The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-09
PEG WOFFINGTON M 0fARIN GADE 1914 ~l 1884

vi the vein Wf1cn net StIuCh III SS Wofffngton." Had he done so he un- doubtedlv would have arrived at a fame which Is now not his. He seemed at home with the people, the manners and customs of the time of which he wrote in his story of the famous actress at least as much a home as 1t IS sate for an historical novelist to be-and succeeded thoroughly in bringing before his readers the picture, the character and the surroundings of Mrs. Woftng- ion The scene where Peg dfsgutses herself as Mrs Bra ce girdle is one which Alas genius in every line, every turn of word. It must be read in its en- tirety to be appreciated. Who would think that the man who wrote "A Terrible Temptation" began by writing Peg Woffinston?"
 T RNEST VANE was wealthg
 gentleman of Shropshire whom A& business had called to London four months before and now pleasure detained there. He was man of learn ing and taste, as the times. went-it was in the middle of the eighteenth century-and his love of arts had taken him to the theatre, where he had be- come fascinated by Mrs. Wellington Peg Warrington, not Mrs though according to the custom of the day so called. The first night he saw her was an epoch in the history of Vane's mind. He saw a creature all grace and bright nature. moving like a god dess amid the stiff puppets of the stage. Goodness and intelligence beamed from her face-it was like no other face, his heart bounded to meet it. She could make men laugh or cry or still their hercer emotions. She was woman whose Vaccinations have brtdged two centuries-and Ernest Yane was an in- experienced young man in the matters of the world-a country squire who srSom visited London. Peg Wellington was charming the world, 1t was not strange that she fascinated Ernest Vane.
 He rented a box at her theatre; he was there every night before the cur tain went up; he did not depart until 1t fell. Peg was well known enough vane had even heard some stories about her. Her face was a refutation to these islanders. He knew loose tongued calumny. how prone it is to fasten its fangs upon the great and good. At last he sent the actress a letter. in which he told her how neces sary it was for him to express in some way to her his admiration of her talent and his thanks for that land of en chantment into which she had intro duced him. He sent the letter unsigned Soon after he began sending choice flowers to her dressing room every night.
 Then amid the flowers began to ap- pear verses and precious stones min gled with the roses and eglantines. Oh, how he watched from his box, night after night, to see if Peg looked toward it for he had sent the offerings anony- .raously and how could she know? One night he sent her a wreath with note imploring her, If any word he had writ ten her or any present he had sent her pleased her, to wear the wreath that night. In the first part of the play Mrs. woffington wore no wreath. Fool that I am,'' thought Vane But when she came on in the fifth act, To- she had his wreath upon her head. Then when she spoke the epilogue she lifted her eyes to the box where he sat Not only had he pleased her. but his constant presence fin the theatre had been noticed by her she knew him as the sender of the flowers, the verses and the jewels.
 One night, Mrs. Wellington being off the stage for a few moments, Vane let his eyes roam over the audience and saw an old acquaintance of his, one Sir Charles Pomander, man whom he had not seen before for several years. Vane had met him in Shropshire when Sir Charles had been turned out to grass there for a while. Sir Charles was a "man about town" a roue of the first water He had long before discovered his old Shropshire friend in the country gentleman who nightly sat in a box at the theatre and could not keep his eyes off Peg Wellington. He had watched carefully for any sign of recognition to pass between the two-for Sir Charles had designs himself. He had resolved 10 offer Mrs. Wellington "an establish mentor rather he would have her to preside over his own as brevet wife. Tc capture the famous actress would add to his eclat as man of the town and was she not open to assault? Pooh, let her put on all the airs she might, Sir Charles knew her history
 But this Shropshire squire might inter- fere with his plans which, he had to con- fess were not prospering, the actress seeming rather to treat the famous beau and gallant as an object upon which to sharpen her wit and her tongue-neither of which needed sharpening in the least and naturally that made Sir Charles more persistent. Could it be that, unknown to him, Peg had formed an acquaintance with vane? Was Vane the stumbling block? When he saw Peg on the night she wore the wreath look toward Vanes box Sir Charles was angry, but elated ,< He had made his discovery, he would work out his schemes So when a few nights after, he saw that Vane, careless ly looking over the audience, recognized him he at once sought the box of the squire and renewed his acquaintance. His easy manner, his brilliant conversation, made the country gentleman look upon him as a great person. Really, Sir Charles was only gentleman of vice pleasure, as he called 1t.
 said Come. let us go upon the stagep' If it had been proposed to Vane to go to heaven he would not have been more astonished. "Yes, to the greenroom, then. and see the actors and the actresses. Most of them sadly absolute people, but