The Washington times., 1916-03-20
CLARA MORRIS, So,
FINDS JOY IN life
Mother, SO, "Restored by Mira
cIe," Brings the Aged Act
ress Happiness.

NEW YORK. March 1o.--Ciara Morris
sat through her birthday in the room
she rarely leaves. high in the oId-fash-
Toned house that for years has been
her world.
The March wind roarcd bleakly at her
windows. Almost at her; feet the waves
OF the sound broke against the shore
OF Whitestone. Long Island.
None or those who still live. among
tho thousands who were once her
| friends. made their way through the
self-Imposed seciusion In which she has
wrapped herself. even on her sixty
ninth birthday.
Thrilled At LIES Sweetness.
Quite alone. save for those who dwell
with her in the old house-the last bit
OF her former estate-the great actress
OF former generation watched the sun
on the waves. listened to the noise OF
the wind. and thrilled at the sweetness
life held for her.
For her mother, restored by a mir
acIe," sat beside her. Ninety-three
years old is Mrs. Morris-ninet three.
ana stricken all last winter by paralysis
and pneumonia.
She was well enough yesterday to ar
range the flowers for her daughters
birthday. That was what made Clara
Morris sixty-ninth birthday happy.
Death One Act Of Tragedy.
Only a nurse and a maid live In the
house with the actress and her mother.
/, She has no other close relatives. Her
, husband, Frederick c. Harriott. died
PlnaN ma
act in the real tragedy of the woman
who had portrayed 80 many behind the
| footliShts.
Hosts OF men and women praised
and admired Clara Morris in the hey
day OF her fame. The few whose lives
she touches now love her for an
other reason. Illness has not con-
quered her spirit, Misfortune has
not dlmmed her optimism. sorrow has
not weakened her bravery. Thousands
shouted praises OF her Camille" A
few speak reverently OF her life.
Ill and weak. she still writes OF
| the stage life that once was hers.
She is not blind. nor even threatened
ed That much has been spared her.
Actress Birthday Message.
This Is Clara Morris message to
those who remembered her birthday:
my dear sir: am truly sorry not
to see you. but you will be kind and
forgive.
"T am thinking that our old friend
Damocles has received lot OF un.
deserved sympathy, for the presence
of the sword over ones head--after
| the first terror-simply gives Keen
err SAVIOR to life-intensifies Its sweet
ness and beauty and makes us con-
scious OF each separate JOY.
"All of which means that the doc
| tors claim a miracle has given me
back my. beloved mother. who at
nlnety-three, has come through
stroke and pneumonia and has Just
with her own hands arranged flow
happy, and other troubles loom dim
~ through a golden haze.
81 thank you for remembering me
! so kindly on this sixtyeninth birth
day Uhat sounds so big and feels
20 little) and I am eyer grstsfully
Still Young In Soul.
! II is a long way from the triumph
and fame OF the star of a score OF
plays in the seventies and eighties
to the woman. old In years and young
| of soul. who wrote the above-a long
way and a bitter.
| Financial reverses. illness, the death
OF her husband, the fear-now pass
ed-of blindness. the still recent
dread of utter poverty; all these she
through, golden haze" at life and
be so happy"
So. she sat with her old mother
spared to her by miracle" under
the Sword OF Damocles." boding she
alone knows what terrors for the fu-
ture. undaunted. cheerful. watching
the white gulls veer and sail between
the blue water and the bluer sky.