The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-02-03
ROSINA V0KES DEAD.
The WoiI-knOWl C0m8di8nn9 Passes Ava

In L0nd)n After Brief Illness.
LONDON, Jan. 29-Rosina Nokes, the
talented actress, died to-day at her
home in this city after brief illness.
Miss NOkes had been suffering from
overwork in the United States, and
closed her tour and sailed for England
on December Is last. Prior to her leay-
ing New York Miss Vokes' health was
such as to seriously alarm her friends
At Chicago and again at Denver she was
seriously i'll and was obliged to ring
down the curtain in her performances,
her indispostion finally leading Cecil
Clay, her husband and manager, to alb
ruptly cancel her tour and hastily sail
Tor London. Miss Nokes suffered from
influenza and heart trouble.
The Nokes Family were London
merry-makers, born and bred to the
feats and frolics Of the stage. At the
time of their American debut there
were five of them, including Fawdon,
who was not member of the family ex-
cept in professional sense The f0ur
others were Fred, the acrobatic dancer;
Victoria and Jessie, the dark-eyed sis
tiers, and the Youngest and most popular
OF them all, RosIna. whose vim and
spirit set the pace for the others and
contributed in largest measure to clinch
their success.
Rosna was the flower of the Vokes
family. Born in London in 1854, she
made her first appearance upon the
stage at the age OF = months, when she
was cast Tor the role Of the infant in the
farce Of Mr.. and Mrs Peter White,
u \
her youth frequently took part in pla, :
in the Juvenile roles, finally becoming
known as a soubrette of great versa
tility.
On the 10th of March, 1871, after hav-
ing been connected with the stage for
twenty-five years, and five years after
her first appearance in America, ROsIQa
Nokes retired from the boards 70 be-
come the wife of Cecil CLAY. The cases
OF popular actresses who retire in their
prime and stay retired are az rare as
genuine four-leat clOyere. RoBina Nokes
vas not one of the exceptions. At the
egInning OF the theatrical season of
$50 SO she had organized a company
Tor an American tour, she being the star
OF 1t. Her American season began at
the Globe Theater, Boston, on October
5, 1886, the play selected being The
peariug was Weldon Grossmith, Bran
don Thomas. Courtney Thorpe, and
Mis- Carling ford. Ten weeks later Miss
Nokes began an extended engagement
at the Standard Iheatcr, New York,
and the wiseacreS Of the stage did not
hesitate to predict her failure, but no
such result attended the engagement,
for she Immediately jumped again into
popular favor, eCllpslng even her pre-
ylOuS successes.
Personally Miss Nokcs was one Of the
most charming women on the stage.
Size possessed Il disposition of rare
sweetness, was pleasing conversations
allst, and was exceedingly companion
able with all her acquaintance. She
was not a pretty woman; on the CON
t1ary, she was quite plain; and
III this particular she strongly contra
dtCted the ott-repcated statement that a
s5ubrctte or ingcnuc must possess Il
pretty face in order to succeed on the
stage Miss Nokcs' success was phe-
nomcnal; everywhere, after her first sea-
son, her reappearanCe was marked by
crowded theaters, and her popularity
was exceeded by few women. As 4
wife she was a model. Never was the
slightest whisper of scandal breathed
against her, and she and her husband
were lovers to the last.
Rosina Nokes brought into vogue in
this country style of entertainment
peculiar to herself and one which no
one has succeeded in initiating Her
bill generally consisted Of three short
plays in which comedy and pathos were
mixed. Miss NukcS was 4 good singer
and her song, His Art was True To
Poll, +" was one Of the delights of My
Milliner's Bill Sire was a grace
ful dancer too, although IN
late years she became rather
stout and her breath failed her.
Whenevert he character would permit It
Miss Nokes allowed her lady-like man
ners to shine and her refinement was
always apparent. She was a New York
and Chicago fayorite and devoted the
greater part Of late years to long en-
gagements at Daly'S Theater in New
York and HoOlcy's in Chicago She
appealed to the best class of theater
goers. Miss Nokcs retained much o,
her youthful beauty and spirits to the
end.
one Of Miss Nokes' brothers, Fred.
Nokes, married Bella Moore, daughter
of Pony Moore. the minstrel man
agcr, and fathcr-in-law of Charley
Mitchell, the defeated pugilist.