Evening star., 1903-08-03
M RS. Ian NDER DEAD
ONCE NOTED, ACTRESS DIES AT
Lynn. ,.1LAsa
Was Widow Of Gen. r. W. Lander-Her
"a II
Long Residence in WASH
gington.

Long he4deuce IN WASH"
gington.
LYNN. Mass. August 3.-Mrs. Jean Mar
garet Davenport Lander. widow of Gen.
Frederick w. Lander. and known as an &C
tress for two score years in this country
and in Europe. Is dead at her summer home
here, at the age OF seventyfour years The
body will be taken to Washington, D. c..
for interment.
During her long residence in the white
frame cottage opposite the Capitol gar
den Mrs. Lander was identlhed with
many phases of life at the capital.
she represented in herself one Of
it's most interesting personages. She
grew old gracefully In the company Of
friends she made when she first came here
to live in the early seventies. while at
the same time she never ceased to be az
tractive to the young. The halo OF her
years of triumph on the stage. where her
notable talent gave her first place. seemed
fitting accompaniment to her many
graces of manner and person. After leav-
ing the stage she rarely ever referred to
her career there. In fact, the subject
was considered by her friends a distaste-
full one to her. She had a conspicuous
place in society for years, and in her prime
was a delightful hostess. She was among
the earliest members Of the Literary So
ciety of this city. She liked books on his
tory, biography and dramatic criticism
She both spoke and read French with
great facility and had besides a read
ing acquaintance with Spanish and Ger
man. These mental enjoyments meant
much to her. but they did not prevent her
from taking an active part in public and
private charities and other forms OF good
works. She was as fond Of roses as was
George Bancroft, the historian. She had
almost as many varieties in her rose gar
den back OF her cottage home as he did
in his more famous H street garden She
loved her old house, that has been stand
Ing for over half a century, and Its old
time furnishings and historical mementoeS.
among which its mistress, in her old-fash
ioned laces and gowns.r was most pleas
ing figure.
Mrs Lander was born in. Wolverhampton.
England May 3. 1870. Her father was
Thomas Donald Davenport. a lawyer who
had established a practice In Edinburgh ana
a man of liberal education. Her mother had
been on the stage. Mr.. Davenport was
specially attracted to the stage later on
after witnessing the acting Of the elder
Kean, and when his little daughter. Jean
Marie, about seven years old he sue
ceeded Kean in the management Of a the
ater at Richmond, England. Accident re-
vealed the talent OF the child. Jean, and
her first appearance on the stage followed
shortly after in a play called THE Spoiled
Child" her character being that Of Little
Pickle Her success was instantaneous
and so marked in her, first tour that her
career seemed fixed and her study OF
more pretentious parts went on from year
to year. During this time she travelled In
England and Ireland. and with but little
foreheralding sailed for America. Under the
management Of James Wallack of the old
National Theater, New York. who recognized
in her an ideal actress. her debut was made
in a twelvenightIruns Of plays. the same
in which she later appeared in the Olympia
Theater. London. Then her favorite repre-
sentations were as Juliet in The Count
ess'' and as Julia : in THE Hunchback."
she took a company, to Holland. COM
ing back to this country three years
ls+er for her second tour. She played
at the Astor Place Opera House. New York,
in 1851 returning to England twice before
1855, when she wene to- California.
Her marriage to ie,ok1 Frederick w. Ian
der afterward General tAander. took place
in San Francisco October II. 1850. His
Paw. Va. just prior to battle, the
sf5s' M1s Lander D ~a ts dseoed had herse9 to
the care of the sick andswounded on south
entire charge for year of Union hospital
at Port Royal. s. G. Later she returned to
her home in Massachusetts,. her husbands
birthplace, where for while she resisted
all offers to return to the stage. which she
had resolved to leave for good upon her
marriage. In '65 however, she reappeared
in Niblo's Garden, New York in a transla
ton of a play called Messaliance." 1t
success. since she began shortly after the
prepare ton for the most important role
she had yet attempted. witnessing Ristort
In Queen Elizabeth in Giacommettis drama
she determined to essay the part. She gave
it months Of earnest study and attention
to every detail Of costume and setting. Her
askzsses were made from studies in London
and Windsor and were historically perfect
II
highly commended. and the leading papers
OF the time-'67-contained most fattering
notices. By the most critical observ
ers her delineation was considered
rival. Ristori. Many old residents Of
the capital recall her appearance in
this city at Walls Opera House. 9th and
Louisiana avenue, now the Empire Thea
Congress. speaking lately OF Mrs. Lander,
said his remembrance OF her appearance
is sill fresh and vivid. Her interpreta-
ton OF the imperious queen was most life
and spoke the character in a fashion that
left little to be desired and that always
evoked the warmest applause Of her audi
enceS"
A biographical sketch of Mrs Lander
was in circulation In 1857, and on
the first page OF the pamphlet is the
announcement that Mrs Lander will
commence an engagement at the French
New York. the 10Th of August with a COM
pany Of ladies' and gentlemen of her own
selection" This little book. copy OF
which Is in the Congressional Library, has
several pages of reprint from the daily pa
pers Of this city, Philadelphia and New
York filled with splendid praise not only
of the actress. but Of the woman.
In addition to the characters and plays
cited above. Mrs Lander's repertoire In
cluded the first representations in this
country Of Brownings Colombo" Haw-
thornes Hester Prynne." and Reade's
Peg Womngton'' and translations Of Schil-
lers Mary Stuart" and Iegouve's Me
dea." Her last appearance on the stage
was in Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter" at
the Boston Theater. 1t was not successful
and precipitated her determination to at
once abandon her profession. Nearly all
the rest of her life was spent in this city.
The deceased left nS relatives. Many
years ago she adopted, two English boys.
whose names were. changed to Charles
and Frederick Lander one OF whom
died after reaching manhood. The child of
the other-Charles Frederick Lander-now
eighteen years old Was also legally adopted
by Mrs. Lander some years ago. He is in
school in England. and each year his kindly
p,Iar rdian crossed the ocean that thew might