Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-02
DEATH oE MRS. John DREW.
A Famous Actress Who spent Nearly All
OF Her seseptY-scven Years on the Stage
sketch 81 Tier InteresttuE Career.

OF Her SesertY-soven Years On the Stage
sketch 81 Tier Interesting Career.
New York, Aug. 3l.-Mrs John
Drew, the veteran comedienne, died at
Larchmont shortly after o'clnck this
afternoon. She had been spending the
summer months there. and lately had
become SO i'll that her death was not
unexpected. Her nurse left her for a
few minutes at about 3 o'clock this
afternoon. and few minutes later a
niece found her 10 commissions. DIR.
G. w. Jackson was summoned quickly,
but befnre be arrived tue renowned
actress had breathad her last She
had suffered from complication OF
kidney aud heart troubles. Mrs. Drew
was the best known to theltre- goers of
tine present generation as Mrs. Mala-
prop in 1.-THE Rivals"
Mrs. Drew was born in London on
January 10Th. 1920, and six years later
she made her debut in Liverpool us
Agib 10 "Timour the Tartar. " A year
Inter her mother, known to the stage as
Mrs. Kinloch, brought her to the Cuited
States. She began her career as Little
LOuiaa Lane, the child actress, appear
ing first as the Duke of York to Juniu5
Brutus Booths Richard Ill. at tho Wal
nut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. In.
fant prodigies vera the rage Just then
and the little English girl was great
success. In ope piece in which she APP
psared at this perloh she played five
different parts. In 1899, still only
child, she Joined the stock company at
the old Bowery Theatre, in this city,
and for five years sine took part in a
consang round OF Legitimate pieces and
laid the foundation for the fame she
afterward gained.
How did I find time to go TO
SCHOOL," she once repeated in reply 10
the question Of an interviewer. BLESS
you! | never went to school. ] got
my education from reading aud from
associating with and listening to the
conversation OF clever people.
After the old Bowery course she 70.
turned to Philadelphia to re enter thu
Walnut Stree. Theatre Go. ami to marry
Henry Hunt, popular vocalist of the
day. At the Walnut Street she was the
leading juvenile lady. and in 1889 she
was the Julia de Mortimer when Ed
win Forrest gave Richelieu" its first
production in America. With Forrest
also she played Ophelia. Desiemona,
Pauline aud the like. She also acted
during this period a great deal with
the elder Booth. ard later on she sup
ported Macready and Edwin Booth.
She was called upnn to play comedy
roles as we'll as tragic, and whils nj the
Walnut Street she went through the
whole range OF comedy with John
Sleeper Clarke, John +. Owens. joseph
Jefferson and others, going from tragedy
to comedy, from melodrama 10 farce,
just as the popular demand required.
Mrs. Drew, thsu Mrs Hunt, returned
to New York in lsI2 and scored great
success at the old Park Theatre, max.
ing her debut 10 a play entitled
"Rlauchs Heriot. or the Chertsey Cur
few Sha separated from Mr.. Hunt
in lSi7 and soon aiterward married Mr..
! Mossop, the Irish comedian, who died
very shortly afterward. 10 1850. while
playing in stock company in Albany.
OF which Mr.. q. W. Couldock was the
leading man, she met Mr.. John Drew
and they were married at the close 81
the season. Mr.. Drew was a favorite
comedian, and hs and his wife con
tinued to play together for many years.
He LEASED the Arch Street Theatre.
Philadelphia, in 1853 and was very sue.
cessiul, hut when he tried his hand al
management again, a fsw years later,
when he leased the National Theatre,
in Philadelphia, the venture proved un
fortunate.
In 1862 Mrs. Drew herself became
the lessee OF the Arch Street Thentre
and continued TO manage the house fo
the next 81 years, and very successful
manager she was. Her stock compan,
included all the best actors in thu
country, and she played nearly all th,
new plays as they came out. Later on
when stock companies went out o
fa6nion, she turned her house into
combination theatre, and herself playeC
engagements with several stars.
When Mr.. Jefferson and William
Florence formed an alliance to pla.
The Rivals'i Mrs. Drew was selected
to be tho Mrs. Malaprop, and few
years ago, when the famous Fall star
cast was formed TO present 9Th
Rivals" for Mr.. q. W. ('ouldock'
benefit, she reappeared in her old role
She aiterward won't on tour with tina
company, and that was her last regula
engagement.
A few years ago she played for tim
with Miss Julia Msrlowe in THE Low
Chase" and at another time she ap
peared at the STANDARD Theatre here il
1.-THE Arabian Nights" One season
, too, she had her own company out 40,
played 1.-The Rivals. " 1.-The Luv
} Chase" and "The Road to Ruin.
Her son, Mr. Sydney brow, and hi
, wife, Miss Gladys Rankin, supporte
her then.
Latterly Mrs. Drew made her hon
with her sou, Mr. John Drew, AN
had only occasionally been seen q
: tho thratres, at "a benefit or q specia
; professional performance of some sort
MIR. John Drew, who has been tour
! ing the Pacific cuast in Rosemary.
left his company last night at Salt LAX
d. City and started for New York. II
j has been in constant communicate
: with DIR. jackson relative to hi
mothers condition. Mrs John Dreg
the younger, ia in Europe. near he
daughter, who is at school there, an
Miss Ethel Barrymore, Mrs. Drew
t granddaugh not anticipating tn
: present situation, only sailed fe'
c days ago to Join Sir Henry Irving
; company.
. With Mrs. Drew during her Hines
! were Mrs. j. @. Stewald and her tw
. daughters distant relatives OF ID
I Drews, aud young Jack" Barrymore
a son of tho late George Drew an
Maurice Barrymore.