The times., 1897-09-05

Thelams.uted death OF Mrs. John Drew re-
moves from the American stage one OF it's
most admired flgures. She was rare
tvi,e OF zys.li,anhood and an admirable type
OF ar.ist. Several u her Characterization,
notasgy Ms MalapFop in The Rivals,
aud Mrs Warren, IN The Road 10 Rum
vii survive inthe annals OfOur stage as the
best model am0ug her contemporaries
Tbaprl. lGka 40 many others of tie depart
Hnr generation CT actors whom We oail'
aud were proud a. le called, American. Mr.
DTew was inrnln England. Yet she holds
rho distinguished position Of mother 81 q
line on Amenean actors wLo are already
making the dramatic history OF their gen
eration.
Mr. brew ofitn played in Washington
Tho Hast ume she appeared here Nas az ne
Ian avrste iu tiie isotahle ali-star cast which
presented The Rivals" for one night, IN
ABrl. 1895. Those who saw her thea
looked upon her performance with a pleasure
not unrn-ed with sorrow. The charmin2o Old
Iady played her part with all the art and
rasre O 4 heretofore and with ali the energy
at her command, but her age was in eHi-
dence in her falteTing voice. her deliberate
step and the time furrOws of her Iace-
which the paint stuck could not begin Z"
erase. She was a memorable picture that
nlriit, but 1t was a faded picture, like the
tapestry Of. our grandfathers, where the
blues aud pinks are all grays
Mrs. Drew resented the encroachments Of
agO. The extensive tour ofo ne-nlgh islands
last spring was trying enough for the young
and able, but she would not admit Uhat
a. fatieued her. Mrs. Fanny Addison PITT
accompanied the party 10 understDdy Mrs.
Drew, and the dear old lady was niortany
offended and could not conceal her pique-
An Incident happened while the company
was here denotng this feeling The la
dies OF the company, ana, indeed, MI.
Jefferson, too, noticed how weak she was,
and they planned to make her drink sCme
Etimulants. They knew she would not
take them IL she guessed their intent, so
when some brandy was procured Miss Mar
lowe. Miss Rice, Mrs. Pitt and Miss Rad
olIffe all affected need OF the tonic But
Mrs. Drew did not nlbble at the bibuloIs
balr. She saw her opportunity, and pre-
tended To rigor and endurance greater
than the Younger women, for she said she
had no need Of such drinkables.
Speaking Of his deceased friend the
venerable c. W Couldock recalled that
rhe last time he had seen her was at the
benefit given J. II. Stoddart at the Acad-
.my OF Music in New York city, and the
grofession gave the beneficiary a loving
cup. Mrs Drew and I We're the Oldest
players On the stage that night said NJ.
COuldock, ''and some one very kindly
brought us chairs. She sat down, but
] didn't, and size wanted to know why
i don q " AMI them TO think I'm tDo old
10 stal4d,' said 1. Neither do T. size ex-
Claimed quickly, jumping up, and 1
could not persua de her TO SIT down again.
She was always so bright ana happy
that age seemed TO have no effect on her,
and can scarcely realize now that she's
dead and gone
Mrs. Drew never retired from the
stage. she said no farewells. Since
The '-Rivais' tour she has appc ared
daring hut one W eek. Frank eriey had
engaged her to play the title part in
The Sporting Duchess" After d Few
nights she resi- Ened. There were tO5
manE changes u costume Tor one OF her
years. and, too, she was afraid OF tbe
horses she appear ed for the last time
on the stage last January Sine then
she iiss lived IN retirement. At the time
OF her death bel oniy relatives neag
her were q niece and Jack Barrymore.
Ehc is student at Georgetown Univer-
sity- Ethel Barr yInor had left Lass
week for London to join Henry Irving
John Drew was playing in salt Lake
City.
= have known Mrs Drew" said Mr.
Jefferson. when he was informed of her
death, from my boyhood. Only two years
ago she told me that my first appearance
as 3 child but three years Of age was d
vivid picture in her memory. During my
whole professional career we have been
from time 10 time Dramatically associated
and in nay sorrow at the news Of her death
ii is a cOnsplaUion for me TO know we Ifave
during our lifelong acquaintance ever been
the best Of friends. She was a great ae-
tress, duUiful wife, a kind and Thought
fUl daughter and loving MOTHER
The death OF Mrs. Drew narrows the
circle 81 The Older generation surviving
on our stage 90 Joseph jefferson, J II
Stoddart. e. " Couldock. Clara Fisner
Maedcrl aud, though OF foreign birth,
Fannie JaHauschek. Gradually the old
guard i giving way before the younger
players. Russell, Goodwin, Skinner, John
Drew, Julia Marlowe and Fanny Daven-
port are clcwding towar d the seats of our
venerable players.