The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
LACKED A HEART-BREAK
To Make Julia MarIowe Great His
triOnic Artist.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press
Seldom has a brief paragraph relating
to an actress caused as much unspoken
emotion, awakened as many memories or
been accepted as a curt epitaph on the
tombstone of a womans love as has the
recent announcement that Julia Marlowe
Taber, the actress, had brought suit
against her husband, Robert Taber, for
divorce.
There was no allegation of inidelty in
the wifes petition, but "intolerable sever
ity' seemed eloquent and summed up the
result of a woman's passionate devotion.
Warnings were given to her long ago,
with no avail. Now the predicted end has
come
Fred Stinson, now dead, was the active
manager of Julia Marlowe for several
years, and his ShreWd business methods
did much to make the actress a financial
success, as previous TO his assuming con-
troll of her business affairs a large amount
of money had been lost in the effort to es-
tabsh her as a paying star. Col. Robert
e. j. Miles, one of the lessees of the Bijou
Theater in this city, gave Miss Marlowe
an opportunity to play Parthenia, in Tn
gomar," at a matinee on Oct. q, 1887. The
young girl had been coached by Ada Dow
Currier. She was praised warmly by the
critics
A Sixth avenue restaurateur furnished
5000 to finance a subsequent starring tour
The money was lost quickly. Other back
ers appeared, and a photographer of this
city, it Is said, even mOrtgaged his studio
and its contents TO prove his belief in Miss
Marlowe's ability.
Then Fred Stinson was employed, and
the studio soon was free from incum-
brances and profits amounting to $40 900
were divided annually between those con-
trolling the actress tours
Robert Taber a Princeton graduate
scion of a Staten Island family, had taken
10 the professional stage after a success
fun career as an amateur, and was engage
ed by Stinson as the leading man for Miss
Marlowe.
At this time some theatric analysts as
serted that the only thing that Miss Mar
lowe needed TO become great actress was
to experience some great trouble in her
own life.
Stinson, the astute manager, quickly no
ticed signs of affection on his stars part
for her handsome leading man, and fore
seeing the inevitable result, declined to
renew Mr. Taber's contract. In del cate
way he limited his reasons to Miss Mar
lowe. Whatever the conversation betw, en-
them was,it seemed satisfactory, and the
manager, at the end of the season in 'SS,
retired to his cottage on Nantucket Is
land
Three guests were at dinner with him
there one day when a telegram was hand
ed to him. He left the island by the next
boat.
Il shall not be gone long" he said to
his guests; probably not more than three
days"
-Four weeks passed before his guests
heard from him directly, though vague ru-
mors penetrated even TO that isolated
spoil
The same steamer that had borne Miss
Marlowe to Europe on her annual trip
also had carried Robert Taber. Stinson
had reached New York in time 10 see the
actress before she sailed and had learn
ed the news that meant the ruin of his
hopes. The trade mark Julia Marlowe,
that he had worked so assiduously to de-
velop and which conservatfvely represent
ed a valuation of half a m lfion dollars. had
been handed as present by a women 10
the man she loved.
When Stinson reappeared in Nantucket
he had aged twenty years and was eeri-
ously III for a long time. But he kent his
contract faithfully, dying two weeks after
its expiration, in June 1895
When the theatrical season was resumed
in the fail of 1888, Taher was not a mem
Der of the Marlowe company, but at the
end of the tour In May. 1894. he met Miss
Marlowe in Philadelphia, and they were
| married there on May p, in ST. James
Church
Julia Marlowe" was lost to the public
FOR two years, as 'Mr and Mrs Taber'
were the words spelled in big black let
ters on the bill boards and such PLAYS as
'Tngomar," ''Pygmaion and Galtea. :"
were shelved, when the bare announce
ment. previously, that Miss Marlowe
would appear IN them was sufficient to
sell every seat in the theater.
Plays that gave Mr. Taber more proni-