The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-10-26
FHBAT RICALS.
How Actresses Used to Dress, and
How Nov Some Things
About Mrs. John Hey
and H.r 1Dflu-
ence.
A Woman Who Has Revolutioni8ea
stage DressinR.

Thirty-nine years ago there appear
~ tor the first time up'n the NeS
York stage q young girl whose mis-
sion i; WAS in the after years of her
career to CRATE q revolution in the art
If dressing FIR the mimic scene.
This first appearance acquired at
the Naiinnxl Theatre. an the cprn.r
Of Church and Leonard streets. on its
opening night under q new manage
ment-ihaI # Mr.. William f. Bur-
.ou-the date bring April Is. 1871.
The veteran F. T.. W-ymis WAS the
stage manager; the treasurer. Mr..
w. II. Russell /; and the attraction
presented was the then popular old
standby" the "Naaid q ,een.
There were two ar three names ~ tine
cast which have become iIlu>tri,us in
the annals Of the American Stage.
Miss Chsriottee Cushman was the
Queen. Mr.. Burton, NJ. Henry
Lewis (the father of Mrs. Eta Hen
derson). Mr.. E Shaw. and Nj. Henry
Isherwood, were notable memb-rs OF
the company. The part Of FIavis
vas played by the young girl to whom
I refer-her name being then J"se
ul,ine Shaw. At that period. aud f,'s
many years after. there we're but few
PLAYS which required what is termed
modern dress.
In the farces of the iIk designated.
the ordinary silk dress. or one "f white
lawn. answered every purWpse for the
lady, aud six-penny, stiffly starcl'esi
calico Wa all that was necessary fur
The lady's maid. or the soubreite, or
poor dependent" Diamonds were
scarce upon the stage then. Paste
brilIiants ard plated ornaments were
considered rs amply effective. The
dressing IF an actress hair Was by M
means the wonderful and elaborate
Sork Of art il now il. The marvel.
Gus glory of the blonde wig which
.iecorates the head of the ''society" nc
rress Ut to-day. would have appalled,
the woman of the stage thirty years
ago. Then it vas not 40 much the
dressing. the toilet. the splendor or
nagniticance Of the appointments.
the fash OF diamonds. upon which
the success IF a play ~ the company
depended it Was the acting which
was considered the prime essential by
the public.
Nov, no actress considers her ou:
fit complete without real diamonds.
cpstly silks and the wardrobe ct u
royal princess. To the art If the
nodiste and the jeweIler talent is u
secondary consideration. And all th;-
Sondrous change. this transformation.
vas originated by an actress who lit.
lie needed the msgn;6cance Of dress
and the fash of diamonds tn attrac,
The admiration of an audience ar
gain popularity; for, after oil. they
we're only of minor importance in
comparison with her talent aud the
,,eauty Of her womsnhood. She has
,.sssad her half centmry "f life. aud
| am sure from amid the pleasant sur
roundings Of her .'cottage by the cen y
she can look back up"n her past pro-
fessi"nal career without regret. and
with only the kindest memories Of
rhose with whom she 60 long associ-
sted.'
Mrs. John Hoev. her maiden name
heing josephine Shaw. was borE in
London. in June. 1924. Her father
in his time. had acquired considerable
reputation as a musician aud as a
writer If q number of poems. When
he came to this country, Josephine
vas three or four years Of age. With
her were two sisters. Mary and Rnsina.
Younger than herself. They were all
three burn tor the stage; almost a.
soon rs they we're able to t@i!le about
and speak plainly they took to the
theatre rs naturally a. duck to the
pond.
Josephine was six years old Only
when the fontlights first shoue upon
her pretty little round face. for in
1880. ut the BEGINNING Of tie sesson
at the old Museum in Baliimare, the
appeared ~ Eliza. one Of her si-,er.,
Ro>iaa. / b. lieve. being the Colin. in
the farce of Mature aud Philosophy"
From Baltimore. the family went "a
Charleston. S. G. Afterwards Return
ing to Baltimore, she sometime after
became the ~ife Of Mr.. William H
Russell. Coming to New York. she
made her debut At the National.
Her engagement was brief. FIR the
which had opened on the 18th
IF April. 1881, at FIVE O'clock on the
Of May. 70. vas wrapped in
flames. and - quick and thorough
wss the conflagration that not q shred
If its contents escaped utter desiruc-
lion. Miss Shaw. Mrs. Russ.ID had
10 the h"u-e next dar Co
he theatre. and il is record-d thst one
# the attach. If the theatre. John
bennett. rescued her from death ut
he peril If his own life. Wrapping q
blanket around her. he carried her
lown the stairs through the flames
md binding smoke safely to the
treet. Mrs. RusseIIs new engage.
nent was in Washington. Here. in
8i4. an estrangement ensued he
ween herself and husband which re-
ulted in Q divorce.
The next year sbs cas.e to New
FORK once more. and on Monday,
september 81. 1849. at Burton's
cyan her career as one Of the most
dmired Of our metropolital favmites.
lis Mulvina Pay. nov Mrs. w. j.
sin,onco nm ehia oSS,,s;on in The n.,,Ss \