Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-01-21
vEEE DEAD sINGEss.

Mrs. Caroline Ricllings- Bernard, an ac-
complished actress and singer, and q wo-
man highly esteemed in private life, died
at her home in Richmond, Va, ut an
early hour Saturday morning, of small
pox. In its local columns the Richmond
State of Saturday thus announces The sad
event:
"Mrs. Bernard accompanied some of
her music pupils to the theatre on last
Monday week. She was then looking
very badly, and was complaining OF
violent pain in her head. The next day
(Tuesday) she was very sick, and the
physicians soon pronounced her malady
smallpox. She had the best medical al
tention and nursing, but 81 violent form
did the dread disease assume that her life
was despaircd of several days ago. She
had been vaccinated in childhood, but
not since.
"Mrs. Bernard was born in London
fortv-nine years ago. She was the adopt
ed daughter of Peter Rchings, the actor,
and came to the United States when only
one year old. Being gifted and preco-
cious child she made her appearance on
the concert stage as a pianist at very
early age. She afterwards became an ac-
tress, making her debut in Philadelphia
about twenty-eight years ago. She was
very popular IN her dramatic roles, but 1t
was in English opera that she achieved
her greatest triumphs. y little more
than two years ago, upon the advice OF
several members of the Mozart Associa-
ton, Mr.. ana Mrs. Bernard came to Rich
mond to live. They were engaged by the
! Mozart to manage and take part i'll its ope-
ratio entertainments, and from Mrs. Ber-
nard's first appearance in connection
with that association she was a general
favorite with the musical public. She
was lady of remarkable vim and energy,
| and in addition 10 her work in our local
| operas she had large classes i'll vocal ana
| instrumental music and elocution. Her
pupils were all deeply attached to her.
! Mrs. Bernard led the choir OF tie FlrsC
Baptist Church on Christmas day. 1t
was her last appearance in public in her
! professional capacity. During her illness
! she was deliriouS. but Rev. DR.. j. G.
| Armstrong and Rey. Dir. Jackson visited
! her house, ready TO administer spiritual
| consolation. She was al EpiScopalian,
! and had recently been taking communion
! Il. the Monumental Church"
The night she was taken sick, but be-
! fore she knew the nature of her malady,
! she went to the theatre and attended the
/ opera of "Patience." At the time she
complained of feeling i'll, and the next
| day sent for physician, who told her
| she had smallpox. She had every atten-
| tiCn, but the physician soon saw that the
ease was hopeless. Only few days be-
| fore her illness friend visited her and
urged her to he vaccinatcd, but she de-
clined, us she had no fears of the disease.
/ Her last appearance was on the 10th OF
! December, when she recitcd "lliawatha's
| Wooing'' for the benefit of the Monu-
| mental Church. When told she had the
! dread disease she received the intelli-
! gence with perfect composure. She gave
! up all hope of recovery from the first and
! insisted that her husband should not be
! allowed 10 come in the room.
! Mrs. Bernard was buried in Hollywood
/ Cemetery Saturday evening ut O'Clock,
/ and in accordance with the law the burial
! was private. \ delegation from The Mo-
/ Fart Association attended, and the funeral
service was read by Rev. DR.. j. G.. Arm
/ strong, her pastor. She was buried near
! the James river, and not far from the
! graves of the distinguished John Ran
! dolph, of Roanoke, and Gen. j. +. B..
! Stuart, the Confederate cavalry leader.
\ beautiful and touching incident is re-
! lated of the burial OF the dead songstrcss.
capped from lis cage in the upper part of
! the city, and, though diligent search was
| made, its owner could not find it. This
evening, as the last clods Of earth were
| being thrown on the grave Of the opera
| singer, succession OF trillS and clear
warbling was poured forth from the
/ throat of a mocking bird perched III a
! tree near by and was continued until the
! minister had pronounced the bencdiction.
! 1t was recognized as the missing bird, and
! ut shutdown it returned home and went
back into its cage, which had been left
! open in the window.
TIE SHIP CANAL-Mr. Horace Teb-
belts, president of the company char
tered TO construct the Maryland and
Delaware ship canal by the Sassafras
route, has been in Washington several
daye. He says it is not intended, so
far as his company is concerned, to
make any further application to Con
gress for aid, or to take any further in,
terest in any proceedings relative to the
subject which may be had before Con-
eress or the committees of that body.
Mr.. Tebbetts says if it had not been for
the opposition encountered III Balti-
more, he would have had the opportuEi-
| ty on two occasions to secure sufficient
funds to insure the building of the canal
by his company, He says the compa-
ny has now perfectly satisfactory assu-
RANGES of ample means to construct the
work, and the purpose is to go right
ahead. In very short time prepare
lions will be made tor the final surveys,
and following that the vigorous prose