The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-24
DYING FROM CANCER.
MRS. ARTHUR PADELFORD, FOR
MERLY MISS BETTE ORDWAT.
She Was Born I'm Richmond and Lived Here
TO womanhood-Thc Story of Her
Career-short and Merry Life.

later Mrs. Arthur fadelIoIu 10 eoV "N'
known in Richmond to need any COM
ment. She is now dying in New
York. and the following is from the New
York Morning Journal:
Bettina oGerard is dying.
She is dying from cancer in private
bosnital on west Forty-third street. The
doctors say she cannot live.
Bettina Gerard was an actress. She
was better known 10 the public as Mrs.
Arthur Padelford. the divorced wire OF
n Baltimore millionaire.
Every actor. actress, chorus GIRL the
atrical manager bohemienne and man
obout-town OF any account in this great
city. or any other great city In the United
States. has heard OF Bettina Gerard.
People who recognized her on the streets
used 10 turn round their heads as she
PASSED and take second look at the
woman with history.
Mrs Padelford's father was General
Albert Ordway. brave soidier' VINO
served in the Army Of the Potomac our
ing the war and held the Office of Provost
Marshal of Virginia during the recon
struction period. Betty" was born In
Richmond. Her first recollection Of any
desire 10 act was when she was httle
girl OF eight.
In 1879 she played Josephine In Juve-
nile "Pinafore" performance gwen IN
Washington. and this was her hrst puDlc
appearance on any stage.
Betty" was only eighteen when she
married. The wedding took place in
Washington. The man who won her, or,
rather, whom she won. was Arthur Fadel-
ford. a young BaitimOrean who was I'M
mensely rich Some time before his mar
rage TO Miss Ordway he succeeded IN
gaining considerable fame through con-
testing the trustees of his estate in the
law courts.
When Mr. Padelford was minor his
estate was very wisely put in trust. Ac-
cording TO the terms of the trust, ne
was permitted to build house In BaIu-
more and another in Newport. But young
Mr. Padelford wanted 10 build a magnih-
cent steam yacht as we'll The trustees
Of his estate denied the luxury and the
courts sustained them.
At first Mr.. and Mrs. Padeford APP
peared 10 love each other rapturousiy.
But their marriage turned out 10 be a
very unhappy on. in the heyday or the
honeymoon PadelfOrd took his wife to
Europe. He leased a palace In vienna
and there they lived together for ume
amid all the luxury that wealth could
purchase. Padeford was an indulgent
husband But he was no fool.
All Vienna talked about the beautiful
Mrs Padelford and her vagaries. Soon
the tongues OF the gossips began a-wag-
ging and the name Of the dashing young
American woman became associated with
gossip TO such degree that one day
Mrs. Padelford suddenly left the Austrian
capital and returned to America.
She returned alone. Mr.. Padelford re-
NAMED I'm Europe. There was a breach |
between husband and wife, and the |
breach gradually widened. Society would |
not recognize Mrs. Padelford on her re- |
turn TO Washington After the dizzy rap |
lures Of a splendid splurge In Vienna |
home life was monotonous. Mrs. Padel-
ford determined TO go on the stage.
Much TO her fathers disgust she ac-
cepted an engagement as prima donna |
in Conried's Opera Company, and made |
her professional debut in Chicago as |
Felisa in 1.-The Kings Fool" She had |
studied music in Vienna. but without |
any idea Of going on the stage. Her |
excellent voice proved useful, for 1t made |
her first appearance success.
The criticisms Of her performance were |
so nattering that at the close Of her |
engagement with the Conreid Opera
Company Mrs. Padelford undertook TO
star She opened in Los Angeles, Cal,
with tremendous fanfare, played
couple of weeks in Frisco and then
went to Portland. ore, where she left
her diamonds behind her.
This was the last OF Mrs. Padelford's
career as star. Since then she has
sung in "King Cole" in the Duff
Companys "Gondoliers' and in Dixey's
"Seven Ages"
In 1856 Mr.. Padelford sued his wife
for an absolute divorce. The evidence |
was very strong against the respondent
and the courts promptly granted the de-
cree.
After her divorce Mrs. Padelford made
herself more conspicuous than ever. The
whole country heard OF her one summer
when she was staying at the White
Sulphur Springs. After one of the
morning cotillons" peculiar TO White
Sulphur Springs she was escorted from
the ballroom of the hotel to the parlor
by a Washington millionaire. who is
now dead. and a well-known young law
yer of Charlottesville, Va.
The men ordered cold bottle. and
another one" and began TO discuss
topics agreeable TO the lady. The young
Nirginian, who had just returned from
Europe, was telling about the peculiar
custom that prevails among German
peasants Of drinking wine from brides
slipper. when he incidentally remarked
that he wouldn't drink wine from a
slipper at any price
The Washingtonian said that he would
and offered TO back his statement with
money. bet was made. Mrs. Padel-
ford held the stakes Equal TO the occa-
sion, she pulled off her slipper, filled 1t
with wine and handed IL to the man
from Washington, who drained the
leather cup.
Mrs. Padelford continued TO use her
marriage name on the stage This an
noyed Mr.. Padelford exceedingly. Three
years ago when his divorced wife was
singing in Baltimore with the Conreid
Opera Company, he opened negotiations
with her on the subject Of his name, and
she agreed 10 drop it for $4,000. The
money was paid.
Henceforth Mrs. Padelford was known
in the theatrical world as Bettna Ge-
rard In 1889 she married John j.
Rafael, a tenor singer OF the Conreid
Opera Company, whose real name il
Johnson.
JUSTICE JOHNS COURT