The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-03
MRS. GILBERT IS DEAD
FAMOUS ACTRESS EXPIRES SUD.
 DENLY IN CHICAGO.
Had Been on the Stnge for Many Years and at Time of Death was Star
 ring i'm "Grnnhy.s

Chicago, Dec. 2.-Mrs. George H. Gil- bert, the oldest actress and one of the most famous on the American stage, died suddeny in her apartments at the Sherman House today. Her age was S3.
 The end came without struggle and there was a smile upon the aged wo- mans face as she breathed her last About her, with tear-dimmed es,stood her maid, Mrs. Margaret Sweeney, Har- ry Powers Frank E. Aiken. manager of the theatre, and the attending physi- cians A few hours before her death the noted actress had risen, declaring she intended to devote the day to shop ping.
 T must get out and buy Christmas nresents for the child actors and &C., tresses of New York" she said to her maid.
 But, Mrs. Gilbert" expostulated the maid, 1t Is snowing.
 What does a girl of my age care for snow," replied Mrs. Gilbert, and she went to take her usual cold bath--a bath as cold as the natural temperature of the water would afford. As she emerged from the bath room she said to her maid:
 Please call Dr. Owens; feel i'll: the lights look strange and 1t Is growing dark"
 A spasm seemed to seize Mrs. Gilbert and suddenly she became unconscious. In an hour and half and just as the clock was striking twelve she died.
 Although on the stage practically all of her life and for the past twenty years known as the "Old Lady" Mrs. Gilbert was never anything but a girl in spirit, her ceaseless energy and never-failing cheerfulness enabling her to accomplish tasks which many younger persons would have given up in despair. She was at the head of a company producing Clyde Fitch's latest play. Granny" which opened its Chicago engagement last Monday night. This was her first appearance as a star, although she had appeared in many memorable productions and had sup ported the most noted actors of the present generation. She Is best known to the public through her work in the company of the late Augustin Daily, her fellow members in these productions, principally in the old English comedies, being the late James Lewis, Charles Le Clercq. John Drew, Otis Skinner, Ada Rehan, Edith Kingdom (Mrs. George Gould) Virginia Decher and Fife Shan non.
 The play in which Mrs Gilbert made her last appearance was written espe- cially for her by MT. Fitch. It gave her ample opportunity and despite her great age, she took q keen and intelli- gent interest in the production.
 Mrs. Gilbert went on the stage as a dancer. and 1t Is a curious fact that her first acting part was as an old woman, in Louisville, ky, in 1857. She went from Louisville to Cincinnati in 1881, and came to New York in 1864. She was the original representative in this city of the Marauise in Caste" In her career she played parts as far apart as Mrs. Toodles and Lady Mac beth.
 At the time she and her husband came to this country in 1S49, they had retired from the stage and decided to join some friends who had taken up | land west of Milwaukee. They made the journey to their newly chosen home in prairie wagon. The venture was not success and all of their money was lost. They returned to the stage, MT. Gilbert as a dancer and ballet mas ter. while Mrs. Gilbert danced in the ballots and between the acts. While appearing as a dancer she undertook the study of small parts and 1t was not long until she gained a place on the stage as an actress.
 Following a consultation between Harry J. Powers and Charles Burkley. Mrs. Gilberts personal manager (who IS also representative of Charles Frohman). it was decided to take the body to New York. The start will, be made over the Erie Railroad at H. a. m. tomorrow.