The times., 1897-07-11
Mr.. G|LLETTE'S CAREER
His Illness Probably Due to
Overtaxing His Strength.
DIFFICULT FOR HIN TO REST
He Built Il House Boat Called the
holy Terror, but Was Always Too
Busy to Enjoy 1.-THE Beginning
of His Successful Career in the
Theatrical Profession.

Hartford, Conn, July 1O-The news Of
the dangerous Illness Of william Gillette,
the playwright and actor, In London, was
received with mingled surprise and in-
credulity by his relatives and friends in
this city, which is his home. When in
this country he spends most of his spare
time on the estate of his father, the late
Francis Gillette, at one time United states
Senator.
The grand old place is now occupied by
his sister, Mrs. George II. Warner, and her
husband, brother of Charles Dudley War
ner. Letters from Mr.. Gillette recei
here up to today have given nointimation
but that his health was as good as usual
He has intmated that there Were nose
social obligations than We're consistent
with obtaining such rest as he needed,
though with his usual 1nodesty he has been
otherwise silent about the lionizing de-
scribed in the London dispatches
Few appreciate the terrible strain Mr.
Gillette las been under for long time
After an unusuall y tryin & gseaSonin SS5-i6
with Too Much Johnson he planue'l
TO spend a month OF two last summer
cruising on his house boat, the Holy Ter
ror which he was having built, But tire
beat not being completed till August, lie
came here at the close of the season and
worked early and late on his new play,
.sSec1et Service through the hot weather
ri hOa NnK
York to this city, and then had to hurry
back to begin rehe arSalS OF Secret Serv-
ice" At the same time, also he had 10
train the new company for Too Much
Johnson" When friends suggested that
he might be overtaXing his strength. lie
laughed them off and continued his work
day and night His boat had been hauled
out, different kind ot engine put in and
other improv ements made, so that he
could sail through New York harbor
without destroying all the shipping, and
on her he calculated TO put in many hours
Of recreation, at times during the win5er
in the South. and this summer.
But then came the phenomenal success:
at the Garrick, lengthening out the pro
posed six weeks through the winter. With
out a days rest, this was followed by the
Boston season, after which he had hoped
to go aboard his boat. When finally it
was decided to Try London after Roston
1t was supposed that it would be for only
| four weeks, and he would begin his va
| cation in July.
| How the run there has been heightened
| is well known. Moreover, there has beer
| little opportunity to rest between per
| formaucts, because of the Gonizipg.
| That he could keep up was marvel t.
those who did not know how careful he IS
| in his daily regime. OF late, it is under
stood, he has been training an English
| company to continue in the piece aftel
| his company returns in August.
| Some years ago, soon after his wife''
death, when he was afflicted with nervous
| prostration, the doctors said he would
! never be able to resume his work OF writ
| ing and acting. That was Just after the
three long seasons with The Private
| Secretary" For months he could not leave
his invalid's chair, and could take bu
| little nourishin food. He consulted lead
| ing specialists Ia Paris, aud finally re
gained his health in cabin in the Noru
| Carolina mountains, built by himself Thel
| he returned to lo even better work, crown
| ing it with .'Secret Service" The splendl,
constitution thus indicated is what hi
friends now pin their faith In. They be
| lieSe that after a few weeks of rest h,
will be himself again.
Absolute quiet for Mr. Gillette has neve
been a possibility. From boyhood he na
always busted himself about something
While still a mere youth he constructed
small steam engine, perfect In every detai
He alsc. displayed great ingenuity with cal
penter's tools, and many specimens OF hi
hapdicraft are still preserved.
But his natural bent was toward tn
stage. He never was so happy as when h
could get up play He painted the dro
curtain and made all the necessary pro,
critics In defamation In the high scho,