The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-10
WRITTEN EoR run srNpAv RrprRLrc

WRITTEN o lie SUNDAY REPUBLIC
The lovers OF Shakespeare who went to
fhe Olympic Theater last week to see
Lebier & Co.'S production Of "Ro-
hieo and Juliet did not rua4Ize, perhaps,
that in Mrs. ". G. Jones. who so admirably
portrayed the character OF Juliet's nurse,
they Were looking upon a WOMAN who has
been in active service on the stage for the
. last sixty-eight years.
They did not realize that. with the excep-
ton of Mrs. c. Il. Gilbert. who. though past
50 years of age. is now lIling a New York
engagement with Annie Russeirs company.
Mrs. Jones is the oldest living American
actress.
Little would one think that this woman
played in ST. Louis before most OF its pres
ent Inhabitants were born.
That Mrs. Jones is old enough TO claim
the distinction of having created the part
OF Eliza In Uncle TOMS Cabin" is quite
sufficient 10 astonish one. Certain It IS tina;
this statement IS proof OF Mrs. Jones's long
career on the American stage.
The original Eliza, the one that crossed CT
the ice while the bloodhouHds pursued her.
that is Mrs Jones's proud claim. What a
contrast between the fair Miss Robson and
the mature Mrs. W. c. Jones.
One is in the spring OF her theatrical a.
ASS4. AlAC bl--tA - l1SA 0OCAs ~ NN-H N@O 400
days of her winter.
Eleanor Robson is scarcely 1s years old
more than fifty years younger than the
woman who portrays her conhdinE nurse
during Romeo and Juliet
Mrs. Jones has run the samut Of thestr-
cal experience.
Ever since she was s years old shs has
been facing tho footlights.
Sometimes those footlights wers candles
and sometimes they were lamps, for Mira
Jones was a stage favorite many years be-
fore the theaters OF America were equipped
with modern conveniences and propertieA
ACTED IN ST. LOUIS
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
In St. Louis fifty years ago. Mrs. Jones'
played In an old theater at Broadway and
Olive streets.
The cheapest seats were IN the pit, and
society gathered IN the boxes back Of II, OF
which the balcony Is a sort Of a substitute
nowadays; the scenery was scant and tho
audience had to work its imaginative pow
ers to enjoy the effects; candle lights woro
footlights and the curtain was not q drop
concern, operated by electricity, bGt ous
that was awkwardly drawn b. pages n
loose garments.
Such was ths drama fr 81. Louis fn the
olden days.
Mrs Jones played her first part With tho
Elder Booth
She was s years old and had Just been
brought to America by her father, who was
formerly a bandmaster IN the English Army.
The father had been sent to Bermuda. but
becoming tired Of the treatment accorded
him by the English Army suthortiea, he
purchased . ship, Weighing six tons and
put his family, consisting Of . wife and ok
children, on board. With q piano, brass
musical instruments and . store Of house.
hold goods as ballast. Mrh Joness father
set sail for PHILADELPHIA
When two weeks out the rrovfaons were
washed overheard In a storm and the 90
eupants Of the boat went for seven days
without food.
They arrived In Philadelphia and the head
Of the family got IN engagement at the
Walnut Street Theater, then occupied By
the elder Booth. !
It was during . production OF ~Eichard
III" that a demand for . Duke OF York |
arose and NrA Jones, then Julia wagstafc,
was called upon to perform the service
That marked the beginning Of her stage
career. and with the exception Of times
when she was too Ill to appear, the venor-
able lady had been In active service on tho
stage ever since. /
In her time Mrs Jones has studied moro
than eco parts and she has appeared In near
ly every theater In the United States
She has worked with nearly every treat
star tho American stage hiss ever known
She has appeared In nearly every promi.
nent woman's role In Ehakespears's plays
and she has committed to memory nearly
every line that the great Bard ever wrote
LOW SALARIES OF
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
Between Mrs Jones and Q number Of
other veteran players who still trod tho
stage. there In q remarkable Differences rs to
conditions OF the past and the present.
Some old actors would have you believe
said Mrs Jones, that the present !. not
half go good ~ the days Of old. Don't you
believe them