Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-18
WHEELING REGISTER, SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 895


had she but limited her expenses to
anr reasonable degree. Even at the
height of her success. when managers
were paying her great sums. her agent, |
with much difficulty, kept her supplied
with funds. She welcomed not only
friends, but all whom she met, to a Ia
BILE beautifully laden with choicest
Yands- Her most modes, meal was a
sumpJuous feast Then, again, while
she numbered among her possessions
numerous costly jewels and rare laces,
as well as q surprising amount of
elaborate goods of every description,
yet for her to see an expensive article
OF rarity and Oddly, Immediately sum
moned an uncomfortable desire 10 pos
ssS Il, and she would at once obtain
IL, regardless OF cost. The annual am
cunt OF her livery bills alone was am
pie TO support a goOdly sized family.
sac followed The Scripmral injunction
literally, and took no heed Of the NOR
row.
Ihat this life of revelry could cease
never occurred to her mind. and when
her resources We're finally exhausted
her eN-ravagant desires still remained.
ana 1t was indeed pitiful to note her
disappointment and surprise in being
unable TO crafty them. And with this
depletion Of her funds she bitterly ex-
perienced the cutting of of her asso-
cation by those she so short a time be-
lore had entertained as friends"
AT this point her halo Of fame was
transformed into a glare of notoriety.
With decline Of popularity. i'm every
sense Of the word, her life naturally
became trOublous and sorrowful one
her ability was soon forgotten. and she
was remembered but as a Eighty relic
OF past decade. Finally. realizing her
unfortunate position, she became en-
Differed and at enmiJy with tine world
aJ large; her thoughts turning to her
I Creator then her life became one of
profound devotion and She sought in
prayer the peace of mind she could not
| otherwise obtain.
Matilda Heron's last public appear
ance took place in April, 1876, at a per-
l0rmarce Of "MGGea' for the benefit of
her daughter.
Shortly after this, during the initial
performance of the pretty little play.
in which BjOu took a minor part, the
attention of the audience was divided
literally between the players on the
stage and q woman IN the corner of tho
dress circle, who at every point of in
forest 10 her, stood up and wildly
waved ler arms and handkerchief in
token of admiration. AT first the IN
-arruplOn was quite offensive, but as
tine play went on Nine Heron was rec
JgniZed, and sympathy for the mother
Joined hands with pity for the weak,
and turned lhe offending to a pleasure.
Early ina November of 1876 Nine.
Heron was taken seriously ill., her COM
| plant internal hemorrhage 1t was
clearly evident she being but shadows
| of her former self, that she had not long
/ To- live. In her sadness and atlcuOn
/ she felt she had but one earthly tie,
and that her little thirteen-year-
( Bijou, who watched long and patiently
I at her mothers bedside. The once IA
nous actress heart was concentrated
upon the pale, shrinking child beside
her.
When from her pallid, trembling lips,
/ us she was about 10 pass 10 the great
/ beyond, issued the paJhetis expression:
/ Poor Tilhe! You have never done
/ wroug TO any one she feryenuy en-
| braced her darling daughter and then
/ exclaimed: "Oh. / am so happy And
| she who had simulated death q thou
sand times expired peacefully OF last
ON Wednesday. March Z, at her home,
/ l32 East 1weuty-ffth street, New Y"~'-
/ City. For several days previous, being
perfectly resigned to die, she objected
suenUously to any efforts to pr0lOng
/ her life
In compliance with Nine. Heron's re-
| quest. made 10 bt1u. a.l.lu-u a. dee
| y1ut Roman Catholic, her funeral cere-
mony took place at The Lit-Ie Church
J Around the Corner" SO dear TO every
/ theatrical heart the Rev Dr. George
/ IT. H0ughtOu officiating. A time is not
/ known when there were together as
sembled so many professional lights as
/ O. this funeral Among the honorary
| casket bearers were Edwin Booth,
/ Lester Wallack, a. NJ. Palmer, John
I Br0usham, William j. Florence, Dion
/ Doucicault Joseph Jefferson, William
3 II. Crane, John Gilbert and several
/ other eminent members of the dramatic
/ profession. IL was the sincere regret
/ of Edward H. SOthern that me was COM
PEELED TO remain away. On learning OF
I Mime. HerOns death he Immediately
/ jeff Providence for New York, although
| seriously i'm with throat trouble. On
! mis- arrival be was obliged to take to
| his room, where he was confined for
/ fully week. His absence from the
; funeral was marked at the time, as it
I was 10 Matilda Heron he owed his the
/ auical success. his first stage popular
/ ity being gained i'm the part OF Armand,
/ Candles devoted lover.
Mme Her0n's broadcl0th draped
/ rosewood caske- bore two silver plates.
/ The one bearing an inscription of name
and dates of birth and death, the other
/ the foot-plate simply Camille.
| There was a profusion of choicest eXot-
| les but thc flower most in evidence was
/ the camilla. The chancel was an ideal
| wilderness. A small fortune was eX-
Derded i'm these testimonials OF alice
I fionata regard. and to those who knew
! The sad straits in which Matilda Heron
frequently found herself, it seemed al
most O mockery to lavish over her dead
/ body the means which she had so mucA
needed I'm times of restitution.
The following week Mime. Heron S
/ child was officially placed under the
ouor1ianship of Mr.. Albert VI. Palmer,
/ 5e. mothers sincercst friend. whom she
/ 9,d raDeq-edly sought by letter TO care
/ III, her precious an" when thrown on
/ Tho nercies of "the cold and cruel
world by en- act of The New York
/ r.os-l9trre. shortly aiterward, the
name OF Helen Wallace Stoapel was
/ t.,,,,.1 en- that of BiiOu Heron. This