Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-17
MRS. THAW's MOTHER TALKS
Evelyn Nesbit's Child-Llfe Described
by Fond Parent

Bv Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 16.-"At the age
of 16 Evelyn went with me to New
York, where she had been heralded as
The girl with the Christ-child face"
So declared Mrs. Charles j. Holman,
the mother of Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, in
the first interview given by her since
the Architect White tragedy.
Mrs. Holman spoke of her daughters S
life experience and beauty with mater
nal tenderness, declaring that al the
proper time all that has upset the
plans of three families will be righted
Any statement or suggestion to the
effect that it was l who introduced
Evelyn to Mr.. White is false, utterly
false" declared Mrs. Holman with all
the emphasis at her command.
God knows it ALL" she continued,
"and he will guide me through these
trying moments. l have thought more
than once of that Christmas day IN
1884, when that sweet pure and lovely
child was born.
Shows Photograph
Look" she continued taking a pho
tograph from the wall, here is Evelyn
when she first appeared in the Wild
Rose company. Look at the coat she
wears. Some people will be surprised
to know how it is made When Mr..
Nesbit died he left an overcoat that 1
thought would come in handy some
'day. And there it is-that jacket was
made by my hands, and as L think of
that darling child l think how l sewed
love into every stitch.
Harry ThaW's mother speaks well
of Evelyn-well, why shouldn't she?-a
beautiful, loving and bright girl. But
the papers attribute so much to Evelyn
I q q nt la n
the effect that the child was a CO.
respondent in the Lederer case. 1t is a
fabrication, every word of it. George
Lederer watched over Evelyn like a
father.
He often told me of her beauty and
that he would make a great actress out
of her. After several consultations l
permitted her to go to rehearsals, but
only when accompanied by Howard or
myself. You see, it was Evelyn who
first brought Mr.. Lederer to me. That
is something l want stated, for it has a
great deal to do with this affair She
was ambitious and studious and
wanted to be a great actress.
Artists Raved Over Her
Artists raved over Evelyn and many
fiatterng offers We're made her to pose,
but" continued Mrs. Holman, and her
never posed in the nude. 1 found that
the Bohemians We're in every way
gentlemen. They We're ready to sacri-
flee all in order to get a canvas of the
child that was born on Christmas day
Florence herself is clever artist
exceptionally fine with colors.
when, Mr.. Nesbit died he left me
with a very large house on my hands
in the East End Finally | secured an
offer to go to Philadelphia to take
employment-that was in 1900. 1t was
in that city that Evelyn met Mrs.
Darrah. who was well known artist
then, and Evelyn promised to pose for
her. That was the first time she served
as a model"
"Will you state" Mrs. Holman was
asked, "how your daughter managed
to escape your control?"
time. l escorted her to the stage door
afternoon and evening. and when 1
was III with headache l would send
her brother, who was also eager to
help his sister whom he thought the
world of.
Evelyn never went about at night
alone-neVer If she went out to dinner,
of course, as a mother should, | was
always there to chaperone her Some
times Mr.. Lederer would invite Evelyn
out for he was so kind and generous
TO her and always so good towards us
both.
lone night, | now remember, she
overstayed the appointed hour to re-
turn home and | said to her:
"'Well. l thought you would return
at a reasonable hour This is in the
profession, was her reply.