The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-20
MARY ANDERSON.

I They have been trying to induce "our Nary to come back to us. A petition gotten up for this purpose in New York has been forwarded to England. This pe- tition was signed by a large number of tho most distinguished men in this coun- try.s bankers. statesmen and prelates. The signatures represented all churches and -eyery variety of political opinion. There was striking unanimity to the effect that there is one platform on which the petitioners could all meet. the desire of once again seeing and hearing Mary Ans derson.
 Mime de Navarro has returned kindly no to the request. 'T am still compelled" she says, ''by conviction not to deviate frem my resolution made fifteen years ago not again to enter into the rush and excitement of public life, Wise Mme. de Navarrol
 She would, if she came. be pelted by all sorts of social attentions and be stormed by mobs at the theatres. How many of our young women would resist such temptation? It will seem to some as if Mary Anderson were flying in the face of Providence to refuse to become the centre of great popular demonstra- tior in the United States. We are glad for ourselves that she retains her mod esty and persists fin setting more store by her home life than by the glare of the footlights.
 There Is undoubtedly strong prejudice against the stage even among those who love 1t. as not the best place in the world l for a safe planting of a regard for all of the commandments. There have been many notable exceptions to the rule that stage career is dangerous to the nor als. but just as undoubtedly. large num- bers of men and women, actors and act- resses. have kept divorce mills in oper- ation by their highty and reckless disre- gard of the marital relations and have so brought down upon the profession con- curing judgment that however whole some may be the effect upon the play goers, the actors and actresses them selves, living and moving in constant proximity. in propinquity one with the other. at all seasons, and all hours, gain ing living by the emulation of passions, | furnish in their private lives all too often examples for mankind to avoid rather than to admire.
 It was the beauty of Miss Anderson's s stage career that not whisper was ever breathed about her fair fame. We think indeed this was the main source, after her striking personal beauty, of her hold upon the public. She was not a great or finished actor. She was an accomplished declaimer and in vulgar phrase looked out of sight" We have seen theological students roll on the ground in an ecstacy of delight thinking upon her presence and the ringing charm l ot her voice.
 In considering the propriety of her ven- turing once again on the stage, We are bound to remember she is not as young as she once was; that she has been bring ing up children and is out of practice in the arts of the stage. So we are really glad she is determined upon living with her family amid the refined surround ings of her English home, and that she will leave to those of us who recall so pleasantly the joyous splendor of her youthful essay on the dramatic stage, the not less pleasant reflection that she gave iustre to American womanhood by her public career and by the good sense and gentleness with which she quilted the career.