Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-12-12
ELSIE.
A DOCTORS "REMINISCENCES

| was practicing medicine at the
time in Rotterdam, large strug-
Cling town six miles south of Shelf
field, in Yorkshire, England, in the
heart of the South Yorkshire coal
district.
1t is rough class of people with
whom general practitioner general
ly has to deal in such a district,
though there were some very big
swells in the neighborhood, to be
sure. Still, as is always the case in
life, among the toughest and most
uncouth one sometimes finds gentle
flower.
Such a sweet exception was little
Elsie Underhill, to whose bedside /
was called professionally on the eve.
ming of November %, 1878. It is a
long while ago and | doubt much if
any of the persons connected with
the little story / am about to tell
(should any OF them still be surviv-
ing) will remember DR.. Newman. At
any rate not one of those who knew
me will be hurt, and the one person
against whom / shall have much to
say is so mean and contemplate in
my opinion that | care little for his.
1t was poor little home / was
called to in Church street, where
Elsie's parents lived, but very differ
ent from the dirty, carelessly kept
cottages and small houses in the
vicinity. But / am not going to
weary you with description. / was
met by the dear, old, kindly faced
mother at the door, where, before
taking me upstairs to the tiny room
where lay her suffering daughter, she
told me something of her history.
Elsie was just only turned 10, but
she had already made herself repu-
tatien which was honorable and en-
nobling. Three years before, when
just turned l6, being pretty and
well-developed girl, with more than
the average amount of intelligence,
she had obtained an engagement at
the little local theatre, where she APP
peared in The character of Jeanne
Deans in Andrew Hali6ay's adap-
ton Of Sir Walter SCOTS novel,
"The Heart of Midlothian" She
had attracted great deal Of atten-
ton. The local correspondent Of a
London theatrical paper, the Hornet,
then the property Of Stephen Fiske,
had spoken highly of her, and more
than one London manager had visit
cd Rotterdam to see her act. There
were stock companies in those days.
Among the many young fellows
who had become infatuated with her
beauty was one Horace Wellington,
the son of a physician in Sheffield, a
very rich man. This young mans
attentions were very marked. He
obtained an introduction to the
young girls parents and through
them to Elsie. And then he began
a serious courtship.
In every way his manner and ap-
parent object were decidedly honor
able. Only one thing be omitted
he did not take her to his own home.
In order to be near the man who
had completely won her heart, she
refused more than one lucrative Of
fer to go to London, where she would
have at once been on the high road
to fame, and accepted an engage
ment at the Sheffield Theatre Royal,
which, being close to her home, she
could also reach very easily. Here
her opportunities were wider than
in Rotterdam, it is true, and here
she succeeded in increasing her al
ready high reputation. She remain
ed in Sheffield two seasons, PLAYING
during the summer series of trav-
cling engagements throughout the
northern counties.
Then came proposal from great
London manager which was so good
that she could not afford to neglect
it. Her aged mother went with her
to the city Of smoke and fog, and in
September, 1878, she made her debut
before London audience at the
Princess Theatre. Less than a
month later her health entirely gave
way, and she found it necessary to
throw up her engagement and return
with her mother to the little home
in Rotterdam in which she had
breathed her earliest breath.
So much her mother told me then
took me up to see her daughter.
Did I say just now that she was
suffering? That was hardly the
case. She was dying of rapid con
sumption. She was too weak to suf-
fer much physically, but tue broken
heart was giving her exquisite tor
ture.-