National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-18
PAULINE MARKHAM.
The Revival OF the '.BIaek Crook Brings
Her TO the Surface.

The Black Crook" has been revived
in New York and the principal incident in its re-
vival is the temperance of Pauline Markham,
who several years ago filed so large place in the
public eye in connection with the spectacular
drama. In this connection It may not be uninter-
esting to reprint part of conversation held with
the once famous burlesque actress recently by a
writer in an Albany journal. After disposing Of
her personal appearance as he found her, the
Markham, referring to a newspaper article con-
corning herself, said:
"YOu say that years ago Pauline Markham had
the face of a saint, the form of Venus, and the
sentiments ola Cleopatra; that now the beauty of
her face is gone, and add: Time is sad de-
stroyer, and while the student of anatomy may be
satisfied with things as they are the lover of IN
pretentious music must regret that the sweet war
BILE of the Markham will never again be heard
You see recollect what was said It may be all
true. do not deny it; but the implication is that
Pauline Markham has been on the boards for ag.s;
that she must be as old as the hills but It is pat
ronizingy said even now makes up very well for
the stage. Is this true? You see me
here in the broad light of day, and can
answer ! know it IS generally supposed that
1 am a faded and wrinkled woman. This
is because of Americas hurry and haste The
American public easily tires ofany particular class
of entertainment. Ifit applauds an artist in 1870
say and in 1880 that person appears again, why it
is imagined that she belongs to dead and gone
generation-there is so much of event and excite
ment and novelty here that the freshness vanishes
at once. 1t is not so in England. Why, have
heard this side EXPRESSIONS like these: There's
Markham! Goodness gracious. saw her when
boy. She must be grandmother by this!" or
Let me seei Pauline Markham must be nearly
fifty, she's been on the boards 50 long," Nov, the
70 10
Thompson party-twelye years ago, and was
then twenty years of age. 1t was thought 1 was
younger, but was actually that old.
People" she continued, "are supposed to make
one great mistake in their lives have made
mine. The first was in leaving England, the Sec
ond In getting married. The latter was the greater
error. Happily. marriages in general have not
been so unfortunate as mine. 1 am reading now
William Blacks most charming novel, A Princess
of Thule and am interested in the marriage of
Sheila. Isuppose Lavender will marry her; but
lie is not the husband a woman should have"
"You think. then, she should marry Ingram"
Exactly" and the Markhan's face frightened
"I married Frank Lavender. He was a weak
man. lacking In strong character, but not cruel in
the way of striking a woman. 1 met him in New
Orleans and married him shortly afterward in st.
Louis. He was wealthy and wanted home 1t
WAS with me rather a marriage of convenience
than an affection of the heart. But he was diSsi-
pated and 1t was not long before he ran through
his own money and mine. was compelled TO re-
turn to the stage and work for the support of my
lord and master. He became a depraved wretch
and so lost to respect that for all he cared nigh.
have been Gerva;se and no Coupeau in Zola's
'LAssommoir.' When travelling through Arizona
year ago fortunately procured divorce"
Then the conversation drifted, but it was a sur
prise to find this wOman-who has posed before the
public as a sort of professional beauty-to be the
pOssessor of brains. She could talk summarily on
art, literature. and topics of moment, and was
pleasantly free from that sort of affection usually
cultivated by society of all grades. Pauline Mark
ham may be very wicked, but she is certainly very
bright, and in this progressive age that covers a
multitude of sins. OF course it should not but it
somehow does.