Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-13
LIFE ON THE STAGE.
GENERAL OROWaY'S DAUGHTER RE-
LATES HER EXPERIENCES.
She Says All Actresses Like Applause
Their Lives Arc Nomadic. But
Pleasant After All.

Pleasant After All.
Perhaps the name OF no woman who
ever visited the White Sulphur Springs
will be longer remembered than that OF |
Mrs. John J. Rafael, nee Ordway. In
the annals of society events she will for
years TO come stand forth almost as pro-
minently as does Cinderella in the world |
Of fiction.
Like that charming character OF the |
fairy tales, Mrs. Rafael's celebrity was
also won by her slipper-not glass one,
but pretty little boot filled with spark
ling champagne which was quaffed by |
one OF her admirers at a midnight sup |
per given at the old "White" nearly |
five years ago.
Every one remembers this romautic |
little episode in Mrs. Raffaels life, and |
although the gueets at this nocturnal tete
were few and select" the story leaked |
out somehow md received the notice OF
the press throughout the country.
Mrs. Rafael was born in Richmond,
and lived until she was nearly seven
years old at the present residence OF Ma
lor Charles X. Skinker. on the corner OF
Laurel and Franklin streets. Her father.
Colonel Albert Ordway, who command
ed regiment of Union men during the
late war, built the house, and was we'll
l.. .t,t sc N,t 10
eral years after the struggle between the
States. At that time Mrs. Rafael, or
Betty Ordway, as she was then known,
was beautiful child who attracted gen.
eral attention for her comely appear
ance.
The family moved TO Washington
many years ago, and when Miss Betty
arrived al woman's estate she married a
man named Padelford. The couple
moved to Paris, but their welded life
proved unhappy, and finally Mrs. Padel-
ford-as she had then become-was di-
vorced and sailed the "blue waters for
America again.
on THE STAGE.
After that Mrs. PadelfOrd appeared
again before the public-this time be-
hind the footlights in the opera "Gon-
doliers," and while acting in this troop
she won the affections of Mr.. John j..
Rafael, her present husband.
NM Rafael is now the prima donna
in the Conried opera troupe, which made
their first appearance IN this city last
night.
knowing that she was well known in
Richmond and considered this her old
home, a representative of the DISPATCH
called upon her yesterday afternoon at
the Davis House, and, having sent his
card up, was ushered into cosy room.
Mrs. Rafael was seated by the fireside
with her husband and another friend
and greeted the neFspaper-man IN a
very cordial manner.
SHE rs PRETTY STILL.
She Is n strikingIy pretty woman-one
OF those beautiful types which can hard
ly be called brunette, nor yet q
blonde, hut, in the parlance OF the boys,
"iust right" a handsome dress Of
black hung in graceful folds over her
shnpely figure, while now and then
tiny foot-one of those that had worn the
champagne slipper-appearedf for public
admiration, Mrs. Rafael smiled fire.
cuently in the course of her converse
ton. and when she did so n set OF pearly
teeth (donbtless natural. for no woman
ever appeared less artificiaD displayed
themselves and added beauty to her
face.
RRMEMBERs HER FRIENDS.
II was evident that she had not forgot
ten her old home, for she rapidly piled
series of questions to the reporter about
some Of tho well-kn0wn members OF
Richmond's society, in q manner that
plaiplv indicates feminine curiosity. 1t
was q case where the interviewer was be-
ing interviewed, and certainly at de-
cided disadvantage, too, for the pretty
| actress remembered everybody and want
ed TO know all about her old friends
ais Miss May Handy still hereP"
she asked eagerly, "and is she pretty as
ever? You know, she was the leading
| belle at Narragansett last summer She
is SO beautiful, but L think she IS cold,
don't you"
"Wbat has become of Colonel Jo.
| Lane Stern-I like him so much-aDd
Miss Triplett 2"
Having finally extricabed himself from
the labyrinth of interrogations which the
fair auestioner put to him, the reporter
ventured to ask Mrs. Rafael what she
thought of theatrical life, and if she was
much pleased with II.
LIKES STAGE LIFE.
"Yes, I like it ever 80 mnch, replied
she, "and don't feel in'tbe least embar-
rassed when | appear. Oh course, l like
to have large and apprecistTe audiences,
and when the crowd fails to show enthu-
sinsm and is lacking in interest 1t chllls
mo all over and can't oct bali as well.
| This is the case with all actors and ac-
tresses."
"Our life" continued Mrs. Rafael,
"is Bohemian one and sometimes very
hard, especially when.we have to get up
soon in the morning TO catch early
trains. but love it,, and as am passion
ately fond of music it is nearly always
pleasure to me"
DON'T GET TIRED.
"Dont you get tired Of playing the
same part night after night ?" asked the
reporter.
mo" replied the actress, 81 rather
like it, as by that means ] am of course
saved the trouble of learning new parts,
and then / am always trying to make
some improvement in my playing"
How do the different members OF
YOUR troupe get along together ? b" asked
the reporter. 81 suppose you have
very sociable time ?"
"well, don't associate with any OF
the other members much, although am
on good terms with all OF them, and al
ways treat those who are under me with
courtesy"
HOW THEY LEARN TOPICAL SONGS.
81 should think you would have a
hard time learning topical songs that