The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-05

death OF Granny Gilbert
"Three hours before her death the
noted actress had risen and declared
she intended to devote the day to
shopping
=" i mus get out and buy Christmas
presents for the child actors and ac.
tresses OF New York, she said TO her
maid
But, Mrs. Gilbert, expostulated
the maid. it Is showing.
What does a girl of my age care
for snow replied Mrs. Gilbert and
She went 70 take her usual cold bath
-a bah as cold as the natural temp,
eramre of the water would afford As
sne went from the bathroom she said
to her maid:
Please cali for Dr. owen, | feel
IN The lights look strange and it is
growing dark
"A srasm seemed to seize Mrs, Gil
bert and suddenly she became uncon
scous She died at II o'clock with
our rega ming sciousness.
n wls decided this afternoon 70
take the body 10 New York The
start Will be made over the Erie rail
road at l1;3J toU9l so Mrs. Gil
beFt's Chicago engagement in Clyde
Fitehs play. Granny" began at Pow
ers theatre last Monday and IN u to.
day the venerable actress had appear
ed TO be in her Il. dsl alth
story of Her Career.
ITO few players OF any generation
IS Il vonchsafed to enjoy in addition
to the admiration and esteem of the
public ome+hing very like love and
affection In our own time Mrs Gil
bert was perhaps the most conspicu.
oua eN mplc Of thar very limited
class Not only in New York hut
tarougDaui the country The coming Of
this acg sss, apply termed the Grand
Old Woman Of the Stage" was always
| heraldea as an event OF great import-
ance. And this, too despite the fact
that untll Oct. "a of the present year
hers was not one Of The names to be
read in big red type on The bills and
In letters of light in front Of the the
atefs
Her Appearance as Granny"
Those who were presens on the op-
enng night Of Granny" at the Lyce-
uri theatre on the night In question
or on the night OF Nov. l2, which oc
easlon marked the last appearance
Of Mrs Gilbert in this city. are not
likely soon 20 forget the occasion,
Both egenings resolved themselves
into yelstable lovefeasts for Mrs Gil.
bert
when she walked on the stage Of
the Lyceum theatge on TIE opening
night cf the play Clyde Fitch had
fashioned for her from the French Of
Georges Mitchell her first line,
Good evening, everybody was greet
ed with such a demonstration as has
seldom been witnessed Within the
walls Of any playhouse The orches
ira struck up Auld Lang syne and
the aud enee joined in singing OF the
chorus Throughout the entire eve
aing. tco. a feeling of something far
deeper nan mere appreciation Of art
istic achievement was vibrant
throughout the theatre.
Though never a great actress in /
the common acceptance Of the word.
the training of the elder tradition /
found In Mrs. Gilbert one Of its ahlest 1
eXponents. Sne was at her best as /
a quain1. motherly old lady coy spin I
sters and imperious mothersin-law /
No one since Ms. Vernon has sur /
passed her in any character of her
repertoly, with he possible exeep- /
tiou of Mrs. Vincent who died many
years ago Durins the latter days Of
her life sac was without a rival on
the American stage
5orn ia England.
BY Tie accident OF her birth she i
was English, having been born Cam /
Hartley was her maiden name) on
Oct. 81. 1921. a. Roekdale. near Man
chester I couldn't help that you
know. she was accustomed 10 say
All my professional career. an thai ] /
am. really. every inch Of me. is Amer /
lcan. why even my Engli h nephew /
when he came to call upon me in Lon I
don. used to stop on the stairs and /
turn down his trousers. He knew ! /
gouldn stand such nonsense.
Mrs Gilbert's FIRST stage appear /
anee was in the role Of dancer on /
the En- slish stage and her husband i
whom ghe married in 1876, was fel /
low dancer Coming to America in +
1Sta. tie Gnberts failed 10 make a
success of farming and returned 10 /
the STAGE. appearing for the first .ime
IN Milwaukee. Mrs Gnbert's STAGE /
life in the west was one OF the old 4
time stock company actress
First Appearance In New York.
Tier FIRST appearance in New Yorl.