New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
BENEFIT FOR MRS. STEELE
Bret Harte,s Daughter U1M BE
Cared For By Friends.

Friends of Mrs. Jessary Hsrte Steele. daugh-
ter Of the late Bret Harte. said yesterday that
theatrical performance FOR her benefit would be
given I'm this city early in February, and that
Miss Eleanor Robson. the California Society of
New York and the publishers OF Bret Hsrte's
books would help 20 make II a success. Mrs.
Steele has been in Portland Me- many months,
apparently in need OF money. and recently. on
account Of debts which she had contracted, was
sent 10 the almshouse there.
The Oyerseers OF the Poor at Portland have
been in communication with the attorney of her
husband in this city regarding her removal to
some place where she has a legal residence.
Her husband. Frederick Dorr Steele. who is
well known illustrator OF magazines. has lived
at Nutey. n. ]. One Of Mrs Steele's acquaint-
ances in this city said last evening:
knew Mrs. Steele I'm the summer of 1905
while che staying Chebeague Island
Sherwood Hotel. in Portland. She said she had
come to Chebeague Island from Tarrytown
". Y, TO facilitate her recovery from typhoid
fever, from which she had been suffering in the
spring Her husband up with her TO see
that she was comfortably situated. and then
left her with a companion
During the summer Mrs Steele went fire.
Quently TO Portland, took part in the activities
of the summer colony on the island and seemed
TO be comfortably situated financially She
stayed until the middle Of September and
then announced that she intended visiting a
friend whom she had unexpectedly met In Port
land who had cottage Great Diamond ISL
and in Portland harbor
Later I'm the fall Mrs Steele appeared at the
Sherwood Hotel. in Portland. with her husband,
who stayed for a short time with her and then
left her there alone. She explained that she was
staying in Portland further to recuperate
from her typhoid fever illness. During the sum-
meT she had received frequent and long letters
from her husband
Fashionable women In Portland took an in
terest I'm Mrs. Steele at first, and when they
learned from her that she would like 10 become
professional reader of her fathers works
helped arrange for her n recital in Kotzschmar
patronesses. The recital which took place in
December, was widely advertised, but I'm spita
OF all the efforts expended to make IL a success
drew a comparatively small audience. Whether
because Of this encouragement or because of
her natural nervous temperament. Mrs. Steele
failed 10 remember her lines at several points
III her recital, and accordingly made an I'M
favorable showing.
After this she was gradually neglected by the
fashionable people of Portland She had plans
10 give afternoon readings in Boston. and tried
hard to get some one who would finance the
undertaking, but apparently in vain
Why Mrs. Steele continued TO live I'm Portland
seemed a mystery to every one She appeared
10 be plentifully supplied with money and able
TO leave when she wished to. Several of her ac-
Quaintances understood that she wished to go
upon the vaudeville stage, and was training her
voice to that end In her room at the hotel
she was continually practising singing and de-
claiming.
Last spring Mrs. Steele said she was plannIne
to raise money by hiring a house for the summer
mer visitors This plan evidently failed for
heard that she spent most of her summer in a
friends cottage on one OF the islands in Port
land Harbor.