The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-19
THE DEAD ACToR.
william Terrtss, the yic-
tim OF an A,snssiu

eh OF William Terrtss, the We
tim OF an Assassin.
uuoh' december 1s.--William Terriss
WI" rel victim to the assassin Thursday
was porn In London, October is. 1851 ana
game o. an excellent family. His sa,hor
.1s hehtish county gentleman. and his
ino.ner sister of the celebrated historian
VI "reece' the late George Grote. Terriss
was a nom de theatre, the real nam, a,
'ue deceased actor being William rewir
"Aeh boy OF IL he entered the royal
Hngiish navy as a midshipman bpt ,h,
discipline OF the service proved ton ,o,o,,
restraint, and he forsook the navy
lor tne merchant marine Sailing for A.,
traiia, he there followed many yo,a,is'.-
successiyely--was an engineer hsnb
eierk, an eInploye of the Stock Exrbanga
ahu IN tobacco and wine houses Du,inr
.nis period he was a sort of lack Of ali
traues. But his restless spirit demanded
lurther change, and he sailed for calcutta
WIN the intention of joining his elder
~ 80, oolohei Levin, in tea planting.
- r-o'eu an eVentiul voyage, for the ship
was wrecked in cyclone at the month
OF the River Hooghly. and all bur four of
,ne snip 5 company were lost. Terrss saved
MS ne by swimming, and his skill In the
water often stood him in good stead and
won lof MIN two decorations for saving life
at sea. After six months of tea-plantine
IN the lungles of Assam he returned To
England. He then decided to become an
ACTOR. HIS first full hedged engagement
was at Birmingham, where he appeared in
a subordinate part in the company OF Nine
Celeste, but he soon sought recognition in
London. and his GOODNESS and COURAGE Sc
cured MIN an engagement with Mr.. Ban
croft, who intrusted to him the role of
Lord Clanderage in Society" After play
Ing three years in London, and virtually
succeeding to the position that had been
! occupied by Harry Montague as the so
ciety' lover of the English stage he for
sock the footlights and went wool gath
ering' on a large sheep-run in the Falk-
land Islands The propensity to rove was
stu strong with him. The sheep venture
was a failure, and he went back to the
London stage, appearing at the Drury Lane
theater in many important roles. Now he
began to show talent for a stronger class
OF parts than he had interpreted with the
Bancrofts, but he suddenly broke off again
This time the diversion was not sheep
but horses In 1873 he went to Lexington,
KY, to join Mr.. Tattersall in horse-hreed
ing, but there he also was stranded, dld
was ngain forced to make his way back
to England.
For the third time returning to the stage,
he settled down to hard work. exhibited
capacity and versatility and attracted the
favorable notice Of the London press. When
Henry Irving in 1850. made his memorable
revival of Romeo and Juliet at the Ly-
ceum theater he invited MIR Terriss to
play Mercutio. Then began an associa
tion which continued with the greatest
profit to Irving and the greatest oclat to
Terriss for seven years. II was during
Irying's first American tour that Mr.. Ter
riss appeared on the stage in this country.
After leaving the Lyceum company, lie
played Romeo TO the Juliet of Miss Mary
Anderson at the Lyceum theater Cor 200
nights. He then entered upon the career
of star. and save occasional provincial
and foreign tours has reigned supreme II
the Adelphi theater, the leading melo-
dramatic house in London He was tie
idol Of the Adelphi pit, and long ago en-
deared himself 10 the great mass Of Lon
don play goers by his sterling qualities
as an actor aud man.
Miss Elaine Terriss, who in private life
is Mrs. Seymour Hicks Is his daughter,
She has frequently visited this country, an
poaring in light opera and gayety urtr-