Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-25
THE PEERLESS LOTTA.

ness Tho windows, reaching to the floor,
expose a view Of the glistening placidlty of
the lake and the almost italian blue of the
sky Then come couple of reception
rooms, fitted up with ordinary elegance;
then the dining room, with its massive ma
hogany table, chairs and sidebOard and
equally massive plate. The effect of this
| furniture is most somber. 1t was designed
| TO he the most elegant room of all. l was
told tina. the actress occupied the different
rooms according to her varying moods.
The up stairs rooms are reached by all
sorts of curious little halls-upa step here,
down n step there-untl you are confused
beyond expression. All over the house are
scattered evidences Of appreciation of the
the actress art from all parts of the world
not only pictures of curious conception,
certainly not divine; musical instruments
fearfully and wonderfully made and full of
ear splitting possibilities; huge vases COW
cred with designs that wildly suggest q
cross between heather mythology and q
Chinese puzzle, possessed no doubt of great
artistic value, but utterly incomprehensi-
Bile to the writer: books of all languages
and ages In one of the lower halls is a life
size portrait of Lolita in the character of
The Marchioness by William Morgan. 1t
was orr ,,inally intended as gift to the city
of New York. but when completed failed to
suit the critical Marchioness and was DOOM
ed to everlasting obscurity. Birds from the
tropics and dogs from the far north occupy
positions of great Importance in the ac-
tress' home.
! In answer to my message Mrs. Crabtree,
the actress mother, presently appeared-a
most remarkable old lady, prodigiously
severe in an immaculate black silk dress.
A pair of kindly gray eyes beamed from be-
hind gold trimmed spectacles. She affected
no ornaments, save two plain gold brace
lets at least an inch and Il half wide, and
looked for all the world like the picture of
dowager duchess cut from historical
novel.
1T is said," l suggested interrogatively,
''that the idea of this cottage occurred to
Miss Lolita while travelling through Swift
zerland."
NO" replied Mrs. Crabtree, Miss Lolita
had almost nothing to do with either the
selection of tho site or The plan of the house.
came up berc QUE day some years ago
with my friends the Dunlops. was charmed
with the place, bought and paid for it the
same day. Then engaged Philadelphia
architect to furnish plans for house. l
was pleased with the idea of Swiss cot
tage, somewhat modified by the introluc-
ton of ell modern improvements. Work
was begun mt once, and my daughter never
saw the house till she moved into it,
ut is also Tumored that Miss Crabtrce is
the richest woman on the American stage"
Iquerieu rather timidly.
Here got the full force of those kindly
gray eyes. rather resentfully imagined.
''Such L report is due to no talk of ours"
she replied. 1T is true that Miss Lolita is
very well off. She has considerable real
estate in different cities and theater in
Boston, Her wealth is due largely to her
professional earnings and largely to sue
cessful speculation in real estate
1t is well known, let me add parcnthet-
ically, that I.Otta's mother has been the
actress manager for many years and that
the greater portion of her wealth is due to
her mothers thrift and sound judgment
Once you talk with Mrs. Crabtree for few
moments, and the story Is confirmed COM
pletcly.
Twill Miss Lolita go upon the road the
coming season."
moi positively not. How soon thereafter
cannot say, but certainly not the coming
teason. She has worked hard and long
her duties are extremely arduous. She is
now enjoying well earned independence
from work. We receive letters daily from
NIL parts Of the country from actors, or
would be actors, applying for positions in
her company-to all of which we make the
formal regretful reply" Then the old lady
became reminiscent.
Years ago. she said, when l first be-
gan to look after my daughters affairs, I
was brought constantly in contact with the
| lonI iS,fr m ~ W. TLo,