The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
MRS. JOHN WOOD TO RETIRE
THE ACTRESS SAYS she rs NOT TO
ACT AGAIN.


links in the chsint OF artistic and personal sym
patty which Is supposed TO connect the stage
Of this country with that Of Great Britain Is about
10 retire from the stage. Mrs Wood has been
telling her friends that they have seen her for the
last time in public, and that her Anal WITHDRAWAL
from the profession in which she has been 30 CON
spicuous In two countries will he accomplished
with no ado whatever She has said Il am lin.
ished, and persons who know her arc inclined
10 believe that she is serious Mrs. Wood had The
curious experience thirty three years ago OF re,
turning u her own home from this country ana
meeting with failure because she was supposed
70 DO AN American. and the same warmth OF ieei
Ing between the two countries did not exist
Mrs. Wood was born in England, spent her
youth there. and only became a notable figure
In the American theatre after she had reached
in her own county did moi endure long Tor her
prosperity began soon after this experience IL
may have been that her own country people dis
covered Mrs. Wood nationality, but ~ ~ more
likely that her healthy personality and rollick-
Ing humor would have won In any country. what
ever the preludices against her may have been.
Ever since that time she has been at the top In
London now managing theatre OF her own.
or Ssas the part In sSs u 70
years old at least and attributes her great vitality
al this age 10 the extremely quiet life which she has
not interfere. Nobody would suppose that Mrs
Wood was more that so years old. But she has
al least twenty more 10 her credit
When moi in IIond n Mrs Wood lives at Birch:
ingt n on Sea in a villa called Hearts Delight.
which is remarkable chiefly ior lis area 81 garden
that part Of the establishment which is most i'm
portant 70 Its owner. Al Of her, time in fair
weather Is spent working there and in The spring
and autumn days she docs not leave until the timo
comes Tor the theatre. In vacation Mrs; Wood
makes the rule tina, 10 o,slock shall be tho bed
patton than this Is tolerated az an evening diver.
sion. The hs,css Gays that Is eSacting enough
like many more In professional life, and explains
calling doctor when the bri IKE her ankle year
own faith. that she had no time to waste and owed
II TO her managers as well a. herself 20 employ
every possible means OF getting well Her salary
500 week. and she likes ~ say that few women
Of her age were ever able 10 command 80 much Two
come here and act with him in The Rivals" which
WAS by the way the play that inir duced her
Her husband. from whom shs was subsequently
separated, PLAYED the principal part then Hut
the actress did not care TO leave her home and her
married daughter TO undertake tho vicisSitu dee
Of American travel at her age When thc came
here FIRST Calf rsia proved as attractive 20 her as
in 1859 she was the manager 81 the American
Theatre In San Francisco. year later she camo
TO New YORK. made successful appsenrance. and
was popular conedienne until In 1855. when she
returned 70 England. There were some 81 rious
names In the peri d Of Mira Woods activity here.
The United States wns tcns time nearly as strong
here as 1t used to be in England
9 matter OF vital ineros, for long time TO so
many women that It's ultimate success Is bound
70 como, The number OF women compelled W
satisfy themselves with the existing accommo,
dauons have felt for several years that a hotel
devoted 10 their comfort would relieve them OF
the drawbacks with which thoy are compelled
est has been KEEP, alive BY every days e1peri.
ences. The plan which now promises TO be suo
ceSsful is only ono Of many that have been IN
Me ar II provides only ior women mo can al
ford 10 pay sum not al all possible 10 all no hope
10 enjoy the advantages OF such place. ant
chedlTf accommodations must follow he need
OF a home Tor women shown stukngly a
few years ago when a hOuse Vas opcn i Il wn-
town under semI.r,Agious auspices 10 lodge for
a small sum women who We're accustomed to
deCency and refinement The demand for rooms
IN th.s place has always Teen ~ lErre thAt the
rooms tha, they can % occupied only Tor a supu.
,he demand Si from other. has newer s.prenea
since the arst few months tho house was open
always applicants in advance. II these arc
pressing tho stay Of eve. guest Is 80 arranged
that Shou time may be allowed 10 every woman
The project Is SEM charitable IN It's nature and
as Its purpose Is no, TO maze money, the mnn.
ayers make these restrictions as 10 the tmc
home over as vide a field as possible.
Two other establishments OF the same general
. character but less modern less comfortable, and
therefore less IN demand, have adopted a similar
rule. which seems far enough under tho circum.
stances although IT has dcruvod women who
ought 10 be their chief advantage. PemAnoncy
is not possible 80 long az a woman u compelled
axe woman who would take advantage Of tho
new hotel wants 10 ind II some sort OF subsu.
,g,e Tor home and not be s9Treled 70 ySes sts
rooms al the disposal Of permanent boarders
visitors They can usually bo looked after in
the ordinary hotels There arc enough Of these
with rooms al s.. 80 a nigh, to accommodate tho
Transient demand and AareCt home
for New York women that every hotel built for
their especial benefit would appeal 10 them most
The absolute lack OF any greater restriction
than would exist in the case OF mans hotol
is recognition OF condition necessary 10 tie
charitable their nature may Re. The NUN.
her Of women who want Just such place 20 1.-Two
IN mas hsi, sse,S ye"f ; S" oI s
! upnnl ideas and their satisfaction that they can
look alter themselves anywhere have also in.
the day would have % he let alone 10 do as sbe
wants within the necessary limits Tho presen
can offer is Of course tho cheap. boarding house,
light housekeeping In its varied forms, and, for
the women who can aGord IT, lie In the existing
hotels Cooperative housekeeping has been
the plan most eagerly adopted by those who were
able 10 combine and secure comfort and inde.
nurses in New York arc housed In this way Pour
or Ave " them rent an apartment paying their
share Of the rent and the running eipcnsrs !,
hold viii I've disenc nRed at tho same time there
is always room fnr the ivo II Ia TO some such
form NJ living az this that women who will be
benefited by the new hotels have always looked
with longing. II il rather a credit 10 the soN
thnt in every comparative discussion Of the lodg
ing question IL IL Away. said that the hotels
ought to bc a. inexpensive az those devoted Il
mems use although tho comment always Is tina,
they ought to appeal to a somewhat better class
with the implied conclusion that Of men and womer
Of moderate means who are able 20 pay tho sam,
sum OF money Tor their living tho women are
likely " he of rather better grade
Two women connected conspcuously with IN,
Maurice Grau Opera Company met In q Western
city one Of them had lust arrived from Europ,
and tho other had missed no trying detail ~ N,
long journey through the county II Mas tn,
lattrr's good health that hHtonished her friend
"How' she asked. have you ever boon able 4
live through so much travel 40 many changes o
temperature, and such hard work without breai
ing down In health or voice." The other one cav
her a very remarkable explanation of tn mean
by which she kent In condition. "ono day
she said I'VE sang In Western city and th
weather was tho coolest Of the year The da!
after we went ~ n place only a few hours rd
away but II had grown So much warmer durinl
the night that the weather was summary.
felt certain that was going to be i'll and was OF
the point II declining then IL sing. but conclude,
IN wait nj tI,o tn nv ~,