Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-21
SALLIE REBER LAING.

SALLIE HEbEH LAlNG.
With beauty, youth, education and genius
she had the world in her grasp Nature and
fate could scarcely have done more to provide
her the possibility of a brilliant future She
accepted engagements in the popular light
opera, and soon became a star. Six years
ago she sang in the Bohemian Grip in the
Grand Opera house, New. York. She was
the Princess in ''Fatinitza" at the first pre-
sentation of that opera in this country, at
the Fifth Avenue theatre. She also appeared
in the Pirates of Penzance," and in
"1olanthe." In all these she scored great
success. Her last engagement was at the
Standard Theatre, New York, and ended
February, 1883 In 1880 she MARI led fash
ionable young man. Of Brooklyn named
Laing. With marriage her star began to
wane. Laing proved hopeless drunkard
BE failed to support his wife. Although de-
votedly attached to her, his attachment to
alcohol was yet stronger. He was so dissi-
pated that his family finally took him to the
nebriates' Home.at Fort Hamilton. It did
did not reform him, however. He was too
far gone in drunkenness to attend to any
business, and. their living was chiefly paid
out Of poor, pretty Sallie wages. The beau.
tiful princess" il. Fatinitza sang like bird
nightly to the applause of a1miring hundreds
She took the money they paid to see her and
settled the board bills Of drunken husband
But that was not the worst. The goddess of
the stage often went home to meet abuse and
cruelty. Eaihg sometimes went to the ex-
tent Of driving her from their rooms at
night. In October, 1888, he did her the
greatest kindness of his life, and died His
death was caused by drunkenness. Mrs
Laing did ifct again go upon the stage She
lived handsomely, in apartments. 1t was
known that prominent man was an &C.
quaintance and friend of the beautiful young
widow. This was James D. Fish, president
Of the Marine bank, whose name has come
into such unenviable notoriety' in connection
with the failure of the banking house of
Grant, Ward & Co. Both Ward and Fish are
now in Ludlow street Jail, in New York
city The failure of Grant & Ward occurred
in May, 1884. At that time The Tribune
said of the president Of the Marine bank:
"Mr. Fish is a warm, patron of the drama,
and fond of music, especially of light opera"
But nothing more was heard of Sallie
Reber in q public way until, on. March 10,
1885, this notice was printed in The New
York Times:
Mrs. Sallie Reber Laing died on Thurs
day, March IL, at. Rutherford Park, N. J.
For some reason very few of her acquain-
tances in this city are yet aware of the fact.
Miss Reber had been ill for some time with
gastritis, and, by the advice Of her pHysl-
clan, went to Rutherford Park for change
Of food and air. She was improving, but
she yielded to the craving for rich food,
caused by the disease, and was thrown into
convulsions which terminated fatally. The
body was brought to this city and then
taken to Sandusky, where the funeral was
to have occurred yesterday.
She was of an affectionate sunny nature,
and made many friends. But out there, in
a lonely little house in the Jersey flats, with
out solitary friend on relative near her,
Sallie Reber died.