Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-28
FAMOUS WOMEN OF HISTORY.
MARY ROBINSON ("PERDlTA'O,
1758-18OO
Copyright. 1919. by Willis J. Abbot,
1758-18OO.

heroine did But the period of riot had
an end. Bailiffs descended on their house
seized its fittings and cast Robinson into
debtors prison. Here. with commend
able fidelity. his wife followed him. do
ing such homework as tho jail admit
ted, and even earning a little with her
pen.
BY compromising with his creditors Rob
inson was freed i'm a few months But
the old problem of what to do again con-
fronted them. BY lucky chance Sher-
idan. who had succeeded Garrick as man
ager at Drury Lane, saw her in a most
fetching" gown. Charmed by her person.
he met her and was equally charmed b.
her manner. The interview resulted in he"
becoming a member OF his company, MAX
ing her debut as Juliet-surely A most
ambitious part for a first appearance
But she made "A palpable hit. became tho
talk of the town, and for four years was
a draw wing card at "Old Drury." Then
once more tho inevitable man.
The age WAS not one of nicely in NOR
ais George Ill on the throne was indeed
somewhat of prude. but his son. the
Prince of Wales, then eighteen. set the
pace for the bloods of London town and
was himself a practiced roue. Seeing
Mrs Robinson one night as Perdita in
Twelfth Night he opened an amor
Gus correspondence with her. signing him
self F1orizel-the name of another char
acter in the play. Lords had been tug
ging at her petticoats for years. but thu
heir to the throne was another matter.
In the end, after a period of clandestinn
meetings and after much sentimental
correspondence, she surrendered His
royal highness had written "Unalterable
to my Pedita through life and "Je no
change qu'en mourant' Il will change
only in DEATH. but his sentiments proved
fallacious. So. too. did a bond for Slp.-
600 payable when he attained his ma
jority, which he gave her, and cheerfully
repudiated when due.
The princes infatuation for the actress
soon became matter of common notortety.
The public was indignant. and her hold
on her audiences waned. With the morals
OF it's actresses virtuous London seldom
interfered, but it did not want the heir
to the throne squandering public FUNDS on
a woman of her class. Accordingly, when
the prince reached the age that released MIN
from parental control and gave him reve-
nues and an establishment of his own. he
took Perdita under his protection. and tie
stage of Old Drury knew her no more.
For the second time she had thrown
aside promising career-and for what!
/ George Casts Her Off.
For the husks of the prodigal. it ap-
peared before long. The prince was devo-
ton and lberality itself for while. and
all Perdita's days Were red-letter DAYS.
Her gowns and equipages excited at once
the admiration OF the lElNoipuS l.i'
pious Reproduction of the virtuous. Riding
in Rotten Row. she had the ineffable
| joy OF seeing the hats Of the courtiers
fairly sweeping the gravel In their num-
| bic salutations to the reigning favortte.
Then there came a letter from George, IN
which all was dimmed by the halefui
phrase, I'VE must meet no more. ana
| the whole sky went black for Perdlta.
Never could she get an explanation OF
this brutal termination of their relations
Charles Fox persuaded the blackguard
prince to settle $500 year on her. and
| a letter from George III seems to ind
cate that she received a lump sum or
S25 600 besides In some way she lived
with about as much splendor as though
still under his protection.
But II was the old fable of La Cigale.
The cold and cruel winter came inevitably
upon the poor, pretty butterfly. Good
looks and lovers faded together. In De
cember. 1890, she died after cruelty
painful illness, and the prince, whose Ii
| tie. 1.-The first gentleman in Europe" was
| always spoken with a note OF satire. re-
| ceived at her death a lock of gray hair.
of which he made jest. and deposited
with a large number of similar trophies
of his favorite chase.