The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-27
MARY ANDERSON'S HEALTH.
Renewal of the Story that the Mind Of the
Gifted American Actress Is Failing.

NEW YORK, July pa weekly paper,
devoted to stage and society gossip, to-day
published the following about Mary An
derson: There is a most natural desire on
the part of Mary Anderson's friends to dis
guise the serious nature of her mental
trouble, and the contradictory reports that
have been flying about for several months
have only fomented the public curiosity
while leaving 1T entirely in the dark as to
the actual truth of the case. l am never
theless reliably informed that the hand
some Kentucky girl is at this moment in a
private mad-house across the sea. and that
there is little reason to hope that she will
ever be seen again on the stage. her trouble
being, after all, paresis OF the most danger
Gus type.
The sudden collapse of Miss Andersons
mental power has not been so great sur
prise TO those who knew her best as the
general public might suppose. Contrary to
common belief. the actress has always been
of a most sensitive and ighly-wrought
nature. She has, 1t Is true, successfully
held herself free from sentimental com
panionship with men, but at no time has
she been the cold. impregnable girl that
popular opinion made her. Moreover, being
a devout CATHOLIC. she also undertook to
lavish share of the nervous energy which
controlled her upon religious duties. This
only tended to excite her still more, and
altogether there is little wonder that her
life was passed In a state of such unnatural
agitation and excess as woman could
withstand. Her constant companion dur
ing the last four years has been Mrs. Law
renee Barrett, who was compelled to neglect
her own family in order to attend Mary in
her travels. The present sad plight In
which the actress finds herself was pre-
dIcted by several of her associates as long
as three years ago, and is. see no reason to
doubt, no more than the natural result of
an unnatural response to most natural
warnings.
MANY of Miss Anderson's friends do not
believe the story, while not a few are in
clined to credit it. There has been a great
deal of speculation in dramatic circles as to
the real cause of Miss Anderson's trouble,
which was supposed to be of temporary
nature at first. The recent canceling of her
next seasons dates, however. and the sub
stitutiOn of other attractions for the An
derson company, have led many people to
believe that the trouble was far, more seri-
able to admit. Mr.. Abbey is expected back
from Europe next Sunday. He has visited
Miss Anderson, and, if he will, he can tell
whether her mental condition is as bad as
reported.
who arrived from London several days ago,
said to-day: i have heard a great deal
about Mary Anderson In London. Her con-
ditiOn is talked about in the clubs and ev-
erywhere. She is not in private asylum,
but people think that she is losing her
head. While her physical condition is ex-
cellent, her memory is gone. She cannot
remember things that happen from day to
day. If asked where she slept OH the pre-
eeding night she would hesitate. They say
in London that she will never act again;
that she has positively retired. / was told
this on good authority by somebody who
was extremely interested in her.
"Mr. Matthews, Mr.. Abbey's representa-
tive, was greatly perplexed when he read
the statement that Miss Anderson is in a
mad-house Il can not believe it, he said.
Il was in Miss Anderson's company so con-
stantly while she was over here that | must
refuse to credit these reports. believe that
Miss Anderson was overwOrked, aud that is
all. She can afford to take holiday, and
she is doing SO. In Chicago and Philadel-
phia she insisted upon rehearsing the supers
and doing a great deal of work that was
unnecessary. She is the hardest worker 1
have ever known. Nothing seemed to
fatigue her before she broke down. | saw
her the day she sailed. and she was as sane
as /. If she is insane the insanity has de-
veloped while she was in London She was
very much worried when she closed her
season because she believed that Abbey
wOuld lose n LOT of money on her account ~