Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
MADE HER DEBUT HERE
Passing of Mrs. Jane Germon,
the Veteran Actress.
BEGAN CAREER 7 YEARS OLD
Entertained American Audiences for
Fifty-Seven Years.
SUPPORTED GREATEST ACTORS
Original Topsy in "Uncle Toms
n'-Rememberred by Wash
ingtonians in Ford Company.
The play is done; the curtain drops,
Slow falling to the prOmpter's bell
moment yet the actor stops
And looks around to say farewell.
snec,al Disnatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, August 1.-THE death
this week of Mrs. Jane Germon, eighty
seven years old. and known from coast
to coast as the grand old woman of the
American STAGE removes one of the few
remaining links that connected the stage
of today with the glorious drama Of the
past. for she belonged to the golden era
of the American stage
Mrs. Germon died i'm the arms Of her
son. DR.. Germon, who has been devoted
to her for years and was a most faithful
child. AS DR.. Germon raised his mother
in his arms to ease her position she
opened her eyes, and. smiling, quietly
passed away. At the foot of the bed
stood his wife and daughter, Miss Ger
trude Germon, who have been her loving
and tender nurses during her long illness.
Mrs. Germon had been unconscious for
some time prior to her demise. She died
after six months illness of heart disease
and dropsy.
Although virtually given up by her
physicians six months ago, Mrs. Germon' s
great vitality sustained her we'll, and the
sands of her life ran slowly through the
glass. From month to month she lin
gered, well knowing that death was at
firm in the faith that upheld her. Mon
day night, however. she began to sink.
To the Buskin Born.
Like tho poet. actresses Of the old
school were born, not made and Mrs.
Germon was TO the buskin born. To
her grandfather she looked up as one of
the substantial supports of the stage in
those days when the play was the thing,
rather than lyrics. As an infant she
crooned in the greenroom while her ia
Their and mother played their parts behind
the footlightS, and in every relative of
her family she saw a devotee of Thespis.
So the years rolled on and the time soon
came when she. too, took her place In
the charmed circle.
Mrs. Germon was born in New Orleans
February 8, 1892, and came of a famous
theatrical family, as her mother was
Miss Jefferson. She was the grand
daughter of the first Joseph Jefferson and
a cousin of the late famous comedian.
Joseph Jefferson. Her maiden name was
Jane Anderson, and she made her ap-
pearance upon the stage at the early
age of seven years.
First Appearance in Washington.
Although born in New Orleans, her first
appearance was made in Washington, her
parents having moved to the north when
very outset she displayed that versatility
which placed her and kept her in an en-
viable position. Edwin Forrest wanted a
little Albert for his William Tell" ard
his approval of the baby actress was the
first of a long series of praises to fall
to her share.
That was her first appearance. In 1890.
and she continued to act little Albert
whenever Forrest visited the stock COM
pany in Washington. Later she per-
formed in Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Boston with Junius Brutus Booth. i'm
personating the little Duke of York in
Richard ILL.," and she continued to play
childrens parts until she got too big
The next step was in soubrette roles, or
those times. and from these she branched
Married at Seventeen Years.
And romance, too, came into her life
when. at the age of seventeen years. she
married Greenbury Germon and divided
her duties between the real life of do
mesticity and the mimic world into which
her lot had been cast. But tragedy fol-
lowed, and fifteen years later she was
left widow at thirty-two. with five
children dependent on her for support
and education.
From this time she recorded a con-
tinuation of successes, playing leading
roles with such actors as Junius Brutus
Booth Charles Mathews. Charles Fech-
ter, James Wallace Toole Edwin Booth
John E. Owens. John Sleeper Clarke
Joseph jefferson, Louis James, Frederick