The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-05
DEATH or MARIE sEEBACH.
The Illustrious German Actress Passes Away
Mt the Ago or 90.

Marie secbnch. one of the best known actresses
OF the German stage, died on Monday at st.
Moritz. in the Engadinc. after a short illness.
She had retired permanently from tho stage
three years ago, when she gave n farewell per-
Torrance ut the Royal Theatre in Berlin. For
several years previous to that she had appeared
only at rare intervals. and her return to the
stage was intended as a formal indication OF her
abandonment OF the art in which she had become
so illustrious. She was 90 years old nj the time
OF her death, and had accumulated a fortune
large enough to enable her to erect u home for
the needy members Of her profession. This in
stitution she founded in Weimar four years ago,
and she gave it an endowment fund OF $50 ,o00.
The later years OF her lifo were passed ut
Weimar and in Berlin.
Frau Scebach was born at Riga in 1884. Her
father was an artist. and as q child 1t was de-
cided that she should undertake the stage as her
profession. The first field for which she pre-
pared herself was the operate stage. anu her
early girlhood found her n pupil OF tho con-
servatory at Bologne. But her voice disap-
pointed cNpcctat ons and she commenced her
life in the theatre as n soubrcttc. She was sue
cessful enough in that line OF work at Lnbcck,
DnntziC. Casscl. and other North German towns.
Her first attempts a the serious drama were
made al HAMBURG in 1852. and her success from
the OUTSET was great enough to establish her
reputation as one OF the foremost actresses of
At the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg she re-
manned for TWO years. and when in 1884 Direc-
tor Lauhc Of the Hofburg in Vienna introduced
her At his theatre. her fame spread beyond tho
boundaries OF her own country. Previous to
this she had been highly praised in Munich, and.
although only 20 wears old. she stood then at tho
head OF her profession. Her next permanent TN
ploymcnt was at the Court Theatre in Han
over. a stage OF more Importance at that time
than 1t is to-day. II was an important move in
her life. for All crt NicmRnn, the famous Wag-
merriam tenor. was singing there at the time. In
1893 they were married. and when he was called
to the Royal Opera in Berlin in 1868 she accom-
panied him. Rving appeared since her marriage
as SeebaCh -Niemann and. without attaching
herself regularly to any theatre, lived in Berlin
and appeared as guest in the chief cities OF
Germany.
In 1865 she was divorced from her husband.
resumed her maiden name. and played in Rus
STA, Holland, and the United States. SiemRnn
eminent German actress. who still bears his
name. After her return from this country In
1871. Frau Seebach continued to travel
through Germany and Austria until lsS6,
Der OF tho compnny at tho Royal Theatre
in Berlin. She had already abandoned tho
youthful roles in which her reputation as a ira.
gcdicnnc had first been made. and the mothers
parts were the ones with which shc became
associated. She had been n famous Juliet.
Ophe1iH, DCsirmOnG. and LOuiSc-in Schillcr's
! "KHbaie und Liebc"-in the earlier years OF her
career. and her later triumphs were as Lazy
In 1898 she was seriously injured In the streets
of Berlin. and 1t was never expected that she
would recover from the effects OF the accidental
fall under the wheels OF a heavy wagon. But
! She was subsequently, able to take her farewell
from the stage in the autumn OF the following
year.
Two illustrious actresses, the most famous in
the two largest German cities. have died within
n short time. Only II few weeks ago Vienna lost
the beloved Charlotte Woltcr and Berlin Is now
mourning Secbach.