New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
4 ADELAIDE NELSON.
MEMORIES OF A ONCE FAMOUS ACTRESS.


IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrB,N-l
London. Aug ,.
Eight years ago to-day under circumstances so
wrctchcd that the memory of them decpcns and
cmbittcrS. even now the alliction that they sur
rounded. died the beautiful and fascinating actress.
Adelaide Neilson-surely child of genius, if ever
there was one upon the stage This afternoon
accordingly, | bent my steps to the BromptOn
Cemetery and walked there for an hour. in medi-
tation upon the mutability of life and the evan
csconcc Of fame. Ii my fortune to know AIDE
laide Nelson intimately, and TO possess her friend
ship and this day, as laid handful Of red roses
upon her grave. | called to mind the many noble
and loyabc qualities of her character the brilliant
achievements of her short life. and the dcplorable
catastrophe Of her untimey end. Some other
friend had preceded me in this pious pilgrimage.
for few flowers, in lass Of water, We're already
placed at the foot Of the great cross OF rough mar
bic chat marks her grave. 1t has been dull and
bleak day The sky was lcadcn-coiorcd. save to-
ward the west. where were visible few threads of
white fleece. streaming across a narrow field Of
blue The sun was hidden and the wind that
tossed the thick green foliage of the trees had in it
the distinct chill of autumn. But the grass was
dense and bright and all around the grave there
were flowers in rich growth and lovely bloom. The
marble block on which Nelson's cross rcpOscs is
completely covered with ivy. In front of the
cross at the right and the left, two clumpS Of
great tigcr-lics, now blooming and fragrant, while
all around the enclosure runs little hedge of &C.
ranium and fuschia both in abundant blossom and
commingled with the blue stars of the loNly
ancmonc. 4 tiny shrub of cedar is growing on the
centre Of the grave, within sheaf of many col
orod leaves. The ~ has been freshly rallcd.
Everything is orderly and neat; and, indeed, the
that is taken of this place seems almost ostcn
tatious The sumo funeral bell was tolling that
tOllcd here eight years ago, when the actress was
buried. and upwards of a hundred persons paused
by the grave during the first five minutes of my
stay beside it-many of them pausng to read the
inscription, Gifted and bcautiful-resting' You
can seldom remain long in Brompton Cemetery
without meeting funeral Two in progress
at this time. and these appeared to have attracted
many idle spectators.
Three years ago tonight l visited Nelson's
grave under vastly different circumstances
obtaining admission to the ground at
late hour, after the gates had been closed The
moon shining then, ana the white stones Glim-
mcrng among the duslly trees seemed IN some
strange way scnticnt and watchful keeping their
vigil with the dead. 1t was a cold and still night.
silent save when the leaves were stirred by an
occasional faint gust of wind, when the ground
Jared By the passage of a train on the neigh
boring district railway. What contrast with the
life and light and color and Joy, the sympa-
thctic multitude. the brilliant scenes of action and
enjoyment, that used to surround that peerless
woman, only few short years ago. To-day, OF all
the gazers that looked upon her cross scarcely one
seemed ever to have heard her name. Truly man
walkcth in a vain shadow and disquieteth himself
in vain The patient little household drudge the
tocr in the factory the nursery maid the vagrant
gypsy girl, porting over her mothers play-bool,
or speaking sOnOrous verses to her audience OF
dolls becomes. in few pref years, IA princess in
the art circles of the British capital the admired
associate Of wits and mobiles. the idol OF the stage
Oh both sides Of the Atlantic. the most ACCOMPLISHED
actress Of her time IN the juvenile htroncs oil
Shakespeare and then. at the summit of her pros
perity and rcnown. before her youth has faded or
yet the bubbles have ceased To sparkle in tn golden
goblet OF life, she sinks suddenly into the tomb
And no,- ght years later. of all that she was and
all chat she accomplished. nothing remains but
handful Of roses whitening on piece OF marble
" SO runs the world away W. W.