The Washington herald., 1914-03-08
FORBES-ROBERTSON
In HIS OWN HOME
Will Retire at Zenith of His Success in
Order to Enjoy His Three
Little Daughters.


When Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson
announced his intention of retiring from
the stage at the end Of his American
tour in 1915. he was beseiged by hun
dreds of interviewers who wanted to
know his reason. In his well-known
modest fashion. he reminded these men
and women OF the forty years Of active
service he has devoted to the theater. He
expressed his wish to leave the foot
lights at the zenith of his powers as an
artist and as an actor, and after speak,
ing Of his recent birthday which made
him sixty years old, he said, And there
are the children
The true character of a great man ID
shown in his home-life. In that quaint,
oId-fashioned English house In Bedford
square, London. which was the home OF
his father before him, Forbes Robertson
finds his greatest happiness The worn.
faded exterior. so like hundreds and hum
dreds of such typical London houses
gives but little keynote to the charming.
simple but highly artistic home inside
II. Forbes -Robertson's house. full of art
treasures. a fine library and mementoes
Of HIS stage successes, is above all IN
vaded by the atmosphere Of this strong
personality.
And 1t IL here and at his country home
that Forbes-Robertson looks longingly
forward to spending the rest Of his life
after he has bade farewell to the thea
ter. Forbes-Robertson and his wife, Ger
trude Elliott. the American actress. have
three charming daughters, Blossom. Jean
and Chloe, who in their parents alb
sence pass the time, outside of school
hours. In the acting and even writing
OF homemade plays The eldest. Blos-
sorl-slender and exquisite as her fow-
er-name-goes TO boarding school and has
already made hostages to fame and for
tune as a budding playwright. She once
submitted the MSS. of q drama to her
father for immediate production, which
he describes as most advanced and
quite Maeterlincken' In tone and treat
ment. For instance, Shouts are heard
of stage" and one Of the characters
naively asks-"whats thatr'
Says stage IL Noble Calling.
The second daughter, Jean. has an
amazing head of hair and great original
ity. At the age Of two she already
showed precocious signs of becoming a
French scholar. After hearing her elder
sisters frequent exercises with the
French governess, once she held up lit
tie finger which she had hurt and said
''Regardes." just to show she was get
ting on. thus following in the footsteps
OF her famous f.ther, whose early holi-
days were spent in a presbytery near
Rouen. At ne time Of the announce
ment Of Forbes-Robertson's knighthood.
Jean brought a letter to her father to
post Immediately at once" 1t was ad-
dressed to the King and said: Dear
King. can't / please see my daddy
knighted?' But as the famous actor e1-
planned to his ambitious little daughter.
No ladies are admitted" on such occA-
sions and so the King never received the
appeal.
Baby Chloe ma: es a picture sweet
enough to rival the widely-heralded one
of Baby Stuart" She shows a striking
resemblance to both father and mother,
according to her various moods. which
appear to have the variety and versstil-
ity Of Hamlet" but has not yet shown
any signs Of becoming a star actress dur
ing the brief period in which she has
appeared on the worlds stage.
During rbes-Robertsons phenomenal
" successful farewell London season al
Drury Lane Theater not the least inter
ested spectators were these three chill
dren who watched their father and moth
er with rapt attention.
Forbes-Robertson has oftentimes been
asked IL he intends that his children shall
go on the stage. lie has always replied
that II is for them to decide. After
retire, my wife will continue her public
work on the STAGE. II my daughters
show genuine ability for the theater,
shall not oppose their wishes. II Is a
great and noble calling and / am proud
of having been able to devote my life to
its good work"