The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-05
WoMAeNG;c;; ,nrv
nY ANNIE KESDRICK WALKER.

and her husband, Robert Downing, the ira
gedian, are to figure in a divorce suit will
be received with regret, for both Mr.. and
Mrs. Downing have so long been great ia
vorltes in Southern society that they have
numberless warm personal friends in many
cities in the South. During their profess
sional engagements they have been
charmingly entertained at both public and
private functions, and Mrs. Downing, by
her charm and graciousness, has been
equally admired off the stage as she has
been in the various roles that she essays.
The statement that the GOODNESS which
has long existed between Mr.. and Mrs.
Downing is to eliminate in a divorce
comes from New York. The latter is at
Hampton, Va, and does not either con-
firm nor deny the story. Her manager,
however, practically confirms the rumor,
and gives as the reason for which the di
vorce will be brought is professional jeal-
ousy. Miss Blair was Mr.. Downings lead
ing lady before their marriage, and re-
manned in that capacity for several sea-
sons thereafter. The trouble, it is claimed,
eliminated when the play of Sampson
was produced, and which gave Miss Blair
charming opportunities in the role of De-
lilah.
1t was the old story, and since then Miss
Blair and Mr. Downing have drifted apart
Birmingham playgoers will recall that on
the occasion of Mr.. Downing presenting
Sampson here that there was not even
pretty Eugene Blair to rob 1t of Its ter
rors; while during that season Miss Blair
as Camille, cajoed her Armand in the per-
son of a far more romantic looking lead
ing man than Mr.. Downing would have
been. Subsequently she appeared in THE
Lady of Quality"
Sitting at tea with her late one afternoon
in her private apartments at the Morris
two years ago l ventured to speak OF Nil.
Downing, and | recall that she said in her
rich, cordial voice that she and MIR. Down
ing were separated REALISTICALLY" but that
she hoped it would not be very long be-
lore they would be together again. Mr..
Downing had thought il wise Tor her 10
continue her starring tour, and his judy
ment had proven correct. Her mother had
tea with US that winter afternoon, and the
two women made a charming picture OF
esticity,
The former was an actress, and was u
member that season OF her daughters
company. She was such charming ola
lady, and chatted of the stage and its fas-
cination with the enthusiasm of girl, ana
with the sentiment that older persons al
ways recall days that are gone And while
the elder woman spoke OF the past, the
younger talked OF the future and of the
present. In speaking of her favorite roles
Parthenia, in "Ingomar, she declared was
the one to which she was most attached.
Miss Blair is a South Carolinian. Her
home has been since her marriage at Ben
nings, just out from Washington, ID. c.,
and there she and Mr.. Downing have
spent many summers very happily, alter
mating with jaunts 10 the White Mount
aims and to the coast. Their beautiful OLD
home is known as "Edgemoor,' and Mrs.
Downing referred to her Ike there as being
most ideal. They entertained a great
deal and those OF their friends who have
been guests at Edgemoor declare that to
be entertained there is the very acme OF
bliss.
Mrs. Downing is personally an eX-
tremely attractive woman, whose charm
lies not SO much in beauty, but rather in u
vivid personality. The sweet warmth OF
uSl are lHuiNluudi as her way Ol
speaking and she has the loveliest mouth
with deeply carved lips. Her hair grows in
great quantities from a graceful forehead
and 1 shall never forget how long ana
curved her eyelashes were and how brown
and luminous were her eyes. She wears
charming gowns and it has frequently been
said that she is one OF the most perfectly
gowned women OF the stage.
The cause of the disagreement recalls
the divorce granted Robert Tabor and Ju-
liza Marlowe Tabor, the GOODNESS that ex-
listed for years between them being the
result of professional jealousy on the part
OF the former, which finally eliminated in
divorce. Professional jealousy among
actors was discussed some time ago in
these columns, and the statement was made
that managers seldom employed in the
same company man and woman who
were married owing to artistic reasons
information from Birmingham man who
has hundreds of friends among thea trical
people and his views will be particularly
apropos in view of the gossip concerning
the Downings.
THE sentimental side of your Informal
ton regarding the reason why the husband
and wife are not employed in the same
company makes good reading, but is not
borne out by facts. The business side of
the proposition reveals that very few
managers will employ husband and wife in
the same company for various business
reasons, and not for arts sake.
LAS rule" he continued, 1.-The theatrical
profession, men and women, the latter es-
pecnally are extremely Jealous, and the fact
that the individual success depends alto
gether on the plaudits of the amusement
puDnc, has great tendency to aggravate
the failing rather than subdue it. Take
for example man and woman in the same
company. The woman makes a 'h.,, as it
is termed. Other members of the company
make little OF it; possibly one. sister ac-
tress, who is a favorite with the stage
manager or manager of the company
brings about a quarrel in consequence of
her unkind criticism, the woman criticised