Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-09
DEATH CALLS
MODJESKA TO
FINAL REST
NOTED ACTRESS EXPIRES
AFTER LONG SUFFERING
BODY TO BE INFERRED IN HER
NATIVE LAND
Although She Was ExlIed While Liv-
Ing, Great Tragedienne viii
Lie In cracow,
Poland


devout attendant, the Countess CHA
powski. famous as Nine. Helena Mod
jeska and hailed as the greatest TRACE
dienne on the English stage, died at IL
o'clock yesterday morning at her nome
on Bay island
For years Nine. Modjeska had been
enshrined in the hearts of the theater-
going public of the world for her great
interpretations. The poor, the lonely in
many chimes, the aspiring young must
clans and artists and the unfortunate
knew Nine. Modjeska in a manner
which the stage did not, for it was the
kind and sympathizing womanly wom-
an that alleviated suffering whenever
possible.
Although one of the famous figures
of the stage, the private life of Nine.
Modjeska had been singularly quiet
and tranquil. And so in death she
passed away quietly, not regaining
consciousness since she went into a
state of coma last Friday. The latter
part of last week she had received the
last sacraments of the Catholic church,
of which she was q devout daughter.
Exied from Home
In her own way Nine. Modjeska had
proved herself a martyr, for 1t was
through her staunch espousal of her
Russian government In trying to force
the Polish people to give up the Catho-
lie church and enter the Greek branch
that caused that government to exile
her from her own land.
For several months Nine. Modjeska
had been failing in health, suffering
from acute Bright's disease and ad-
vanced heart trouble. For several
weeks Nine. Modjeska, with the count,
was the guest of DR.. and Mrs. J. ii.
Billiard In Los Angeles. but later, by
her expressed wish, she was removed
to the Bay island home, where the last
battle with death was fought and lost
by the great tragedienne.
All during her sickness, as he had
been during their forty years of mar
ried life, Count BoZenta, as he was
Familiarity known, was with her.
Several weeks ago Ralph Modjeski,
the son, raced across the continent, ac-
companied by his wife and young son,
to reach his mother before her death,
and during her. last days she was
cheered by the constant attendance of
her loved ones, who remained almost
constantly at her bedside in the vain
hope that she would recognize them
before passing into the great beyond.
Family in Death Chamber
Gathered around the death bed yes
terday morning were the Count Bozen-
ia, Mr.. and Mrs. Modjeski, their young
son, Charles Bozenta Modjeski. two
nephews, Ludwig Opid, wife and two
daughters, Adam Opid and Anastasia
Akrownska, who had served Nine. Mod
jeska in the capacity of maid for many
years, together with DR.. ]. H. Boyd,
who attended Nine. Modjeska during
her last illness.
Last evening the body was placed on
.a.I Ntzf 70 fNe
Angeles to be prepared for its last
long journey, accompanied by the MEM
bers of the family. 1t was removed
to the undertaking parlors of Cum
bingham 81 O'Connor to be embalmed
preparatory for the journey.
According to a cherished wish, the
body of Nine. Modjeska will find its
last resting place In her native city of
Cracow, the ancient capital of Poland,
from which she was debarred while
living.
The funeral service will be held Mon
day morning at $3.50 o'clock at the
Cathedral of st. Vibiana, where Mime.
Modjeska had often been a worshipper.
The date of departure on the long jour-
ney to Poland has not been decided by
the grief-stricken count, who, with
Hayward, where he will remain until
after the last sad rites are performed.
Ralph Modjeski, the son, said last
night that he anticipates no difficulty
in having the body inferred in Poland.
The ukase of the czar which barred
Nine. Modjeska was issued in 1894 after
she had read a paper at the woman's
parliament at the worlds fair in Chi
cago. This ukase specifically stated
that she was not to enter Warsaw. The
son thinks no effort will be made to
prevent the burial of the body at Cra-
COW. r. j. Dillon, the family's attorney,
will have charge of the arrangements
for the final interment.
Madame Helena Modjeska was born
in Cracow, Austrian Poland. October
IL, 1874. Her fathers name was Benda.
He was a Polish patriot and a man
of great refinement and musical ability.
He taught music to support himself
and family. He died while Nine. Mod
jeska was a mere child, but left his
family in a fairly cofortable position.
AT an early age she gave evidence of
a singular intensity of feeling. and
when years old her mother took her
for the first time to theater, she got
so excited over the performance that
her mother considered it not advisable
to allow her to witness another produc-
ton for many years after
Her stage career was conceived in
charity and in her later life on the
stage exercised the noblt impulse which
caused her to adopt the stage. Her
career began in the small but historic
town of Bochnia, where she went in
her teens, and where, while still in
her teens, she married M. Modjeska,
and had a baby son. Ralph Modjeska,
who is now prominent civil engineer
of Chicago and who was present when
his mother died.
Organized Charity Performance
A catastrophe occurred in Bochnia,
In which several men were killed. This
left widows and children without sup
port and she pitied the bereaved ones
greatly. A happy idea came to her.
Why not organize a charity perform
ance for their benefit? She acted on
the suggestion that had come to her
mind. She and her sister had some
little knowledge of the stage, as two
OF their brothers were actors and as
children themselves had given little
improvised plays at home. M. Lo-
bojko, at that time provincial actor,
happened to be in Bochnia, and the
benefit was preached to him. He fell
in with the plans readily. These three,
with a young English student, who
was spending his vacation in Bochnia.
formed a company and rented the Ca
sino. a kind of local club, where the
festivities of the town took place and
which boosted a small stage. They de-
cided on presenting three short pieces,
the chief one OF which was The White
Camelia." Madame took the character
az a countess in French society, and
for her gown she worked over a great