Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-30


for keen observers of the world of players.
Northing can be more natural than that Mary
Anderson should sigh for the olden days.
They were days with scarcely a cloud, 1.-The
happiest days" so she has written to one Of her
girihood friends, in her lifetime, and, now
that the novelty of domesticity has somewhat
lost its edge, what more rational than
WISH for the homage which, once gained,
is never quite relInQuished by its
recipients. 1t is now about three years since
Mary Anderson became the wife of Antonio de
Navarro. Their union was the elimination OF
an ardent courtship on the part Of young De
Navarro, who had good looks, fine physique,
graceful, well-knit figure, an eloquent tongue
and true lovers persistence to aid him in his
snit. 1t had long been known in theatrical cir
Giles that he was a worshiper at the shrine of
this chaste and chilly goddess of tragedy; but
no actor and no actress who had ever played
on the same stage with Mary Anderson had
predicted success for Antonio de Navarro i'll
his wooing. He was not wealthy in his own
right. His prospects were bright" might
truly be said OF him; as of many another clevor
and hopeful young man; for he came Of good
stock, aud his father had acquired fame if not
uncommon riches by the erection of the finest
block of apartment houses in America. But
with these things in his favor, Antonio de
Navarro's more material CLAIM for the actress
hand began and ended. She had been courted
by many suitor higher IN rank and richer In
purse. On each of two continents she had
fused an alliance which may well have tempted
beauty and genius, even such as hers.
REJECTED PEER.
In England-and this Is no longer a secret
Catholic peer who is both famous and wealthy,
had LAID his title and bis worship at her feet
aud was chagrined and amazed to receive
Hat refusal. In this city u member OF that
august body which groups itself fondly as the
-Four Hundred was fascinated by the actress,
and Tor three years paid her unceasing court.
1t has been said that once she looked upon him
with a fair degree of kindness, not to say IA
vor, for he was gallant he was ardent. h. was
rich and he was eminently eligible, as we'll as
sympathetic. He had graduated from Column
bia and two millions were at his command
His set was the most exclusive of all tho
gilt-edged sets within the magic social cir
free thinker and Mary Anderson is a
Catholic OF the most devout type-a
Remanist whose piety is as sincere as it is un-
ceasing. 1t is said that discussion on
splritualistic seances first revealed to her the
bent OF her suitor's mind. Certainly he could
have touched upon 10 topic more likely to
alarm the actress than this. Arguing, she
doubtless did, that his conversion was ont of
the question 1t is not difficult to understand
why she suddenly ceased to regard him with
favor. De Navarros religion Is her own.
There was that circumstance to aid his suit
from the first. 1t vas not necessary in his
case to count upon the trying formalities and
ecclesiastical intricacies of mixed marriage"
laws. with the absolute promise by the nom
Catholic that all the children born of the
union should be educated in the Catholic
faith.
STILL HAS HER BEAUTY.
Mary Anderson will be thir,y-three years old
on the 2Sth day of next July. Those who have
visited her recently at her pretty home in Tun-
bridge Wells-which is III the south of Eng
land, where the climate is even and balmy-
declare that she bears her years remarkably
well She is described as in excellent health
and in high spirits. Her eyes still have the
flash which made them famous in her earliest
stage days. Her form is graceful and as
as queenly and her laugh is as merry
as Of yore. Twelve months prior to her
marriage she was detected mentally and weak
physically. She had, with scarcely days
notice. terminated her contract with Abbey,
Schoeffel Grau, and physicians who
phia and again in Baltimore had de-
clared that she would probably be an
incurable invalid. One practitioner of note
had even ventured to say that her mind was
seriously affected. 1t is easy to recall the
shock occasioned by this sudden collapse of
the young actress Shs had only then gained
the best success in her career. for her triumph
as Perdita in "A Winters Tale" was far and
away the finest revelation OF her genius she
had ever made known to us. In the very
midst of a season which had promised to sur
pass all others, alike In its pecunlary and its
artistic points. she broke Down and withdrew
from the public gaze. A period of retirement
IN the quietest province of England was fol-
lowed by ieisurely tour of continental
Europe, and il was during this latter term of
relaxation and rest-the first real dolce far
niente ever enjoyed by her-.hat Mary Ander-
sons heart was attacked and captured by bold
Antonio.
1t lie declared that within the past three
months she has favorably received PROPOSE
ton from MIR. Abbey to make q tournee under
his direction, the play to be "a Winters Tale"
and SO her triumphs are to be renewed at the
very point where they were terminated by her
illness. In proof of these negotiations it Is
set forth that Abbey has actually made an
offer OF a seasons work at a handsome salary
to one of the best leading actors OF this day
an Engiishman, and not a stranger i'll Mary
Anderson's support-and it is further cited, as
evidence of what is to be. that costumes for a
revival Of "A Winters Tale, " have been ordered
in this city, to be in readiness by early fall.
THE MONEY IN IT.
The profits Of Temperance tour" BY
Mary Anderson would, it is believed, equal if
not exceed those Of any other tragic actress in
the history of the stage. Peculiar interest
would attach to her return to the foOtlights.
1t was the common criticism of her warmest
admirers that in all her impersonations there
was lacking the power TO simulate the passion
of love. Her GOODNESS was the single and Oft
quoted weakness in her art. She could finely
express scorn and pathos, but the melting ten
derness Of love was always wanting. Some
body has said that Modjesks the first to
realize this, and that she declared that not
until Miss Anderson had experienced the power
Of human affection would she become a sur
passingly great actress, but in truth the
remark was first made by Sara Bern
hardt, who surely may be accepted as
an ex-cathedra authority on the passion of love
as related to the art of acting. For this reason
alone Mary Anderson's return to our stage
would be an event Of most significant import
She has not been forgotten. Into the retire.
ment of her Tunbridge homo the memories Of
the most affectionste theater-going public on
the face Of the earth have followed her She
would be welcomed with enthusiasm, beyond
. doubt, and nowhere more earnestly than on
our own stage. 1t 10 now only little over six
teen years since she made her debut in . Louis
vile theater a. Juliet A native Of Sacramento,
Cal, pupil Of an American manager, the
daughter Of brave American soldier and. the
wife Of an American gentleman, all the cir
cumstances claim her a. our own. By all
means, il she 10 to return to the stage, IL
ahould IA nm Americau boarda frat and Nth