San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-28
MRS. DION BOUCICAULT.
The Sad Story of Her Life as Told by
One Who Knows Her.

The Sad Story of Her Life as Told by
One Who Knows Her.
Tim appearance OF Mrs. Dion Bouoi-
CAN'T at the opera house on Sunday
night recalls to the LIGHT sad and ro-
mantle story OF which she Ia the hero
Inc.
In 1851 Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Kesn,
the great English tragedians, were play
ing at the Princess theatre in London,
and among the company was Dion Bou-
cicault, or BourOioault as he then wrote
his name. He was secretary to Mr..
Kean, stage manager and his confiden-
tial man. Boucicsult had then acquired
considerable reputation as an actor, and
an adspter OF French flags. Mr.. John
Ryder. the eminent English actor was
also a member of the company, and from
him the writer learned many OF the par
tioulsrs herein related. At that time,
1871, young and pretty Scotch actress
Lamed agnes Robertson. was engaged
by management and joined the company.
Soon 1t was very evident that Dion and
Ages were very friendly and their &C.
quaintance ripened into genuine love.
The Keans did much to elevate the moral
ity of the English stage and were hard
upon any real or supposed infrsctions of
It, BY and by 1t leaked out that Agnes
and Dion would meet at the close OF the
performance, drive to DiOn's rooms on
Castle street, and there sup and bill and
COO together until the wee sma' hours
when she would return to her own
quarters. This was reported TO Mr..
kean and for this real or supposed
liason both Dion and Agnes retired
from the company. After remaining in
ENGLAND for ipna %
America, and II is asserted that a civil
marriage was made in New York
on their arrival in this country.
At all events they lived openly
together as man and wife and were an.
nounced and recognized as Mr.. and Nj
Dion BoucicRult, which constitutes a
valid marriage. They lived happily to-
gether and Dion and Agnes made q
great name as opponents of Irish char
scter, and he became the foremost Irish
dramatist of the world. Both here and
In England they met with tremendous
| success and amassed large fortune.
Children were born who are all loved
and respected. Some are now making a
name in the profession and others are
honorably located in private life. All
went we'll until about three years ago
when Boucicault had 10 his company a
pretty actress named Louisa Thorndy Ike,
who was as interruptions as she was
pretty. Soon Dion, who was old enough
to have been her father many years ago.
wss enamored OF her, and for her
In the end he deserted his wife and
child. And what was the more dishon-
orable he sought to dlshonor bis wife by
repudiating the marriage, and thus to
bastardise his children. He wanted to
be married to Thorndyke 10 this coun-
try but being threatened with arrest for
bigsmy he did not dare to do it, but In
Australia he constructed what Is termed
bigamous marriage with Louisa Thorn
dyke. Mrs. Dion Bouoicault thereafter
filed suit In the English courts asking
to be declared the true and lawful wife
OF Dion Bouoicault. and for her share OF
the property, they have amassed by
years Of labor and travel. A commits
sion was appointed who visited
America to take evidence in support of
Mrs. BOucioault's claims, and expert
testimony OF the marriage laws of thIs
country has been secured. The
case will be heard In May next, when It
Is expected that the suffering wife's
wrongs will be righted, her honor main
tsined and the legitimacy Of her chill
dren established.
Not one word can be truthfully said