The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-06
"OUR MARY" ANDERSON.
Interesting Narrative of Her Early
Career and Successes.


From the Philadelphia Times.
The arrival in New York the other day
of Mrs. Antonio de Navarro signaiizes the
first appearance in this country since her
retirement from the stage and her mar
rage about nine years ago of the gifted
woman who not only shed ulster but true
womanly dignity and worth on American
dramatic life when she was known as
Mary Anderson. She is always well worth
talking about, being one OF those few wo-
men who have recognized the obstinate,
incontrovertibe fact that domestic happl-
ness, within the confines of matrimony.
and public career on the stage are rarely
coincldental When ii was rumored, In the
early part of 1890. thar Mary Anderson was
engaged to be married to Antonio de Ma
varro, a son of the enormously rich man
who built the gigantic and gorgeous Ma
varro fats In New York city on Fifty
ninth street. opposite Central Park. the
whisper was decried as an advertising
scheme, because the gifted actress was be-
lieved to be devoted to her art and to a
life of single bessedness Bear in mind
however, that among her other commend
able gifts Mary Anderson could never be
justly accused OF advertising her person.
age by meretriclous means, and yet she
was studiously made the victim of such
efforts through the well-meant Intentions
of her irrepressible stepfa DIR. Hamil-
ton Griffin who is still In the land of the
living and who met her at the White Star
Line pier when she and her husband-her
husband and she is possibly a better ex-
pression-stepped from the gang plank of
the steamer Majestic
But rumor for once proved true, and the
lovely Blue Grass Juliet became the wife
OF the millionaire's son. and since then
the mother Of his 3-year-old boy, Recog-
nizng the difficulty, if not the futihty. of
being devoted to both the stage and her
husband she shook forever the dust of the
temple of Thespis from the folds of her
virgin garment, although shortly before
this serious change in her life, she said
upon one occasion, to her old-time mana
ger. John w. Norton, of st. Louis-you
will remember that he was killed in a rail-
road wreck but a short while ago-when
questioned ebout the story of her rumored
espousal: THAT is a matter to which I
have never givena even a second thought
| think I must have had, since 1 have
been upon the stage, not less than one
thousand tenders of marriage from artists.
from noblemen, from nearly all kinds of
men. and much as l may appreciate the
honor they have conferred upon me. their
offers have not fingered In my thoughts
for moment"
Nevertheless she married Navarro. and
while the American stage lost one of lis
| chief ornaments, he gained as a wife an
adorable woman who gave to dramatic
life, before the footlights and behind the
scenes, a serenity, purity and a nobility
that. sad to say, rarely distinguishes It.
Have you ever heard the story of the
hunbleness of her beginning? ProbabI
you will find it worth listening to.
Mary Anderson was a poor Louisville
girl and as green as grass. She was fred
| with desire to go upon the stage and in
sisted upon reciting TO every prominent
actor who came to Louisville and who
would give her an audience. In this wav
the late John Mccullough heard and was
so much impressed by her that he wrote
about her TO his friend, John w. Norton.