San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-04
GOSSIP OF
THE STAGE.
STAGE TO ROSTRUM.

An Actress Joins the Salvationists
and Talks For Jesus.
The following strOry of the CONVEX
sion of Ada Ward and her subsequent
! membership in the Salvation army is
| taken from n theatrical exchange:
1t is a far cry from the stage of n
| theatre to the platform OF a Salvation
army meeting. Miss Ada Ward, the
well known actress, has abandoned
the aliurements of the one for the
attractions of the other. Last week
Miss Ward was playing at the Princes
| theatre. Portsmouth. in East
Lynne" and THE Forger's Wife, "and
afterwards was to have started on a
tour booked ahead. After the curtain
came down on Saturday night, how
ever, she called the members of the
company around her, and informed
them she was leaving the stage for
IA more useful profession" that, in
fact. she had Joined the Salvation
army. She then distributed among
them her dresses and jewelry, babe
them farewell, and left the theatre.
Late the same evening posters were
put outside the Army barracks that
Miss Ada Ward. the popular ac-
treSs." would speak there on Sunday
evening.
Miss Ward has always been a prime
favOrite in Portsmouth. and the I'M
nretensiOus little building which is
styled the barracks. was packed to
SuffOcatiOn. Miss Ward, during the
earlier part of the proceedings. Occu-
pied a seat on the Denitent form, dress
ed in the ordinary garb of the Saliva
ton lasSie, minus the poke bonnet.
When she mounted the platform she
was obviously nervous. but her shy
ness soon wore off: and. addressing
her hearers with earnest eloQuence.
she said that at last. after long years
of wandering. peace and rest had en-
tered her heart. and she was happy.
She promised from that moment new
er to enter the theatre again. unless it
were TO preach the Word Of God. The
announcement was greeted with a
prolonged chorus Of GLORY" and Hal
lelujah," and many of the audience
were moved to tears by the lady's
simple words.
To a London Daily Mail" reporter
Miss Ward said that her decision was
irrevOcable. She had signed the "artl-
cles of war" and been admitted as a
soldier of the Army.
For the past four mOnwths. she
continued. Il have been stopping in
Portsmouth. preparing for a tour l
had booked this season. During that
time | occasionally went to the Saliva
ton army meetings. and the simple
earnest demeanOr of the people there
had always attracted me. but | did
not 60 to the penitent form entirely of
my own viOlitiOn. It was on the night
of the 9th of last January, | was in
the meeting when I felt something
touch me- Thinking it was some one
wanting to pass. I looked up with the
intention of moving. when right in
front of me 7 saw the figure of the
Saviour as distinctly and plain as |
see YOU now. I got up and went to
the ppnitPnt form. Something led me.
and the feeling was such peculiar
one that | cannot describe it, but the
presence has never left me.
" / have seen a great many ups and
downs" concluded Miss Ward. but
at last have found peace and work
that will he cOngPnial to me-"
Miss Ward returned to her home
mt Streatham. and, after a short rest,
she proposes TO undertake arduOus
works in the ranks. She has been con-
nccted with the stage twenty years.
and in that time has been four times
round the world, and has played in
every English-speaking country. She
has been twice married. The first time
was in her sixteenth year, and she
had to get divorce before year had
passed. Her second husband was an
artist. who died about twelve years
ago. while they were in South Africa.
about two and half years after mar
riage. Lady Isabel i'm East lynne
was Miss Wards great part. but she
also appeared with success in THE
Lady of Lyons" The Woman in
Red" Drink" and Leah