The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-02
A VERSATILE ACTRESS.
The Death of Mrs. John Drew Re-
moves IA Famous Character From
the SINCE.

the Stage.
From the New York Herald.
Because Mrs. John Drew is best known
to theater-goers of the present generation
as Mrs Malaprop it must not be imagin-
ed that she was a one part actress or even
an actress who was only succMful in one
line of parts. On the contrary, Mrs. Drew
was one Of the most versatile actresses of
her day, and her repertory had range
that would simply appall any star or lead
ing woman of the present time
When she began her career, which was
almost before she was out of the cradle
they had no Gerry society in those days
the stage was quite different place from
what il is to-day. Stars were few and far
between, and the leading men and women
of the stock companies had to work hard
to maintain their places. The managers
thought nothing of changing the bill once
or twice a week. and run" of three or
four weeks was an unheard of event The
consequence was that the actors and act
resses were constantly learning and play
ing new parts, and parts of all kinds 1t
was in such a school that Mrs. Drew re-
ceived her training and rose to be consid-
cred one of the very foremost actresses
of the country.
Mrs. Drew was born in London on Jan.
~, lolVi anu SIX years ldIeF Sne ndue neT
debut in Liverpool as Agib in "Timour the
Tartar" A year later, her mother-known
to the stage as Mrs Kinloch-brought her
to America, and she began her career as
Little Louisa Lane, the child actress, ap-
pearing first as the Duke of York to Jul
MUS Brutus Booths Richard III, at the
Walnut Street theater in Philadelphia. In
FAINT prodigies were the rage just then and
the little English girl was great success.
In one piece in which she appeared at this
period she played five different parts-so
different in fact that the performance
must have been almost Fregolian in char
acter. In 1888, stir only child she Joined
the stock company at the old Bowery the
alter. in this city. and for five years she
took part in a constant round of legiti-
mate pieces and laid the foundation for
the fame she afterward gained.
How did | find time to go to SCHOOL," re-
peated the old actress in reply to the
question of a recent interviewer. "Bless
you! l never went to school. 1 got my
education from reading and from associat-
ing with and listening to the conversation
of clever people"
It was a good education, too, the very
BEST perhaps, for her in her chosen pro-
fession. After the old Bowery course she
returned to Philadelphia to re-enter the
Walnut Street Theater Company and to
marry Henry Hunt, a popular vocalist of
the day. At the Walnut Street she was
the leading juvenile lady, and in 1899 she
was the Julia de Mortimer when Edwin
Forrest gave "Richelieu" its first produc-
ton in America. With Forrest also she
played Ophelia, Desdemona, Pauline and
the like She also acted during this pc
riod a great deal with the elder Booth, and
later on she supported Macready and Ed
win Booth OF all these famous stars she
delighted to talk, and her store of remi-
niscences never seemed exhausted.
But she was called upon to play comedy
roles as well as tragic, and while at the
Walnut Street she went through the
whole range of comedy with John Sleeper
Clarke, John e. owen, Joseph Jefferson
and others, going from tragedy to COM
edy, from melodrama TO farce just as the
popular demand required.
Mrs. Drew, then Mrs. Hunt, returned to
New York in 1912 and scored a great sue
cess at the old Park theater, making her
debut in a play entitled blanche Herot,
or the Chertsey Curfew." She separated
from Mr.. Hunt in 1S47 and soon afterward
married Mr.. Mossop the Irish comedian,
who died very shortly afterward. In 1850,