The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19
SOME NEW BOOKS.
Dorothy Jordan.

hands OF CLARE JERRoLD, who tells Inc
STORY Of Dorothy Jordan (Brentano's),
than is the lot Of most women whose
Irregular love affairs with men OF rank
or other prominence OF position endear
them 60 che brood OF sensational biog-
raphcrs. Onhappily born, an actress In
an age when theatre women were not
exnectcd to be models of morality
mistress Of Richard Ford and then or
the Duke Of Clarence who became King
william, and herself the great-grand-
mother of a Duke, Dorothy Jordan was
in ner prime n favorito of the London
thcatrcgoing public; gay. beautiful and
gifted Mrs. Jcrrold. If credence be
granted to her discoveries OF new data,
cannot we'll be- accused OF INDUCING In
excess OF sentimental defence and with
good tscte she chronicles the actress
rather more than the mistress. The
charming Dorothy was, It, seems. no
more n light o. love than she was a
prude: she wanted honest marriage and
womb have made good wife.
OF her one contemporary wrote: 'Her
fnrc, II not exactly beautiful. was IRE
sistibly agreeable: her person and gait
were eminently elastic; her voice IN
singing perfectly sweet and melodlous,
and in speaking clear and impressive
or tho voice Hazlitt said II was "a
cordial 20 the heart, rich, full Ike inc
luscious Juice OF the rich grape" Leigh
Hunt said Her laughter is the happiest
and most natural thing on the stage;
n abe is TO laugh in the middle or
speech, II does not separate itself 30
ebruptly from her words as with most
NJ our performers.- Anon" addressed
her. in the part Of Harry Wilddir In
The Constant Couple" part that
favored the ARREST grace and hand
soonest leg seen on the stage for long
tipe":
rhy wild nots~ sveet1y thrill me hsArA
By nature taught disdainins artI
No labored sounds distort thy face
Airs done with natures simple grace
Another sentimental rhymester
rpeaking as THE Comic Muse " on
record.
And abe 10 natures own. found her such.
Nor marred the copy by n single touch
Tho finished work such high perfection bore
Art could add nothing. Nature give no mora
or the other side OF her life another
contemporary said "She was a constant
wife. an affecttonste mother and a
sincere friend, ever solicitous and or
the watch for their united comfort and
happiness" A critic OF the day, defend
ing her against detraction, spoke OF
her good qualities, her conciliatorS
temper, her engaging manners, hei
readiness to oblige and her willingness
TO assist; The open generosity OF he'
hand, tho superior liberality OF ne,
mind" II there seems in all this to-
much honeyed praise, It still must b
confessed that there Is Significance II
the selection OF qualities for note.
there is evaporation OF the degree o
her virtues. II IS still presumable tina
tHe list 90 unanimously enumerated |
fairly made up.
Some misstatements are here cor
r~cted. evidence OF the dctresss brit
date and bapLfsc.al name, Doroth
Bland. Is adduced; the history OF he
father and mother Is traced. and he
relations with the Duke are relieved c
some distortions produced by contcu
porary hlographers. harrington an
Roadcu. who edited their work wit
very kindly consideration for the fee
inrs and fame OF their royal patroi
"A now reason ia here suggested, base
urcu family matters 1.-THE death or n
infant cousin, Just baptized Doroth
Jarian1, for her adoption of the theatr
cal name of Jordan; here IL her ow
evidence as to the Dukes constant az
ceptance OF tpecunaryl benefit frol
her work, and legal proof as to the wa
in which he repaid part OF the sun
she lent him. Here from contemporar
writings IL shown why she and the DuF
parted. and why she went To Franc
Thus much new light Is thrown n
only upon the life Of Dorothy Jorda
but upon the character OF that obst
nate, erratlc, stupid, good naturcd al
inten3elv selfish king known as VILLA
"" Whoever Will may 90 into q
history OF Dorothy Jordan with weig
ing OF this new" evidence over again
rte established account; for prese
nurposes II Is the story of the woman
life that matters, and II would not ma
ter greatly II tho telling had touches
pure fiction.
Tn the register OF the Church OF
Martins IN the Fields the author fou
rbis record: December 8. 1861, tBa
tizedl Dorothy Bland, tdaughterl
Francis and Grace [Baud. bornl y
vember 22" Dates in 1852. ga and
had been suggested by earlier write
Perhaps the correct explanation
Dorothy Jordan's omission OF INFORM
ton 4. that she had no wish for peol
20 saw that she was nearly four yea
older than the Duke Of Clarence; !
Il not always been woman's priVilf
btrth?" 30 much 80 that to-day 90
Of thcm In suffrage States would rafi
sacrifice the vote than the secret
The girls mother was an actress a
probably trained ner daughter for
stage. In 1856. az ths story has o'
told by ono reminiscent j. d. Herb
IN Irish Varieties for tho Last Fl
years. sne went to Ryder. manager
Crow strcet Theatre in Dublin,
prevailed upon him to put her Old
daughter. Hester, "on." The girl mi
a wretched ruke OF her nrst appearar
RYDER decided TO give Dorothy a IT
"Oh" said the mother, Dolly would
no Use at acting. she Is but tombo
She never got over being ronp on
etere, and II was her unconquera
yivacity that won her 10 much popt
favor. later, IN time when tragedy
begun 70 pail.
Mrs. Jerrold gives Dolly an ear
start, November 3. 1893, in THE Viz
ITnmasked." The first playful knC
OF on which she appears is dated
90, 1880, when THE Governess'
acted for O'Keefe's benefit. Ryder