The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-18

she objected strenuously to any efforts to
prolong her life.
quest made to Bijou, although a devout
Roman Catholic, her funeral ceremony
took place at 1.-The Little Church Around
the Corner" so dear to every theatrical
heart, the Rev. DR.. George H. Houghton
officiating. A time is not known when
there were together assembled so many
professional lights as at this funeral.
Edwin Booth, Lester Wallack, A. NJ.
Palmer, John Brougham, William j..
Florence, Dion Boucicault, Joseph
Jefferson, William H. Crane, John
Gilbert, and several other eminent mem
bers of the dramatic profession. 1t was
the sincere regret of Edward II. Sothern
that he was compelled to remain away.
On learning of Nine. Heron's death be i'm
mediately left Providence for New York,
although seriously i'll with throat trouble.
On his arrival he was obliged to take to
his room, where he was confined for fally a
week. His absence from the funeral was
marked at the time, as it was to Matilda
Heron he owed his theatrical success, his
first stage popularity being gained in the
part of Armand, Camille's devoted lover.
Nine. Heron's broadcloth-dra rose
wood casket bore two silver plates, the
one bearing an inscription of name and
dates of birth and death, the other the
footplate, simply Camille" There was q
pIofusion of choicest exotics, but the
flower most in evidence was the camellia.
The chancel was an ideal wilderness. A
small fortune was expended in these testi-
monials of affectionate regard and to those
who knew the sad straits in which Matilda
Heron frequently found herself it seemed
almost a mockery to lavish over her dead
body the means which she had so much
needed in times of restitution.
The following week Nine. Heron's child
was officially placed under the guardian
snip of Albert NJ. Palmer, her mothers
sincerest friend, whom she had repeatedly
sought by letter to care for her precious
alp when thrown on the mercies of "the
cold and cruel world" By an act of the
New York Legislature, shortly afterward,
the name of Helen Wallace Stoepel was
changed to that of Bijou Heron. This
child, now over 80 years of age, IS Mrs.
Miller, who achieved considerable success
throughout the country, especially in the
Shenandoah" and the ''Masqueraders."
Camille" had selected for her epitaph,
the words, "Here lies the Belle OF the
Season." In the early days of her theatre
cal career, she wrote and produced, herself
appearing in the princilp'aal, role, an
the Season." 1t proving unsuccessful
financially, and not being of character to
draw out Nine. Heron's great power of
expression and dramatic action, her man.
ager urged that she withdraw it from the
stage, whereupon she insisted with her
usual determination that 1.-THE Belle of
the Season" she wanted to play, "The
Belle of the Season" she would play, and
that when she died she wished nothing
placed above her but the epitaph:
Here Lies the Belle of the Season." but
as yet her grave is unmarked by stone or
inscription.
Matilda Agnes Heron was impressively
entombed in Greenwood Cemetery, Brook
lyn, when the sun was declining in the
western horizon. A mound OF English ivy,
surrounded by a framework of pink and
scarlet geraniums, now covers her grave,
which is situated in her sisters plat in
lovely dell of this far-famed Goods
Acre" Ever since the demise of this
renowned woman, her daughter Bijou has
seen that the grave has appeared as
blooming howerbed. Close beside her
rests the one-time idol of Matilda Heron's
heart, "Little Marie" child of Ca
miles first-love husband. This child
had been the apple of her mothers eye.
She was dressed and decorated like an
ideal beauty queen; elaborate silk and
satin frocks, costly gems, expensive iaces,
and all that unlimited lavishness could
supply, made this ethereal-appearing pet
an unrivaled attraction. But her reign was
short-lived. After very brief illness,
she breathed her life away. The brood
ings of the almost frantic mother were
most intense, yet even to her most init