Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11

A COURAGEOUS PRIMA DONNA
Grace Van Studdiford. the prtma DOM,
OF the Bostonians, has had very remark
able career. She has gone from con,nora
tive poverty TO affluence, has seen that
wealth disappear in a night, has found dire
necessity confronting her and has taken
up bravely again the life which she thought
she had passed from forever.
1t was some time ago when the Pos
tohlans were singing Robin Hood" that
trace Quive attracted the attention in St
Louis Of wealthy Charlie Van Studdiford
she sang the part of Maid Marian. and
she sang 1t so well she was almost the
star OF the opera. Charlie Van" as he
was called, a genial man about town. scion
OF one OF the Oldest and wealthiest FAM
mes, heard her one night and tossed his
heart over the footlishts to her There
was a meeting, courtship, he followed the
company from place to place finally 81
wedding and resignation And the former
Grace Quive went to St Louis to preside
over the magnificent home and household
or one of it's mlIionaires
Charie van loved good horses and he
mad string of them. He raced them for
generous stakes. but he knew little about
the game. The consequence was that he
awoke one morning to find himself pennI-
Tess his estate was involved to its limit
ana when settlement with his creditors
was made he had not enough to live on
Then he told his wife.
This was the fading of golden dream
she had hoped that her new career might
last forever. But she did not COMPLAIN
Neither did she. would have so many
leave him TO fight it out alone On the
contrary she took up the old life where
II had been left off. She went back once
more to her first success, and soon after
the fortune had flown she was once more
behind the footlights Her first engage
ment was a temporary one; il was AT a
summer garden in St. Louis, and her
friends turned out in throngs to do her
honor
reputation had not been forgotten and
next season she was out with JEFF De An
gels. When she reached ST. Louis. So
clety crowded the Olympia to greet her
lobby.
Again 1t seemed that fortune turned her
tickle face away. De Angels refused to
allow the flowers to reach her over the
the stage. There was a row and much
bitterness and Mrs. Van resigned on the
advice of her friends
But at last she went to her own and
her own received her with open arms The
Bostonians were putting on Maid Marian"
sequel 10 Robin Hood" They sent for
her TO sing the same role and she accepted.
After that all went well, and now there
Is no cloud in her sky. Next year and
two years thereafter she will be a full
operate star, In new opera written for
her. under contract with f. Ziegfeld ir
husband of Anna Held. And next sum
mer she will tour Germany, for which she
Is also under contract now Mrs Van
Studdiford has a fine voice. a stunning fig
ure and delightful stage presence She has
lost none of the social prestige by her re-
turn TO the operate field.
STAR IN A NIGHT.-It isn't given to
everyone to wake up and discover ones
self a Broadway star In fact, a backward
glance over theatrical history fails to dis
close any player save Miss Alice Fischer
who has been the recipient of so unusual
an honor. 1t was due solely to the great
personal success Miss Fischer scored in the
title role of Grace Livingston Furniss'
comedy, Mrs. Jack" when presented at
Wallack's Theater last September Miss
furniss wrote Mrs. Jack" with her friend
One OF many years standing-Miss
Fischer in mind for the title role. The
actress took the play to her present man
ager. Mr. Henry b. Harris. last spring.
he accepted ii and offered to star her in
IT. But Miss Fischer declined. Mr. Harris
tried to persuade her that "she was strong
enough to carry the full weight of a pro-
ouction upon her artistic shoulders" But
Miss Fischer Unlisted that he wait and