The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-10-09
ROLAND REEDS KIN
DUFFETED BY FATE
Sisters Of Man Who Made Two
Continents Laugh Are
Strangers to Mirth.

Philadelphia.-Some half dozen years
ago there died in New York Il man
who had made the world happier-by
making it mer1iel-Roland Reed. 1t is
strange way in which fate plays with
the lives of men and ONE that the
sisters OF the man who made two con-
tinents laugh should have been for a
long time not only strangers to he
very name of lmirth. but on more than
one occasion recently unable to keep
the traditional wolf from their door.
The ON are Laura and Florence
Reed. sisters of the dead comedian, and
themselves for 1wo-score years per-
formers on the stage. Laura. for nearly
20 years having prominent roles in
Philadelphia productions and Florence.
always AN invalid and now completely
Sheltered. playing in minor roles or
chorus. 1t WAS in the old Walnut
Street theat"r days of the 'GGs and
eally 7os that Laura was at the height
OF her success. With the sister in the
same com.any, and Roland we'll started
M a career that was TO max him ia
NOUS.
Al. those We're great days. said
Miss Laura recently. sitting With her
arm round her frail sister: with the
music am! the flowers and the applause
and the excitement and all the wonder
full people that came to play with u.s.
Those We're tho days when we dreamed
VIVA W. 'i'S wy
alas, they We're only dreams after all"
l7n1ay these Two frail and gentle wo-
ne aye seen the 1inal curtain fail on
TIL" lives of nearly all the associates
of those wonderful days. and for sew
rlal years they have struggled along
With chat pathetic unfi,ness that people
of the st&ge have for any other work
eager to do il given the opportunity
III Il pathetic effort for existence.
The Reeds have had several loyal but
fa,. ,r1,, ,,.a,lt1ny iH.,1 ia - I,n
aie,ed them what they could. and but
for whom they would not have even the
tiny little rooms they call homo. 1t is
cue 10 them also that the story of the
sisters has become public. Prominent
mons these are Mrs. Elizabeth HUM,
Of 2G2 North Darlen street, and Mrs.
elizabeth Milton. of PSI on tire same
street. ~ne!ghbors of tho Reels for
years.
o proud and modest TO beg. and at
the end of their resources. the sisters
left the Old home and only recently
their friends found them again, and
leaned THAI they had actually been
often without a roo over them or food
10 eau! They took charge of them at
once and with "a few others have cared
tor them since. One of these women.
said last evening:
II have known the Reed family all
my life. and especially Laura and Flor
e1lcc. The Reed home was always open
TO any in sorrow or trouble. and now
that these women are in distress. ] do
hope some of the more fortunate
friends of their brother and family will
help us aid them in some way. AS long
as Roland lived they wanted for moth
ing he could give them. His daughter.
Il young actress. has always been gem
erous to them. but for u year has been
an invalid and earning nothing.
"l'lorence IS very feeble in every way
II leans wholly on Laura. who is very
friil h.rself. She is willing to do any
thing she can ger. but there is little she
can do at nearly so years of age, say
look after her sister. ] am sure some
of the old friends would do something
IL they only knew, so We are telling
their story"
Laura Reed was n member of the
Walnut Street heate company under
t'!ree managers. Thaal:>s Igl.p.li.l.
Mis-. Augusta CAMS } Il and tieorge