Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-12

But to be accepted merely as q beauty
did not satisfy Mrs. Duff, and she stud
led and worked hard to gain applause
for her art. Her next appearance in
a new role was in the following Janu-
airy, when she played Lady Anne to
the Richard III. Of no less an actor
than George Frederick Cooke, who was
then the greatest tragedian of the
American stage. Her success as an
actress was more marked. 1t was not,
however, until February, 1918, that she
really stamped herself as a great act
ress, when she came once more before
the public as Juliet and received her
rank at once as an actress of the first
magnitude From that time her sue
cess was phenomenal, and her career
a succession of the most brilliant tri
umphs. She played much in Phila-
delphia and Boston, eschewing the
New York stage for years, but when
she did appear there it was to make an
instant success. In the latter part of
1928 she returned with her husband to
London, and acted with Mr.. Macready
at Drury Lane theater.
In 1929 Mr.. and Mrs. Duff turned to
America and never again left Ameri
can shores. Two years later Mr.. Duff
died, leaving his wife almost penni
less, for it must be remembered that
the most popular actors in those days
did not receive the enormous salaries
that are at present paid. At the zenith
of their fame the highest salary COM
manded by Mr. and Mrs. Duff was
jointly only s55 per week.
With ten children to look after and
educate, Mrs. Duff had a hard time of
it after her husbands death. She con-
tinued on the stage, however, until
1886, when she married John G.. Sevire,
or Seaver. Her public appearances
were less frequent, and on May 80,
1888, she acted for the last time. She
went to New Orleans to reside, re-
nounced the stage, left the Catholic
faith and became a member of the
Methodist church. For years her life
was spent in works of benevolence and
cha1 'ty. Finding herself unhappily
/
est retirement
Suddenly, in 1854 she disappeared
from New Orleans with her husband
and children. 1t was said that they
had removed to Texas. Whether they
ever reached the land of the lone star
never knew or heard of Mary Duff
again until the year 1874, when it was
| discovered that she had lain buried in
an unknown grave in Greenwood GENE
| terry for nearly twenty years. The Sc
cret of her later life and death was so
we'll kept that no one ever penetrated
| it. Then some one stumbled over the
! lonely grave in Greenwood and fer
reted out the fact that the greatest
actress of her day, with her daughter,
was sleeping beneath humble stone
bearing the simple inscription:
Mother and Grandmother"
1T afterward transpired that Mrs.
Duff had gone to New York in 1855, a
sad, subdued, broken-spirited old lady
| Quietly the Once-renOwned actress
went to the home of her youngest
| daughter, Mrs. I. ReillieuX, at SO West
Ninth street, and there on September
5, 1857, she died. On the following day
single carriage followed her remains
to Greenwood cemetery, where they
were temporarily placed in the receiv-
ing tomb. The same year the remains
of her daughter were laid beside her
in the receiving tomb, and finally, on
April Is, 1858, Mrs. Duff's remains, to-
gether with those of her daughter
were laid in the public lot where now
they rest.
By Junius Brutus Booth Mrs Duff
was called 'the greatest actress in the
world" John Gilbert said she was
without exception, the most exquisite
tragic actress he ever saw. Her beau
ty was wOrshiped. Her movements
were likened unto those of a queen
The classic outline of her head and
face made painters and sculptors mar
vel. Her dark, brilliant eyes Fascinated
people. She was a glorious woman in
the eyes of men; exquisite in the eyes
of women. She swayed audiences as
never did woman before or since. Hel
tenderness touched hearts, her grace
enthralled them. Her career was bril-
liant, her life stainless. And yet, il
Greenwood cemetery, amid decay ant
neglect, side by side with paupers ant
suicides, in an unmarked grave, lie:
all that remains of this much-admiret
woman of the American stage.-Sa1
Francisco Bulletin.