The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-24
PLAYERS FROM SOCIETY.
Fashions v0taries Who Have Gained
fiistrionic Distinction.


York society has put on the stage, says
the New York Sun. Many women on the
American stage today have come from
families conspicuous in social history.
Marie Wainwright, who is related to the
well Known family OF that name; Bettina
Gerard. who was Betty Ordway, daugh-
ter OF General Ordway, and Ethel Sprague
a daughter OF Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague,
are some Of the women who have come
10 the professional stage from families
well known in this country. Many
women from tho South who are related
to the oldest families there are now on
the stage, and the same thing 10 true OF
the other parts of the country.
"The difference ip the situation when
a woman from New York society becomes
an actress" said a manager the other
day, sis that New York in social matters
IL the best known American city. IL Is
true that In their own towns these girls
who have gone on the stage are certain to
arouse some interest; but 1t is:not nearly
SO strong as that which a woman from
New York can arouse all over the coun-
try. The people conspicuous In New
York society gre kuown to a surprising
extent throughout the United States. ihe
newspapers print the news about them,
and IN this way reople living long dis.
tances away get to know families and in
dividunls very we'll by name. In New
York, too, there is so much more wealth,
society Is so much more OF an institu-
tion, and the conditions are so much more
brilliant than they are in any other city
that TO come from such a set throws
glamour over woman which the society
of the other cities does not confer. So
the women VINO come to the stage as New
York society women are those that nre
looked upon as representing what really
is society's contribution to the stage,
although there are many girls from aris-
tocrstic families aud of good positions
in other States also In the profession.
But for the reason have explained the
New York woman has the best of it,"
Anna Cora Mowatt, who was Miss
Ogden before her marriage to MIR. Now
att, then a wealthy lawyer in New York,
was the first New York woman to take
the step, end proved, possibly, more sue
cessfui than any Ct those who followed
her. In lS45 she wrote a comedy called
Fashion," and before that time had
written sketches and essays that had re-
ceived the compliment OF translation
into various foreign languages. He
play, acted at the old Pa k Theater, wxs
n great success, and in the ane yesr she
made her debut as an actress, plying
Pauline in the LADY of Lyons" Mrs.
Mowatt when child had acted in anna
teur theatr icsls, and one of her youthful
nchievements-she IL said to have been
preparation of a number of French plays
for amateur performances. Mrs. Mowstt
was very successful, not only in her own
country, but also In England where she
played with Il. l.. Davenport. Julia, in
"The HunchDacS," Juliet and Pauline
were her favorite characters. Mrs. Mowatt
later wrote another play in which she
frequently sppearec. This was called
"Armande, Child Of the People," Az
ter she had been or the stage for nine
years, she made her last appearance as an
actress at a farewll performances given at
Niblo's Garden. The receipts for thet
single evening were more than 5000
which shows the regard in which the
public held her. She made her last ap-
pearance IS Pauline the part in which
she had made ner debut. Shortly after
ward she married William T. Ritchie, a
man of wealth, and removed to England,
where she died. In 1870. Mrs. Mowatt
wrote a number OF novels. and tegan her
dramatic career by puolic readings, when
her husband was first unsuccess ful in
business. Her father was Samuel Gouver-
neur Ogden, an old time New York mer-
chant, ano her second husband, MIR. Rit-
chie, was q VirginiaD. Some of her de-
scendants are to-day conspicuous in the
most exclusive sets In New York socisty.
Mrs. Jane Brown Potter has been a
profeFsionl actress now for so long that
people do not remmer her as the fashion
q bic amateur, who coming from sn aristo-
cratic family in New Orleans, married
here into one OF the most influential
families OF the city, acted as an amateur,
aud then stepped over to the professional
stage. Shs is acting now in Australia.
Mira. Potter no longer cares to visit New
York aud she said on her last visit here
that she found il very much changed.
and looked in vain among the crowds In
the park and on the street for the fam IL
lar faces that were known in society at
the time she was active in It. Mrs. Pot
ter made her debut about II years ago,
and until that time had been the most
conspicuous among the amateurs.
Miss Elsie de Wolfe, who had frequently
acted with her, and after Mrs. Potter's
secession took her place among the
amateurs was another OF the women
who left society and became a profes-
sional actress with grost cre6it to fersslt.
After making a false start she recovered
herself end has since made practically her
own certain line OF parts, especially
those requiring distinction OF manner and
polish.
ono ~ tho oIdost Nou yari,