The Washington herald., 1913-10-19
OLD TIME PLAYER FOLKS
By HENRY A. JOHNSTON

succumbing to the persuasive arru-
ment Of Henry Clay Ford; brother Of
John T. Ford: She performed IN stock
companies for many years, turning her
attention later on to studying music,
appearing with marked success iri
opera singing leading roles in. APa-
tienee Pinafore. -Oltyette," Mas
cotte." Mikadoi@ Merry war" &C. her
entree upon the operatic stage being
in the role of Rose in the opera OF
Valerie" June 15. 1873. December 9.
1878. the initial production OF APina-
fore" In the United States was given.
the Fords later on, December 2a pro-
ducing IL in their Baltimore tkeater
with Blanche Chapman as Josephine.
The Fords secured American rights
from the authors taking the company
from Baltimore to Philadelphia, where
they sang with tremendous success for
1e5 consecutive performances. During
its run John T. Ford sent a check to
Gilbert and Sullivan for $500 for the
use of "Pinafore." receiving the fol-
lowing letter:
Alberts Mansions.
London. S. W., March g. 1879
My Dear Sir. You are the sole manager
at present who has offered us any ae.
acknowledgement Of the success of our piecs
In America, and we beg to tender you our
communication addressed as above will
always find me. am, dear sir, very
truly yours,
ARTHUR SULLIVAN.
To John T. Ford. Esq.
w. s. Gilbert wrote to the Fords tha.
their production was the most successful
OF all the presentations of the work In
this country. 1t was during this run OF
Pinafore for twenty-five weeks baby
ooy was born to Mrs. Ford, she only
losing two weeks OF that long continuous
performahce Blanche Chapman Is now
touring the country as the cabbage patch
heroine, Mrs. Wigs" meeting with
phenomenal success, looking younger
than the days when she was the youth
full Josephine.
ELIZABETH Won sTAMMITZ.
Before a large and cultured audience
tEis German tragedienne made her debut
as star on the American stage In the
English tongue. it also being the initial
Of Lady Jane Grey, by T.
and others. at the National Theater
Washington, DC, Monday evening, Oc-
tober s. 1ST. During her engagement.
Leah, Lady Macbeth, Deborah, and Mes
salina were promised, the two later be-
ing given. AS MARY Tudor in Lady
Jane Grey she showed to advantage and
was the recipient OF much applause. The
dramatist took many liberties with the
historical version of her sad
story. virtually making 1t his own crea-
ton The play had merits. the situations
were well chosen, and the dialogues
pointed. without long verbose express
sions.
In the piece she spoke English for
the first time on any stage. her voice
and its intonations reminding one Of
Janauschek. She possessed qualities
which should have brought her to the
front OF her profession Thursday
night she produced -MessaIina," adapt
I'd from the German by wildane, with
a large and expectant house. I use
he word "expectant," for the audience
was ready for a powerful rendition of
the role, although the character was
Unfamiliar to the ordinary theatergoer
The costuming was richly royal and
attractive, but the perform
inces were marred by the inability OF
he support to interpret or remember
he lines. In speaking Of the perform
ance the afternoon paper said: ITO
night she will again assume the role
'f Messalina- 1t is expected that her
support will have learned their lines
oy this time, and a very creditable per-
.ormance will be the result"
Won StammltZ was full of enthusiasm
md looked forward to her tour
through the country as one of triumph
md admiration. She never realized
Ter dream of happiness, as the plays
we're too sombre. She was also unfor-
unate in the selection OF her manage
nent- A few engagements in the large
ities with small audiences brought the