Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-03


LOUISVILLE. KY., January 2s-we chronicle
to-day another name, new and bright. upon
flames roll of honor, and tell Of new and
splendid star that has burst forth in the dra-
matte heaven.
Louisville, that gave to the world Of art long
ago such names as Julia Dean, Mrs. Drake the
Chapman sisters, and coming on down to more
modern times, Rachel Macauley and Mary AN
derson, sent out last week, after a debut en-
gagement Of phenomenal success, beautiful.
shrinking, gifted young girl. born and nursed
and reared to glorious womanhood In our
midst-Selena Gray Fetter, a name that, if
this bright promise does not strangely belle, is
yet to be associated with an artistic career.
brilliant as few American women have
achieved.
Her span of life Is too brief TO admit OF any
thing like a history. She belongs to one OF the
best, largest and Oldest families In the Guy or
State, one that represented the culture, reIine-
ment and wealth Of Louisville in its OLD ana
paimy days. OF late years financial emoar-
easements have accumulated and the various
branches of the family have been living IN
comparatively narrow circumstances VI her
own household this girl was the youngest born
the nursing of the fiock-carefu1y sheltered
and most tenderly beloved. While child az
school her histrionic talent became marked,
and was assiduously cultivated. AS time went
on, and she became more conscious or the
powers within her, her resolute, steadfast
young soul conceived . purpose, ana
worked on, with this one END In
view-she would educate herself for the
stage and redeem the fallen fortunes OF her
family. While she was still at school, tai
ented but obscure girl living on the same street
but half block away from the old homestead
where Selma Fetter was born, put her own
fortunes to the touch and produced sensa-
ton by coming out in the role OF Juliet. The
successful example Of Mary Anderson was
new spur in the side of the quiet little
worker, who, after finishing her. acade
mical course, gave herself up wholly to
the cultivation OF her genius. Last summer
she went 10 Mrs. Rachel Macauley and read for
her several difficult selections, announcing her
determination to adopt a stage career and
asking that lady s opinion of her qualifications.
Mrs. Macauley, while recognizing her talent,
was doubtful OF his ability to maintain proIes-
sional fOothold and discouraged the IDEA, say
ing there could never be but one Mary Ander-
son and it was daring too much to attempt TO
follow In her steps Nothing daunted. how
the case before Colonel George F. Fuller,
"Mahlstick," the Courier Journals cor
respondent and art critic himself an old
Louisville actor and manager, and be-
fore whom all neophytes bow for his opinions.
He reversed the decision given by Mrs. Macau-
ley, and after testing the aSplrant declared
he believed she was bound to win" since
then the young lady has been hard student,
and it was announced some time since that she
would shortly make her formal debut. John
w. Norton of DeBars Opera House, st. Louis.
was her manager, and supported ner. ana when
it became known that he was enthusiastic over
her great promise, the public was serenelV con-
fldent. Indeed the young actress did not take
the eventful step as an uncertain venture, and
craving lenient judgment of the public. but
with an assurance born Of the consciousness Of
her real fitness for her vocation.
She sensibly discarded the role OF Juliet,
and chose to make her first appearance in
KrA To- ra nf a
short repertoire contained at first venice
Preserved but this was discarded on account
of the inability of the stock company to grasp
1t, and her roles after The Wife" we've Mar
garet Elmore in Loves Sacrifice" and
Isabella in Sothern's isabella or the Fatal
Marriage"-all plays not on the boards for so
long time as to be novel at present.
Her first performance was a marvel. an as
tonishing success, that established her footing
at once, notwithstanding that the company
supporting her, aside from Mr. Norton's sup
port, was eXecrably bad Her full. thrilling
voice her admirable portrayal of passionate
emotion, the evident possession OF untold pow
| ers held in reserve and the easy and finished
| rendering OF character which she seemed
| to have portrayed a score of times before
| a critical audience, so thorough was her
| self -forgetfulness, altogether Yves surprise
| her audience was unprepared for, despite the
| large advertising of the local press preceding
| her appearance, and the promises of those in
| a position to judge her best. Again and again
| she wss recalled, and lavish floral tributes
laid at her feet Her next appearance in
| Loves Sacrifice" was more trying to her, her
/ support being painfully disappointing, and
| the play itself too old and stilted to have
| a strong hold upon popular favor. Here her
| faults were most displayed, and her best
| qualities at the greatest disadvantage But it
/ was as Isabella" that she surpassed herself
| and overtopped expectation. The audience
| was surprised into storm after storm or ap-
| plauSe, genuine tributes won from it by the
| Overmastering power of the born artist. At
| the close of every act she was led before the
| curtain to bow her fair young head In
acknowledgment Of the comforting en-
| we'll how to give to their own. At
/ the close of the performance Hon. Henry
| Watterson led Miss Fetter upon the stage and
| in one Of his perfect little speeches, in
| which he told her how proud we all were Of
/ her-which she ought to have known before
| hand-and how we, as KentuckianS, gave her
| to the wor d, knowing OF the lustre she would
! throw upon her art and upon her home and
| people, and many other kindly and pleasant
| things that must have fallen proudly upon her
| happy heart. and in which he was constantly
| accompanied by the applause Of the approving
/ audience, presented her, in the name Of the
| citizens Of Louisville, with casket containing
full parure of superb jewels: The young girl
turned to reply, and began: MT, Watterson, l
| thank you, :" and then, too full for words, ex-
| tended her hands toward the audience, and
| with her clear voice choked with grateful
| tears said, "God bless you'h and retreated.
| Thus ends an engagement that as pecu-
| niarv success alone exceeds that of any first
| appearance for many days. Mr.. Norton con-
| siders Miss Fetter the most promising debu-
tante he ever saw and is enthusiastic in regard
| to her future.
Miss Fetter is a blonde Of the pure Saxon
| type and would do to sit for Faust's Margue-
/ rite. She has wealth Of hair almost daxen
| leaf, and innocent, gentle blue eyes that could
hardly be thought to be capable OF showing SO
much fire until the owner is inspired.
| She is about the medium height of woman,
/ se,,Il, and md
| graceful in all her movements. Her voice is
! thrilling and deep, but very sweet. she is not
| ettwenty. and in Mariana's peasant kirtle
/ looks she is represented, child OF nfteen.
| Her dressing is rich and appropriate, differing
| in this from Miss Anderson whose wardrobe,
| even when she appeared before the public,
| looked AS though made up on the impulse OF
the moment Of the odds and ends from the
| scrap bag.
Miss Fetter's plans for the future are chaotic
| as yet. She will most probably settle TO a
| severe course of study before starting on a
| tour. Should she go South first in her travels
| she will no doubt meet with an ovation, some
| thing that no debutante ever merited more
| than this brave young Southron; this fair,
| sweet Kentucky blossom whom we send forth.
| a star shining with no uncertain ray, but
| destined to CLEAN as spIendidly as any planet
! in the blue May nothing but blessings attend
| her wherever she shows her bonnie face.
Speaking of the fair fortunes of actresses.
| one young lady, living in the Portland district
| OF this city had a windfall recently. She is a
Miss Wilhelmina Gibbs, and is studying for the
dramatic profession, preparing to make &C.
lebrity Of herself in the inevitable role OF Juliet:
Somewhere about Christmas. she received
the information that great uncle had died in
England, leaving her le heiress to fortune
Of half a million. To prove that It is not an
advertising dodge to enhance her value, the
young lady has departed for England, whence
she will no doubt in due time, return, bringing
with her the old stocking In whose depths her
half million is doubtless slowed away.
There has been quite boom in real estate in
and around Louisville the market seeming TO
receive its impetus from transactions of DR..
landlords, quite the nearest approach to a
Stamford invests largely in real estate. hav-
ing purchased within the last year or two, in
detached portions, nearly thousand acres of
land, all within a distance Of seven miles from
the city. He has built several palatial country
seats, his ultimate purpose being to divide this
portion OF his property amongst his married
children. Il almost seems as though
he meant 20 buy up ths city and
county and lock them up in his private
vault. Recently he laid down IS 600
in hard cash for piece of this valuable county
property. He also made speculation in the
purchase of some business property by which
he cleared So 600 in a single transaction. He
has bought hotel in the lower part Of the
city and almost d square Of vacant property,
which is rapidly filing up with Handsome
buildings Almost every piece OF real estate
of any value thrown upon the market finds
purchaser In him. Bis own residence is the
most palatial brown stone on Fourth avenue
where he lives like prince. MIR. Newcomb.
the Doctors partner in policy and luck, still
lives in his fatherss old broadway residence,
the Newcomb homestead, and does not invest
largely, after the manner of DR.. Standiford
CoYLE DOUGLAS.