The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-15
MRS. JESSIE
BARTLETT:
DAVIS DEAD

Chicago, May l5.-Jessie Bartlett Davis,
a well known actress. died suddenly at
her home in this city yesterday. The
cause OF her death was heart disease,
produced by nephrius. She became i'll Fri
day, and Saturday morning was uneon-
scious from which condition she never
recovered. When her physician first di-
agnosed her illness as nephritis, Friday,
no alarming symptoms were apparent.
but Saturday she grew rapidly worse until
$50 o'clock this morning, when she died.
Mrs. Davis first became prominent on
the stage while she was connected with
the Bostonians Her first engagement
on the stage was in the role OF Butter
cup in "Pnafore," about 20 years ago
After being connected with the Bos-
tonians for nearly ten years. Mrs Davis
severed her connection with that organi-
zation In 1901, when she entered vaude-
Vile. Her last regular engagement In
opera was with Francis Wilson's com-
nanX In .EEHiaer last NeaE-
Mrs Davis was the wife Of Will ].
Davis. a theatrical manager of this city.
She was 46 years old.
Mrs. Davis was born in a small town
in Illinois in 1860. the daughter OF a poor
New Hampshire schoolmaster and his
wife, who had just moved west. Both
her parents were musical. her father hav-
ing been a leader OF the village choir
I'm Keene. " H.. and her mother the
leading soloist
The girl Jessie was the fourth OF seven
children. and i'm n fnmily where money
was scarce she found It difficult TO get
much musical training From her earliest
childhood. however, she possessed marked
ability"
"All knew about singing as a child"
enfI l,uf 4 Ho1
a tremendous voice. At II | was I'm
every musical affair I'm the town. and
my voice would drown out all the others
When Jessie was II her parents moved
10 Chicago and there she received vocal
instruction from several excellent in
structors. and obtained position 10 sing
with Caroline Richings I'm the famous
"Old Folks Concerts.' from which she
graduated into the celebrated Chicago
Church Choir company which offered
her $50 n week 70 play Buttercup in Pima
fore"
This was opulence for the girl. as
previous 10 this the family had been so
poor that the girl sang in a calico dress
which had 10 be washed every Saturday
so she could wear il the next day. At
the end OF the season with the Church
Choir company she married its manager.
William J. Davis In 1852 she made her
utuui III sIdNu bp'ld, SlNklnE ClfDel IN
FaTtT-S -MnrEuer1re- she drd NOT reeT
as though she could leave home 70 study
abroad. however. and gave up grand
opera TO become the queen OF comic
opera.
Tn the latter part Of the eighties she
Joined tho Bostonians. remaining with the
company as It's leading contralto until
1899 II was while with the Bostonians
she made her greatest fame She played
Alan Dale i'm Robin Hood" and her
singing OF "Oh Promise Me" sent the
country wild. Mrs. Davis has said she
has since sung that song between 5000 and
e0nO times. Her favorite play. however,
was "Fantintza." but tho public has
ever continued to pronounce her best in
Robin Hood"
After being connected with the Bos-
tonlans for nearly 10 years, Mrs. Davis
severed her connection with that organ
ization In l90l, when sho entered vaude-
Vile. Her last regular engagement in
ePeFs-~ss- with Francis -Atlsen. $ com
pany. i'm "Ermnie." last year
Mrs. Davis had the reputation of being
the most photographed woman on the
American stage. one admirer OF hers
claims a collection Of her photographs in
1700 different positions.
She was reputed 10 bo an excellent
business woman and amased consider
able fortune. Her chief pleasure out
side OF her music was I'm the companion
ship OF her son and In experimenting
the caring for her home. She was con-
sdered a handsome woman. OF medium
height. fair complexion and an expressive
face.