession. but for some years there
union was n happy one In her first two visits to
America she was accompanied by her husband and
their domestic relations became very IN 'appy so
mach SO that on her third VISIT III 1877. decree Of
divorce was granted her in New-York by Justice
Donohuc, of the Supreme Court. Sic did not marry
again.
In 1872 she was induced to make a visit to the
Unicd States and she first appeared before an Am
erican audience al BJo,h'5 Theatre, or November
rs of that year, JaIiet Here her
success was Immediate; the critics and
the public accepted her impcrsouation
of the character with praise and enthusiasm
Faithful to Shakespcarc's text and plan, 1t was
plonunced by The TRIBUNE on the following morn
Ing 4" An able copy of lovely ideal, and whether
true or Ease Il chamIngly sweet embodiment"
Miss Nelson's Jalici," the critic continued, "is
young, beautiful, passionate Italian girl, i'm
petuous IN all things, proud, but gentle,
fiery but tender. capricious but true-to
whom mere existence is an ardent joy,
and to whom first love comes like a
revelation from heaven. Juliet is not part that
REQUIRES great actress. but 1t requires very good
one and it had this occasion one of the best that
have come to these shores Miss Nelson's personal
beauty has not been exaggerated by her portraits.
Sac Is slender III figure but not attenuated; hef
head is small; her features are regular;
her eyes are dark and luminous; her
HAIR is brown; her mouth is full
and sensitive: her voice is very sweet and the
carriage of her head and person denotes bright i'll
teligence aud pure refine ment that very crafty
ING to the sense OF entire beauty which unites
moral mental and physcal clearness and worth"
The estimate placed upon Miss Nelson's ability
as an actress was not altered when later in the
season she appeared as Rosalad in "As You Like
liz as Julia in The IluncIback," a. Pauline IN
the Lady of Lyons" and IN other characters.
Miss Nelson made her second visit to Newly ok
In 1874 aud appeared at Booths Theatre Is iny
RoLsayf. as Julia, as Pauline and Juliet ~. When
on the night of May 8 she bade adeu to
the many friends she had made in this city, The
TRIBuNE SAID: Since the night when Dickens,
with slow step and sad face made his
last ext from the stage of Steinway
Hall. there has been 10 theatrical sensation
in this city at once so animated with chIvalry and
so touching with sense Of sOrrow and loss. We
shall see other whose powers are as dis
tct who are unique in one clement
or another and potent on some one
line of art we are not likely again TO actress
in whom are combined, as they have revealed
themselves IN her, the attributes Of power fire. ten
derness aud grace. She is exceptional IN this and
that as the reason her career has been one oil con-
quest and continued popularity"
During the season Of 1S7G-77 she was
AGAIN seen in this country, and after
tnnr through the Eastern States she went
to California. After finishing her engagement there
se returned 10 Ncw-lOtA. When her contract
with Mf. Srakosch FOR 100 performances
was fnli led sine sailed for Europe She spent some
tine on the Continent, and before her return To
tins country in 1879, appeared, III LohHoh
curing her VISIT here in 1877 that she
announced her intention 10 rc;ire from the stage
after the season Oh 1eI9-oO,
Miss Nelson's last season IN The United States be-
can on October 20, 1879, at the Park Theatre in
Brooklyn. and, except tor brief intermissions made
necessary by the exIeencies Of travel it continued
upinterruptedly until May 81, 1880, when she
received a complimentary benefit at Booths lhea-
fire. The performance on that date was the lS5th of
an almost continuous series. During this period she
lost only one night by illness. From Octo-
Der until May she appeared in Brooklyn,
PHILADELPHIA. Boston, Chicago, st. Louis
New Orleans Cincinnati, Montreal, Ottawa, Toron-
to. Washington, Baltimore, Richmond and New
York together with q great many smaller places.
About one dozen performances of The Hunchbick'
and of the Lady Of Lyons" were gwen during
this tour. but for the most part Miss Nelson
restricted herself TO the characters of her
,bake,perean repertory to Juliet, ViOla,
Imoqen Rosalind and Isabella. I'd to
the last night of her engagement III this city the
gross receipts from these performances amounted TO
S1s6. sO7. of which Miss Nelson herself received
about $4,000 From her benefit performance
which followed her engagement here, and
from her engagement IN Caliorna -
where she went after short rest IN
this city-she probably received about $4,000 more.
When Miss Nelson arrived in this city early In
October. 1879 she was in excellent health, and
very cheerful and hopeful. She began to feel the
effects of her labors before her engagement in
New-York began, aud while here showed some
slight signs of fatigue. Her engagement in this
c,tv hogan on April 26, when she appeared as
Jmooen and closed May %, when she was seen as
inlet At her benefit performance on May "a, she
onpeared IN Measure for Measure" During these
four weeks she was seen as ImOgCn. Diold, juliet,
RosaIind Isabella. julia and Pauline The lead
ing actor In her company was. Ed
ward Compton. q son OF the famous
Uenry Compton one Of the great comedians OF the
old English school. Hls mother, famous juliet in
her day, was the daughter OF Henry Montague, one
of England's most brilliant light comedians during
the first half of this century.