The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-14
SOME TITLED ACTORS.
Two English Baronets and French
Vicomte Who Won Fame

Two English Baronets aud n French
vicomte Who Won Fame
1t seems really to DO the fact that the
Earl Of Kosslyn Is the first British pecr
TO go on tho stage as professional actor.
Having run throuRh his fortune In seven
years In horse racing and about every
other interesting, but not not always
profitable amusement and having np-
penred recently as defendant In what We
over here call supplementary proceedings.
the hiGht Honorable James Francis Har-
ny st. Clair Erskins. fifth Earl IL Rcss-
lyn. decided to tempt fortune again as an
actor; so as Mr.. Stuart Erskins hs has
just made his first appearance, winning
the applause OF both the judicious and the
Rrouudlinas In Mr.. Pinero's latest play,
"Trelawney of the Wells"
Other Engiishmen Of title have been
actors, though they have not beon peers.
Two actors Aill alive have been
knighted-Henry lrvinF, who still acts. and
Squire Bancroft Bancroft who has rstired.
But two other Engishmen had titles be-
fcre they became actors. Sir William Don
and Sir Randall Roberts, and both of
them wers known as actors over here
more widely than In their own country.
William Henry Don was born in lS25.
| ard succeeded his father when only year
old as seventh baronet. He entered the
army when a toy, and In 1874 was extra
aide-de. camp to the Lord Iisutonant OF
Ireland, Lord Heytesbury. He was pro-
NOTED lieutenant in the Fifth Dragons
Guards in 1S45. but retired In the samo
year and went on the stage He married
in 1857 Mile. Letrun by whom ne had
| q daughter. She died. and in 1867 Sir
William married Emily Saunders, an ac-
! tress, ana by her no had another dau9h-
ter. Sir William appeared in this city for
the first time as Cousin JOG Ia tho
"Rougb Diamond mt the Broadway
| Theatre. Later be played Sir Charles
Coldstream In Used Up" He Gisd at
Eobart's Town, Tasmania, on March ~,
ls62. Lady Don made her first appear
ance In this city in 1867, on Feb. Is, at
the New YORK Theatre, in n burlesque
of Konilworth. She died in 1878.
sir Randall Roberts was fayorlte In
Boston n score Of years ago. He, his
wife, and some of his family used to play
| the New England circuit in the smaller
houses. Ttey played the Union Square
successes or plays of similar character,
and seemed to do fairly well. Sir Randall
was corn In 1887, and succeeded his
| father in 1864, ss fourth Laronet He
had served In the army ard had been
Major of the London Irish Volunteer
| Corps. Some years ago he and bis family
went home. and they may be touring the
provinces there TO this day.
According to DIR. Doran, the Visomts
| Clairval dc Passy. a French nobleman. fell
In love with "flsury's beautiful sister. {"
and laid aside his nobility to become AN
actor with her, and as the M. and Nine
Ssinvile of French dramati, history have
gone down to post,rity the real yirom to
| aGd Vicomtesse Claiyal Nine. Patti,
rs is we'll known, was for many years the
wifo Of the French Marquis DE- Caux: and
Nine Ristori was Marchsss del Grillo,
wife of an Italian noblemnn. But these
two cases are those of actr. sses marrying
titles. not Of titled persons going on the
stage. The Sun.