Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-18
THE DEATH OF HEN RUSSELL.
The First of Many Men Who Married
Adah lsaacs MenkeM.

Macon" In the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The death OF Ben Russell, Adah Isaacs Men,
kens first husband, recalls recollectiOns of that
gifted but erratc daughter of genius. 1t was in
1898 that she made her dramatic debut in this
city at the old National Theater. At this time
she aspired to be a tragedienne, and her piece
de resistance was 1.-THE Jewess; or, the
Council of Constance" Shortly before COM
mencing here she had played In Dayton, and,
Tor some reason or other, she was taken up
10y military organization, then called the
Dayton Light Infantry, and made its honorary
commander. and for awhile she disported as
Captain Adah lsaacs Menken. Her week at the
National was neither a financial nor artistic
success. and she Dext went to Louisville where
for q time she supported the then young ira
gedian, Edwin Booth. playing Ophelio, BESIDE
n'onia and Lady Macbeth. Her success as a
leading lady was not pronounced, and she re-
turned to this city just as John C. Heenan made
his first appearance here. The Benicia Boy had
been defeated by John MOrrsspy but the gal
liant manner in which he had fought, his pleas
ant manners and his magnificent appearance
made him many friends.
who is that splendid looking man ?" asked
Adah the first time she saw him. They We're
introduced. and then and there began the ac-
quaintanceship that eliminated in their marriage
shortly afterwards Heenan soon tired of her,
aud left her to go to England to fight Tom Savers
Adah was capital advertiser and made all the
use possible of her marriage to the great pugilst
to stimulate interest in her as an actress She
wrote poetic illusions to him and published them
in the Clipper. and there is no denying that she
made considerable capital OF the fact that she
was the Benicia Boys wife. He used her
very ungallantiy, however, took her earnings
beat and was unfaithful to her. and finally
denied that she was bis wife. She soon became
so popular as Mdzeppd that she no longer needed
the assistance Of his name, but in her proceed
ings for divorce she clearly established the fact
that he had gone through the marriage cere-
mOny with her before Clergyman, and decree
was granted her. Heenan afterwards married
another actress named Sara Stevens In Eng
land The Menken," as she delighted to be
called. became one Of the most profitable stars
In this country and In England and numbered
among her warmest admirers members Of roy
atty and nobility and Charles Dickens and Al
exander Dumas. ST. The latter was especially
fond of her, and one of the best photographs
ever taken OF her represents him sitting with
her on his knee.
Her career was short and merry after she at
tanned popularity, and she died suddenly in
Paris. was buried In Pere la Chaise where a
tombstone Greeted through funds raised by
subscriptions in this country bearing the
simple inscription, Thou Knowest" marks the
spot where all that was mortal of her lies. Men,
ken spoke and wrote several languages fuenty
and many Of her poems bear evidences OF true
genius. A number of the best Of these were
gathered together and published under the title
Vi iHltICe. anu yet lnlS woman, whose
beauty and talents afterwards commanded the
attention and admiration not only of princes OF
the royal blood, but Kings of literature as
we'll was glad at the beginning Of her
career to link her name with that Ut
brutal gladiator, In order that she might
gain the plaudits Of the popuace. elbow
a refined, beautiful woman like you could pair
with mere athlete like Heenan puzzles me- :"
said to her once. was but a youngster then.
bah, boy" she replied, ''when you grow older
you will know better, and you will see why
Every man is hero In the eyes of his sweet
heart There is nothing in the world that
women SO love as bravery in man, whether it
be shown amid the carnage Of battlefield or
in contest with natures weapons. Nature de-
lights In cOntrarieties, and 1 am her child He
has the heart Of hero, and the stature, the
physique. the Drawn. the thews and the sinews
of demtgod. You say l am refined and beau
tiful. There is where the unity of the opposite
comes In. But there is also the doctrine Of
affinity 1t was not until found that his bravery
was merely that Of brute and that he was but
| mere animal that my better nature revolted
| and tore myself from him."