, 1889-09-12
THE TERRYS' HOME.
a Sweet Idyl of Music, Love and
Brds--Why Sarah Althea
Didn't Star.
She Had Made Arrangements, but
Abandoned the Idea After
Sharon's Death.


who is now managing Richard Golden's
tour in "old Jed prouty," was interro-
gated by an Omaha Bee reporter on his
experience with the Terrys.
al am, believe" he said, zone OF the
limited few whom Judge Terry and his
wife admitted to their inner social circle
and one of the still fewer, besides, who
possessed their esteem and confidence.
/ shared their hospitality 10 such an un-
limited extent and saw so much of their
domestic life that have been naturally
panied to read the severe references that
leading newspapers since the judges
tragic end. My relations with them in
the beginning, four years ago, were
purely on business connected with my
proposed stage presentation of Mrs.
Terry. That dramatic venture came to
Senator Sharon. was their guest ut
Fresno on several occasions and a fire.
quent caller at their hotel apartments
In san Francisco whenever their great
law suit brought them to the city.
ut was at Fresno that the world did
not know the judge and his wife. The
town was too small for the mad rush to
find so the Tcrrys wero secure i'm their
retreat, and but chosen few were per-
mitted to cross its threshold. Their in
tiuatos were of the best class, and most
pronounced in their respect and sym
pathy. In the several visits paid the
Terry mansion at Fresno, did not hear
tho least reference to court matters.
Legal. topics seemed forbidden in that
household. Tho life within that circle
was wholly domestic. Tho prem
iscs indoor and out We're alive with
pets, and the halls and chambers were
lined with cages of birds OF all colors
aud song. Blooded dogs OF every size
and mistress everywhere. Mrs. Terry's
hobby was large aviary, about twenty
hVo lCct high and over fifty feet in cir
CumicrenCe, tCamiug with lruthcred
population of all Kinds lying around
from perch to pcrch-canaries, doves.
morkiug birds, pigeons, parrots--cven
uuT national pest, the sparrow. The
little creatures seemed to know their
mistress, for her approach to the mann
moth cage invariably caused an agree
aule COmmOtiOn within, and on her
entrance numbers of the birds would iiy
apOut and upon hcr, and many would
feed from her hands. That is n vision,
think, for those journalists who had
given currency 10 the playful story that
Mrs. Terry's chief domestic duty was
shooting AT mark ON the family barn
with q Derringcr! None the less did
Mrs. Terry love her poultry yard, nor
were the fowls lacking IN their manfes-.
tatiOns of welcome at her presence with
their allotted meals.
'lhe judges pets were the dogs,
horses and stock of Jersey cows. Ills
stables were his principal concern. The
spirited thoroughbrods resented hand
ling by any but their master, who had
raised and trained them all from early
cottage.
The extensive ilower-beds around
the house received the joint attention of
the judge aud his wife and thoy never
tired Of the charge. Flowers were in
prulu ion about tue house us well as
wit thout. Especially was this the case
III their dining room, which was a YER
liable conservatory with its plants mall
stages of blOssomiug. This caring for
their pets and flowers was Invariably an
atter-hrealdast occupation for the two,
and when fulfilled they would drive in
n phaeton and ponies 10 the postoiIicc.
their 2Oc-aCre vineyard on the Outs kirts
OF the town. Returning home, the after.
noon would be largely nouupoli2td by
the mail in which Mrs. Terry often
took quite as active hand Us
her husband. When her assistance
was not essential her time was applied
TO some needle or fancy work demanded
10y the house. Dinner was usuGlly pre-
ceded by another drive behind the
judges pair Of fleet youug llamblcton-
ians, and they were always accompanied
in these outings 10y their guest or guests
of the dinner to follow.
The Terry dinners were stately af-
iairs in the matter of cuisine, and the
service strictly after the code. The good
eating seemed to whct the judges sal
lies, and his wife was not slow in adding
her retorts.
"Their home life was most interesting.
Their evenings were spent quietly Mrs.
Terry played on the piano or harp and
the judge remained in his library, un-
less there were guests or callers, when
the duty of entertaining them would
principally devolvc on Mrs. Terry"
But what about your thwartcd stage
presentations of Mrs. Terrygp inquired
the reporter.
-Four years ago" replied MIR. Mac
Genchy, | happened to be in st. Louis
at the time Judge sullivan rendered
his famous decision recognizing Mrs.
Terry as the lawful wife of senator
Sharon. The finding was printed in
full in the leading papers of that city,
and occupied over two entire pages OF
the paper | reflected that the man or
the woman who could command 50
much valuable space in the greatest
papers oil such city ms st. Louis and
az such distance as San Francisco, was
good property TO stage. accordingly
resolved TO proceed TO San Francisco
and secure Mrs. Sharon, as she was then
named by the law. Within few weeks
reached that city, and almost the first
person | addressed was Irs. Sharon her.
self | called at her residence, pleas
ant dwelling in the best section of the
city. a modest and rather attractive
Mrs. sharon was In, and invited me to
enter the parlor. On stating my
mission to engage her for lecture tour,
she was highly amused. She said she
had never addressed an audience In her
life, and therefore could not undertake
to do SO, however, she might be profited.
AT this stage Judge Terry appeared un-
to view, and was introduced
to me by Mrs. Sharon. He had been re-
clining at fun length on Il lounge in
dark recess of the rear parlor. He threw
such chilly water on my aspiration for
Mrs. Sharon as d lecture star that
later | renewed the application without
avail. A third, fourth and fifth appeal
were each in vain. | ultimately pre-
vailed upon her to engage herself ON the
terms Of $500 for each lecture. Ii was
later on arranged that she sbould act in
stead. ! cast her for Portia in "rhe
Merchant of Venice, engaged com