The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-24
SWEET NELL OF OLD DRURY

Pepys. who had an eye for beauty, bur-
ried around to the stage door the first
time he saw her, and, although Incum-
bered by his wife. writes Il kissed her
and so did my wife, and a mighty pretty
soul she is"
At the end of that days entry he
writes that he enjoyed the days doings
very much. specially kissing Nell.'
Sir Walter Scott, reading this passage,
remarked dryly:
1T is just as well that Mrs. Pepys
was present on this occasion
But sweet Nell was not for such lowly
men as Pepys. After an amour or two
with the nobility she attracted the at
tention of the King, who Immediately
sent around a message, the tenor or
which was:
Won't you come and play with me?"-
Nell came.
The King. who, whatever his other
faihngs may have been, was never ac-
cused of being a short sport, gave her
beautiful house, gave her plenty OF
money and invited her to court balls to
Get Mrs Charles Stuart, his wife
Nelly left the stage for good and Mr..
Pepys went home. muttering sadly;
What use. fair Nell, to pine and sigh!
With yon the King appears ace-high.
Nell's chief rival in the affections Of
the trifling monarch was French
woman, whom the King created Duchess
of Portsmouth,. But the French woman
was cold and naughty, while the King
loved Nell for her good humor and for
her wit. She flashed back saucy repair
tee at him. and Charles enjoyed 1t
nightly.
One day the King was nightly
pleased with a concert given at the pal
ace, and one of the women OF the court
suggested that he might make the per-
formers a handsome gift to show his
appreciation. The King answered that
lie had no money. and asked the Duke
of York IL he had any.
Not more than a guinea or two" the
Duke replied.
odds fishr Nell Gwyn broke in.
what company am I got into?n
The King shouted with glee, and the
story, told about London. proved of
great benefit to the local gin mills
Everybody in town rushed out TO drink
Nel1's health. except Mrs. Charles
Stuart. Her opinion will not be set
down here.
Bye and bye. in the fu1lness of time
and with his sins heavy upon him.
Charles the Second died, and Nell, 1T
Is said, really mourned him sincerely
She had been an influence for mercy
always with the King, and 1t was at
her request that the King had founded
a home for disabled British soldiers at
Chelsea. The British people felt none
of the bitterness toward Nell Gwyn
that subjects so often cherish against
a favored mistress, and the King on his
deathbed did not forget winsome Nell.
Let not poor Nelly starve," he told
his brother, and James the Second
honored the request. and paid NelPs
debts and gave her enough to live on
Iii November. 1887, however, Nell Gwyn
died at the age OF 81. Her will is
curiously human and touching docu-
ment; all her old servants were re-
membered, little requests were made to
this friends and that. Out Of her small
fortune $500 was set aside to relieve
the poor of the parish who might be
in distress, and especially amy poor
debtors in prison" Nelly, for all her
faults, had much that endeared her to
the men and women who knew her,
and DR.. Thomas Tension, who after
ward became Archbishop of Canter-
bury, did not consider himself too holy
to preach her funeral sermon.