New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-03

Caste; Tflburina's Confdante in 1.-THE Critic
and Mrs. Wilfer. in Our Mutual Friend; Betsy
Trotwood. in David Copperheld," and Hester
Dethridge tthe most weird and imaginative of her
inpersonations), IN Man and Wife" Under Mr..
Days management she DISTINGUISHED herself
TO mention but a few OF her performances
as Miss Garth, Widow Warren. Mrs. De Boots
Mrs. Candour. Mrs. Corney Mrs Racket, Aunt
Dorothy, In "Pique'; Mrs. Bargisse, IN 1905;
Zantippe Rabbit. in "A Night or. and Mrs.
Laburnum. In The Railroad of Love" Mrs. Gil
bert was engaged for the Frohman company in
the season of 1se9-sOO and September = 1899 she
appeared at the Lyceum Theatre and was cordially
welcomed, Aunt Susan in the comedy of Miss
Hobbs" and she had been in almost continuous
professional employment. ever since that time,
under the management.
During the season of 1SO01901 she acted the Queen
Dowager. In Captain Marshalrs fine play of The
Royal Family Later she performed as the
mother. In piece by Mr. Clyde Fitch. called The
Girl and the Judge On October a. 1904, she ap-
peared at the Lyceum Theatre New-YOrk, in Mr.
Fitchs play called Granny" This was the be
ginning of her farewell season, and Granny Is the
last part she played. Her final appearance on
the New-York stage occurred, at the Lyceum The
atre, November j, 1904 Her last professional
appearance was made at Powers Theatre, Chi
cago, on December l. She has died as she would
have wished to ole in active exercise of her profess
sion to the last p,c'nent OF her life intrepid In
domitable, superb. slightly to alter the words of
her favorite poet:
Ind she was os'g glorious Eso to III, Re' last
distinguished, decayed.
STAGE "REMINISCENCES
In 1901 the house of Scribner published book Of
her stage "reminiscences edited by her friend, Char
lotte NJ. Martin
Students of the English stage find in the books
on that subject abundant information about the
old tragedy queens of the early drama. and much
likewise. though naturally somewhat less because
comedy is more difficult discuss than tragedy
about the comedy queens Mrs. CibbeT still dis
comfits the melting Mrs Porter by a tenderness
even greater than the best of Belvideras could
dispense. Mrs. Bracegirde and Mrs Odfeld still
stand confronted on the historic page. and still
their battle continues year after year All readers
know the sleepy voice and horrd sigh of Mrs.
Prtchard. in Lady Macbeths awful scene of
haunted somnambulism the unexamped and un-
excelled grandeur of Mrs. Yates in Medea the
infinite pathos of Anne Barry Crawford) and her
memorable scream. as Lady Randolph, at was
he alive?'; the comparative discontinue OF both
these ladies by Mrs. Siddons. with her wonderful
waillng cry, as Isabella, 20. my Biron, my Bron
her overwhelming Lady Macbeth and her imperial
Queen Katharine The brilliant story Of Peg Wof-
fngton, and the sad fate of Mrs Robinson, the
triumphant of Mrs. Abingdon. and the
melancholy collapse of Mrs. Jordan-all these
things, and many more, duly set down in the
old chronicles. But the books comparatively
silent about the old women of the stage-an arts
tic line no less delightful than useful. Of when
Mrs Gilbert was a sterling and brilliant repre-
of the comedian Joseph Jefferson who actually
died of laughter the stage d766- '6S might fifty
be mentioned the dramatic ancestor of such
actors as Mrs Gbert-for Mrs jefferson was A
woman of great loneliness of character and Of great
talent for the portrayal of 'old women and like
wise OF certain old men in comedy She had
Tate Wilkinson. ''one of the best dispositions
that harbored in human breast, and he
adds that "she of the most elegant women
ever beheld' Mrs. Gilbert never failed to suggest
image of grace goodness and piquant ability.
Mrs Vernon the best in this line until Mrs
Gilbert and the perio6 which has seen Mrs
judah, Mrs. Vincent. Mrs Germon. Mary Carr, Mrs
Chppencale. Mrs Hind Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Stir
ling Mrs. Ellington and Nine. Ponis has seen
superior Mrs. Gilbert in her special walk
Because her proficiency, In youth a beautiful
cancer her motions had spontaneous and grace.
she could assume the fine LADY. without suggesting
the parvenu. She was equally good, whether as
the formal and severe matron of starched do
nestle life the genial old dame of the
pantry She could play Temperance, in The
Country Squire and equally she could play Mrs
JeIlaby. All varieties the eccentricty of elderly
women. whether serious comic. easily with
In her grasp. Betsy Trotwood, embodied by her. be-
came a living reality: while, the other hand she
Guffused with sinister horror her furtive. sealthy
gliding. uncanny personation of the dumb half
insane Hester Dethridge. That the first great
that Mrs Gilbert gained, under the man
agement of Mr.. DAILY. Her assumption of the Mar
quise de st. Maur instinct with aristocracy.
Most OF her later trumphs obtained as the
formidable lady who typifes the domestic propri-
cites and the Nemesis Of responsibility. It
refined but severely regular presence gave soul
and wings "A Night OFF" From Miss Garth to
Mrs. La5urnum is far stretch Of initiative talent
for the Interpretation of the woman nature that
everybody. from Shakespeare down. has found 1t
difficult Mrs Gilbert always impressed her
audience with cear-cut. brilliant Identification with
every type of character that she assumed; but
also she denoted her own kind heart and sweet
and gentle, yet inspid temperament-the
condition Of sympathy, gracousness and cheer
which is the flower of a fine nature and a good
life. Certain scenes which Mrs. Gilbert and
Charles Fisher James Lewis participated, cid
married people will long be remembered for their
intrinsic beauty-suggestive OF the touching
with Time transported
Shall think to rob Of
You'l in girls again be courted.
And III wooing with my boys.
WILLIAM WINTER.