Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13

~, Decaube, perhaps, ~
W is the most cherished
even. in past that is held sacred by him. Yet
| it is. after all, the softening romance in Gen.
Buffers life, in which the storms have far ex-
ceeded the Gains. Those who know the old
war horse, who have been under the spell
| of his eloquence, who have felt the fervor OF
his invective or the keenness Of his satire,
who have watched him in angry debate or in
crafty legal argument will be surprised most
of all to know that Gen. Butler once enjoyed
the romance that is commonly attributed to
| sentimental fedgings only. We read much of
the stern labor of his younger years; his indom-
| liable pluck his struggle through poverty and
obscurity to gain his education and his combats
with prejudice and influence to gain recogni-
ton and power. But We read little or nothing
| at all Of his young mans fancies of q tenderer
nature.
There il no hint that he was ever lover,
nothing to indicate that the ambitious and
grim young lawyer ever pleaded his own cause
before judge with cherry lips, cheeks Of
down and melting eyes. Surely, since all the
world loves q lover, Gen. Butler may we'll have
told US the story of his first and only romance
the romance that brought to him years Of hap
was only ended by death. There have been
| hundreds of romances just like it, but far more
less Joyous in their results. Gen. Butler
| married an actress. This era Of playRoers,
Will ite eCOTo OF FAMOUS IavOrlteS Oh Tue IOOt-
lights, has probably never heard Of Sarah
Hlldreth. Yet she was in her day an actress Of
note. Surrounded by admirers high in social
| favor-a rare distinction for any player in that
preJudiced Understanding in person and brill
| liant in intellect Sarah Hildreth may well have
claimed homage from impressionabie young
men. She was the daughter of DR.. Isaac Hill
dreth, a reputable physician then practicing in
the city OF Lowell, Mass. for SO many years
Gen. Buffers home and the scene Of some Of
his most famous political triumphs.
SARAH HrLDRETHs CAREER.
Sarah Hildreth was carefully educated in her
native city, and doubtless her acquaintance
with the theater was extremely limited during
her girlhood. But that did not prevent her
from becoming enamored Of the stage. She
was scarce eighteen when there came, to her an
opportunity to realize her fondest dreams.
Visiting relatives in Brooklyn, she was easily
enabled to put her purpose to the test. She at
once placed herself under the tuition of that
admirable actress and lovely woman, Mrs. YER
non, who found in her handsome young pupil
remarkably promising material. The course
OF study for the stage in those days was not too
long. On August 10, 1887, Sarah Hildreth-
doubtless to the amazement of her friends in
quiet Lowell-made her debut on the profess
sional stage, coming forth. moreover, not q
minor actress, but as full-fedged ''stRr."
The scene OF her essay was the historic Park
Iheater in this city, the first house and the
most famous OF that name, and the play was
1.-The Wife, Sheridan Knowles powerful
| story OF intrigue, in which the fair young
debutante appeared as Mariana. The occa-
sion was benefit to w. II. Chippendaie, who,
oddly enough. is the only surviving member Of
| that memorable cast. The hero, Pierre, was
acted by Charles K. Mason, q then noted lead
ing man. Sarah Hildreth's success was in
Simultaneous. The house was brilliantly
crowded and its auditors were disposed to be
critical, for star debutantes in those days were
not regarded with strong favor, the popular
theory holding that they should rise from the
ranks after years of preparatory service. But
the gentle grace and refined beauty of Sarah
Hildreth won the severest of her critics. Her
lady-llke demeanor, her intelligent counte-
nance, her modest costume, all spoke volumes
in her favor. At first it was observed that her
elocution was somewhat marred BY a lack of
expression and variety, and that her manner
was not quite animated enough in the more
forceful scenes of the play, but on the whole
her debut was marked by success, and that sue
cess made OF the Lowell physicians daughter
an actress destined to charm thousands Of
American playgoers before she should capitu.
late to the fierce wooing Of benjamin +. Butler.
Offers came to her at once IRON numerous
shrewd managers. The stock-company system
then ruled, and among the southern managers
who had just visited New York in search of
budding talent was William Abbott, who owned
theaters IN Charleston and Columbia, s. G.
MIR. Abbott engaged Miss Hildreth for his COM
pany, which alternated between the two cities,
and during that winter also she appeared in
Savannah. subsequently she played in several
cities in North Carolina and Virginia, after
which she returned to New York. In 1912, hav-
ing then gained an enviable repute as a con-
scientious, powerful actress and an estimable,
,reiined woman, Sarah Hildreth became the
leading lady in the stock at the old Park Thea
ter, this city. On the same boards which five
years earlier she had trod in fear and trembling,
she now came forth crowned with the laurel of
public favor and at the head Of q company of
players brilliant in every respect. Around
her were gathered William Z. Burton, the
famous Toodes; Thomas Barry, the best
stage manager OF his day; Henry Placide,
rare comedian and jolly fellow; Carson W.
Clarke, Henry Bellamy, Mrs. Vernon Cher
old preceptress) Mrs. Thomas Barry
(the frst), and a dozen others equally noted,
and all dead and gone long ago. This engage
ment may be regarded as the turning point in
Sarah Hildreths stage career. Her talents, it
was soou discovered, were overshadOwed by
the ripper ones of those by whom she was sur
rounded Her opening performance was as
ROsdlind in las You Like 1t, but there was a
brave Orlando to command much of the ap-
plause and a Jaques whose cynicism drew all
the laughter, SO that RoSdtind was somehow q
lesser figure in the play. The result
surprise and sorrow to the young actress
friends, but It was not uncommon outcome:
Miss Hlldreths engagement at the Park was cut
short, probably by herself, and before Christmas
OF that year she had accepted an offer of the
''ieads' in the stock at the old National, Gin
cinnati, then under the management of the
same Chippendale at whose benefit she had
made her debut. There she remained three
months. during which she played g . star in
Louisville, and in that city also was the recipi-
ent Of . mammoth benefit.
HE ESCORTED HEB HOME.
At that benefit applauding the young actress
- she recited the ponderous blank verse of
Talford's "Ion," was Benjamin F. Butler. The
lawyer, then in the catalogue of '.rising young
msR Of the east, had already pressed his suit
and had won favorable answer. To attend
the benefit he had made the journey from
Lowell and it was his purpose TO escort Miss
ALdreth back to that city. He fulfilled his
purpose, and more, too. In few days it be-
came known that the stage would lose Sarah
Hildreth, perhaps forever. In Q few months
came news OF her marriage to Gen. Butler. It
il related that before their union abe exacted
a promise from her dance that she should be
allowed to return to the stage at tho end Of q
year If she wished, but abe never sought fulfill
ment Of that promise. The cares of family
changed her views and in the quietude and hsppi-
ness Of her Lowell home Mrs. Butler soon forgot
the glamour and the fever Of the theater. She
never again appeared in public. Bearing three
children, she lived to rec them grow into useful
men and women. In the spring of 1876 she
died at the Massachusetts, General Hospital, In
Boston. after long illness Of cancer.
MoDxRN TRICK,