The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-29
LAST CURTAIN FALL
VICISsITUDEs OF SWEET JASMINE
co. WILL SOON BIZ BUT A MEMORY
HER AMBITION UNCROWNED.
Is THE SEQUEL TO THE PATHETIC
STORY OF MISS MONTAGU's
FAILURE.

Pain Racked in Body and Spirit
Brave Little Woman Struggled for
Achievement of Her Ambition.
Ventured All on the One Cast and
Lost-AssOcintcs i'm Adversity Have
Gloomy Prospects for Securing
other EngaEements-Five Left
Yesterday, others to Go TO-mOr-
row.
Five members of the i'll fated troupe
that assisted Miss Montagu in her pro-
duction of Sweet Jasmine" left yes
terday morning for New York, and the
remaining members have taken up their
abode in private boarding houses here
waiting for the closing spectacle in
the serio-comic after piece, which by
the nature of transpirinE events. fol-
lows the demise of Miss Montagu's
theatrical aspirations, and incidental
ly, for 1.-The ghost to walk"
The failure of the piece, heralded
here by such extravagant bill board APP
plause, has a touching sequel. 1t
marks the end of hope and loss OF
means of an ambitious woman, and
brought about pathetic predicaments
for the player-folk engaged with
lauded author-star. Somewhere on the
Atlantic, within her state room on a
coastwise steamer. a woman who has
risked her all of histrionic reputa-
ton and worldly means in the produc-
ton which was a result Of months OF
mental travail, suffers all the agony
of blasted hopes. With ambition crush
ed, and with worldly fortune sacrificed
in casting the proverbial pearl" she
endures what those behind know lit
tie of.
1t is known by members of the COM
pany here that Miss Montagu went
to Jacksonville where she took CLYDE
line steamer for New York. where she
resides. Awaiting her there is a fond
husband, who bid her God speed when
he left her at the station when she
departed on her theatrical venture
The telling to him the story of the
adversities with which she and her
company had met will be the hardest
task of all.
Spent Her Earnings.
Though little Of the private arrange
ments of Miss Montagu with the man.
ager Of the show. which was put on
the road is known. it is believed that
she was possessed of a few thousand
dollars that she had saved for the
purpose of gratifying her ambition to
appear a star on the road in a piece of
her own composition. In no wise was
she bound to those who were associated
with her in the production of Sweet
jasmine" When she placed a sum of
money in the hands of a manager, and
told him to use il in securing dates,
equipping suitable company. and do
ing what was necessary In the way
of advertising, she was released from
all responsibility to the company, and
she was known to them as a salaried
star. Only TO her maid are known
the many trying moments within the
last two weeks through which she
passed. With ability, which no one
questions, she saw the first night that
there was something lacking to make
the piece popular one. Where II
was commented on Miss Montagu was
credited with having much talent, but
there was "A conspicuous absence OF
commentator for the vehicle. But she
struggled bravely on. Lines were
changed. scenes were re-adJustod. the
company drilled over and over. but
Il was too late 20 Icy the keel 10
the snip anew aNu ~ was Hffu AhAs
Il must founder on the rocks OF pub
ne disapproyal. The end was set for
last Saturday How u came those who
attended the performance Saturday
night know Since the knowledge has
come 20 the severely critical under
what a load ~ misery the brave IT,
tle woman labOFed criticisms have
turned - words ~ sympathy Not only
was Mics MoniaFu sick ga aplrits,
but she WAS aifo $40 iu body. ans her
appearance 90 az WA through the