The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-07
THEATRICAL ARRIVALS.
MISS FORTESCUF, LORD CAIRNES'
FORMER FIANCE.
What She Is Like, and What She Has
to Say About Herself and
Her Plans.


and on top were innumerable email
fry in the way Of hat boxes, bundles
and other traps. Miss Fortescue, the
English actress, who had come over
on the steamer, labored hard to i'm
press on the minds OF the customs
officers that the baggage consisted
simply Of her personal wardrobe. In
the pile were some stage properties.
One peculiar looking box-like affair
used in Gretchen, attracted the cunos'
ity of an inspector.
whats that2" he asked. -,
THAT'S a vampire trap" replied
Miss Forteecue.
"And who does the vampire trap
belong to%
"To the DEVIL" said the actress, as
she turned to speak to the gentleman
who impersonates that character in
her company, Mr.. Charles Sugden,
who had Just landed from the Etrurla;
Miss Fortescue then pelched her maid
on top of the biggest OF the black
trunks with Instructions not to move
until everything was examined, and,
accompanied by her mother and her
Younger sister, Miss Helen FoItescue,
who is a member of her company,
started up town TO the Victoria Hotel,
where she will stay while in the city.
In her apartments there she was
seen later by o Herald reporter. Mits
Fortescue is q pleasing person to look
at and very vivacious one to talk TO-.
She is of medium hight, with very
slight and graceful figure. Her blue
ewes look at one attentively, and she
has a charming habit of bending her
head forward a little, as though in
rapt attention, when any one else Is
speaking. For person who had just
come from an ocean voyage and not
received her trunks, her costume was
a marvel. The skirt and front were
of soft material in the new and FASH
ionable shade of pink heliotrope, with
a bodice and ove,sEirt OF deep maroon
colored embossed velvet. On the
shoulders were the bead epsulets
that English ladies affect 80 much
lately. She was looking over a pile OF
newspapers when the reporter en-
tered. Mr.. Marcus Mayer, who to-
pether with Mr.. Al Haymsn will man
age her tour in this country, was also
in the room.
81 have had great many people
ask me TO settle bsts," eaid the man
ager, 'as to whether or not Miss For
tescue has been in this country be-
FORE"
"But l have not" said the lady,
"though hope to be a good many
times in the future, / saw the sun
rise on America for the first time this
morning. Coming up through the city
IL reminds me great deal OF Paris.
The houses all have shutters and
every window seems to be drsped with
curtains in the true Partisan way.
And then the trees along the streets
give them q little the effect OF the
boulevards. / am SO glad to be able to
eat my dinner on fiat table again and
not chase my soup around. There was
a singular iscident occurred on the
VOYAGE. We had aboard one OF the i'll
fated 0regon's small boats. The Sec
ond day out a squall came up, and dur
ing it wave swept that boat from the
davitts and smashed it into kindling
wood. Odd, was 1t not"
HRR PLANS.
To q Tribune re porter Miss Fortescue
said: II have been paid one great
compliment already" said she with a
smile, "and that by tue weather which
has greeted my arrival. If a bride
whom the sun shines on is to be hap
py, why not an actress who arrives in
sunshine such as this on a strange
shore? Do you know, that was the
first thing which struck me when |
came on deck early this morning. The
food OF sunlight and the marvellous
clearness OF the atmosphere, and the
serse Of exhileration gave me impress
sions that have not left me yet. But
you do not, am sure, want TO hear
me talk about the weather, even il IL is
American weather. Lat me talk to
you little about myself and my plans
and after this promise not to be &c
dreadfully egoti5tical. | begin my
American season tomorrow fortnight
at the Lyceum Theater, and from
what l hear l shall be hons ID in re.
markably cosy and pretty theater
We begin with Gretchen, variation OF
the Faust theme by w. s. Gilbert.
am quite proud at being able to intro
dues such play as this to America
for / am not alone in thinking tina
Gilbert has put his best work into it
He has said so himself and he ia JUS
the man 10 DO able TO judge Of hi
own work az calmly as an outsider
The poetry of the whole play is mos
charming aud | need hardly say tina
he has approached his subject from
a point OF view thoroughly origina
and Gilbertian. After Gretchen W
shall produce FrOu- Frou, the chic
character of which is one Of my fav
orites. am never weary OF playin
it, for at every performance l fin,
something new to do or see some nev
effect to be gained. 1t is IS fascinat
ing a part to play as am sure tn
play is to witness. l have my owl
ideas Of the part, but shall leave yo,
TO discover what my reading Of it Is.
"You play with your own Englisl
company, do you not?"
Most OF my company have com
with me. My ieune premier is Nj
Terry, q brother OF Miss Ellen Terry
and as you know, therefore, a membe
OF theatrical family, all Of whom al
actors and actresses to their finge
tips. think you will like him, {
apart from his skill his personality
most pleasing. Then / have Mr.. SUI
den, who is well known in London ,
q leading actor of many years stan,
ing. Miss Kate Hodgson, who ia ais,
no doubt, known to you by reputt
ton, is with me, and her Martha i
Gretchen is a wonderfully clever pieC
of work. My sister, Mics Helen Fo
tescue, will play with me, taking
Mr.. Gllbert's play the part of Lisa
the outcast. Mr.. Overton, whom yo
know as having played here before,
with me and several Others of reput
ton. have tried to gather togeth,
as good q company as possible, for
believe thoroughly that every pa
should be as carefully played as Il
principal onts in order to produce q
artistic effect"
"Have you any plays besides thoi
you mentionedT
"Oh yes. indeed. We have an e.