The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-18
THE SLEEPING CAMILLE.
Matilda Herons Unrivaed Reign on Two
:=::<:->:* Continents.
Continents.

her with strange kind of delight at abso-
! lutte newness and formidable sincerity.
| Her Medea was half proving maniac and
| half a reckless SLOUGH, with now and then
a CLEAN of Hateful fury, like fire that
| streams through the suddenly opened
mouth of a volcano. Her Edith, Sybil and
! Geraldine were erratic and bizarre figures,
to be remembered for strong and surpris-
ing points. Never was the sense of an
original, vigorous, brilliant and startling
! personality missed. She was an actress of
| the passions-of the passions in their uni
versal ebb and flow. The sort of nature
that, unless it be curbed by prodigous
moral sense and intellect, inevitably breaks
all the bounds of a serene life.
In a beautifully picturesque spot in
Labby Vale, near Londonderry, Ireland,
was the Heron homestead into which, on
October Z, 1880, Matilda Agnes Heron
made her infantile debut. She came to the
United States with her parents when a
mere child. While still very young she
studied dramatic art under the direction
of old Peter Richings, manifesting de-
cided talent. Her first appearance on any
stage took place on February II, 1851, at
the Walnut-streer Theater, Philadelphia,
as Blanca in "Fazio.' In 1853 she left for
California, where she met with wonderful
success. Then fame and wealth were
rapidly acquired. During this time Miss
favored one of the name OF Henry Herbert
Byrne, rising young San Francisco law
yer, with whom she contracted a secret
marriage on June IL, 1854, the sequel to
which was q separation after the brief
honeymoon of five days.
Shortly after the demise of this tragic
actress the following story came to light:
Among the host of friends Miss Heron's
talents gathered around her none were
more assiduous in their attentions than
Henry Byrne, and their friendship having
developed into q deeper affection it was an
honest wish Of his that she should
leave her profession and become his wife.
This Miss Heron did not want to do, as
arrangements had been completed for
her brother to escort her abroad, and she
desired to defer her marriage until after
her return and the fuItillment of two the
atrlcal engagements she had made. AT
last, moved by his frequent solicitations,
she consented to secret marriage, and
became Mr.. Byrne's wife, both determin-
ing not to reveal their relations to each
other until after her return and the COM
pletlon OF her theatrical contracts.
with loving words and bright hopes for
the future they parted, the wife, accom-
panied. by her niece and brother, to go in
one OF her fathers vessels to Europe the
husband, with fond expectancy, to await
her return as the realization of all his
dreams of happiness.
.''At a. social dinner of gentlemen, Mr..
Byrne being present, conversation turned
upon women, and mention was made of
Miss Heron's remarkable ability, when
some one sneeringly alluded to her being
an actress. At this Mr.. Byrne requested
that Matilda Heron be spoken OF with
more respect, as he would answer for her
being lady. One of the party satirically
remarked, Probably she is as much of a
lady as is the original of this, taking q
daguerreotype from his pocket and handing
1t to his next neighbor at table, who, in
turn, passed it to another. Every one
upon seeing, it exclaimed Miss Heronp
Mr.. Byrne, looking at it, said, My God,
where did you get this?' Gentlemen re-
piled the owner of the picture, this is not
Miss Heron. but a picture of her sister,
called Kate Ridgely, the proprietress of
the New York House of Mirrors The
effect of the statement upon Mr.. Byrne
may be imagined, he being an excessively
proud man.
1.-THE irregularities and uncertainties of
the mails was Mr.. Byrne's excuse for not