Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-09
AN ACTRESS BY NATURE.
Mrs. George Drew Barrymore's Remsrka-
Career on the stage.

Career on the stage.
The death of Mrs. George Drew Barry-
more. the well-known actress, at Santa
Barbara. Cal, Sunday was briefly an
nounced on Monday last.
Mrs. BARRYMORE had been at Santa Bar
bara for three weeks past, recuperating
from an illness which had caused her to
abandon her stage-work IN New York some
months ago. The change. OF climate
seemed to do her good, but she was seized
with a hemOrrhage at noon Sunday ana
she died in few minutes. Her daughter,
Ethel was tho only member OF her family
with her at the time. Her mother, Mrs.
John Drew, and her brother, Sydney, were
soon to start for the Pacific coast on
professional tour, and they contemplated
paying the invalid visit as soon as they
reached California.
George Drew Barrymore was born In
Philadelphia and was about IS years OF
ace. Her father, the late John Drew. was
a famous Irish comedian III his day, and
from 1853 TO the time of his death in Phil
adelphia in May, 1862, was lessee, with the
late William Wheatley, OF the Arch-Street
Theatre. Her mother, whose maiden
name was Louisa Lane, was married TO
John Drew in 1850, and was lessee OF the
Arch. Street Theatre, Philadelphia, from
the time OF her husbands death until the
close of the season of 1891 '92. John
Drew, the we'll known comedian, IL an
elder brother of Mrs. Barrymore, and
Younger brother, Sydney Drew, has long
been prominent on the stage.
Mrs. Barrymore began her theatrical
career when q very young girl. Accord
ing TO her own story. she WAS being edu-
Gated IN q convent when the stage-teyer
struck her, and nothing would content
her but that she should be au actress. Her
mother protested. but finally decided that
the best way TO cure her daughters desire
for stage life was 10 let her try 1t and
learn its unpleasantness. Mrs. John Drew
wa. then the manager Of tho Arch-strset
Theatre and tho star OF her own
COMPANY. George was given the young
girls part in The Ladies' Battle. She
liked the life OF tho stage instead OF be-
coming disgusted with it, and she remain
ed a member of her mothers company Tor
several years. During these years she was
given thorough opportunity for training
as "A member of tho supporting company
OF Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Jonn
McCallough, and other great actors.
John Drew had left his mothers stock
company to accept On engagement with
Aupustln Daly's STOCK company, and short
ly after he joined Mr.. Days forces
George Drew was offered place IN the
COMPANY. which she accepted. She made
her tirst appearau - IN New York under
MIR. DAILY at the Fitth-Avenue Theatre
IN 1875 as Mary Standish Ia Plque.
Mr. Maurice Barrymore, young Enstlsh
actor, then recently arrived III this
country, was member of tho DaIy Compa-
nv at that time. and IN 1916 h0 married Miss
Drew. In the following year the flitn-
! Avenue Theatre Company was dissolved,
and Mrs. Barrymore subsequently APP
pearod nc the UnlOn-Square Theatre. In
,.st,,1 niuNI1U - l.
plomacy" III tho West, her husband
succeeding II. j. Montague IN the
| conpany. When The Wages of Sin
was first produced in New York she
made a hit as the wayWard actress IL that
play. and subsequently elected warm
pralse by her acting in Moths" Steady
| engagements with leading companies fol-
| lowed She made her greatest success as
| the Widow IN David Lloyd aud SydneE
Rosenteld' plny. The Senator" IN whlch
William II. Crane and his company APP
peared for several seasons.
Mrs. Barrymore left the Crane Company
| in the winter Of 1891 TO JOIN Charles FROM
| mans comedians and had been with Mr.
| Frohman since. and was especially suc'
| cessful under his management 10 the rot
! lckino farce called Mr.. Wilkinson's
| Widows Her last appearance on the
stage was at tho Standard Theatre,
| New York. about eight months ago
| Some months previously she had broken
| down while PLAYING with the Frohmau
COMPANY in San Francisco IN THE Sports
man. !" and she came East by way OF the
Isthmus. In New York she reIoired the
FrOhman Company at the Standard Thea
tire aud played ber part tor about month.
| Then her health gave way again ana sue
returned 10 California By way OF the lsth-
mus. -.
Mrs. BARRYMORE was one OF the best
| known and most popular actresses on the
American stage. Light comedy was her
esneciaI field, and only in light-comedy
narts had she played in recent years.