The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-31
MAY IRWI In
AS Fascinating
AS Ever.
SHE WAS DELIGHTED
With the Reception by Her
OLD Worcester Friends.

Worcester people always turn out in
swarms to greet May Irwin, and Sat
urday was no exception to the rule, in
spite of the wretched weather Miss
Irwin was her familiar, fascinating
self, and it was the verdict of the large
audiences that applauded her to the
echo at both performances, that she
grows more and more worth seeing
every time she takes Worcester in on
he, itinerary.
Miss Irwin was seen Saturday night
at the conclusion of the performance
by The Spy man, and, although she
was almost completely tired out by the
hard week through which she had
passed, she greeted the scribe in her
usual pleasant manner and talked with
him for a few minutes about the his
tory of her stage career. She expressed
herself as being highly delighted with
the appreciation of the audience she
had just been entertaining and of the
success she has met on her tours this
season.
oh" said Miss Irwin, on being ac-
costed by The Spy man, Il am always
glad to see a Worcester newspaper
man, for Worcester is one of my favor
often that it seems very familiar to me
when L return to it, I was sorry 1t
was so rainy today, for | always have
big houses here, and I was afraid the
weather might keep some of my old
friends away, but it did not, and l was
never more pleased than / was tonight
at the reception l got.
Il think there is nothing new that
you would be interested to hear, as
intend to continue with my present
company as usual to the end of the
season, and will no doubt be in Wor-
cester many seasons after this, at least
hope to. l am decidedly tired out
tonight, and / was never more thank
full for a chance to rest than at pres
emit"
When asked to tell the readers of
The Spy the way in which she hap
pened to go upon the stage, Miss Irwin
smiled and said: That is an old story
but one that | am never tired of tell
ing, for, of course, it was the begin
ming of my life work and of whatever
success I have attained. At the time
started in the theatrical world, our
family was living in Whitby, near To
ronto, Canada, when my father failed
in business, and soon after died. My
sister Flo and I've were very small
girls then-were in the habit of sing
ing in cantaAas, and l sang a child So
prano in an Episcopal choir. Money
had to be earned and we drifted nat
urally into the theatrical business.
was II years old when mother took us
to Buffalo and got us a place at the
Adelphi Theatre, where Dan Shelby
was then playing. We played in a va
riety show, and soon after / was taker
into Tony Pastors company, where
stayed seven years 1t was here that
] first began to sing negro melodies, al
though I did not at that time make q
speciality of them.
"In 1882 1 attained what was then the
ambition of my life-to become a
member of Days company. | stayed
with Mr.. DAILY for four years, and while
there played on the same stage with
some of the famous men of the day
many of whom are now dead We
played Red Letter Nights and After
Business Hours" along with George
Parks, Charles Fisher, Charles lie Clero
and James Fisher, all of whom are now
deceased.
after leaving Mr.. DAILY | Joined
Rich & Harris Howard Athenaeum
Company, of which my sister was also
"a member. After that I was with
Charles Frohman and with Pete DALEY
for two years. I also played the lead
HlS Iduy ) part IN Russell s ClCy III
rectory' During the former two en-
.gagements l brought out some of the
ballads and recitations that have beer
among my most popular specialties
and some of them are still in use by
me.
In 1896 1 played in the Widow
Jones and 'Courted Into Court both
of which were written for me- From
this time on I have been travelling with
my own companies and have had the
pleasure of many visits to your city. ]
enjoy singing the familiar ballads that
made my reputation in the early days
better than anything else, and often
long for the old times when I used to
allow the audience to call for anything
it desired and | would sing it for them
But that would never do nowadays
and they have to take what am will
ing to sing"