The sun., 1918-12-05
MRS. JOHN DREW,
LONG I'LL, IS DEAD
Wife of Foremost American
Actor Succumbs to a
Heart Lesion.
MARRIED % YEARS AGO
As Miss Josephine Baker She
Was a Noted Beauty and
Stage Favorite.

Mrs. John Drew, wife OF the actor
who is commonly accepted as tine
best known player In America" died
a few minutes before 8 O'clock yes
terday morning in the apartment In
the Hotel Algonquin which Mr. and
Mrs. Drew and their daughter, Mrs,
John Devereux Louise Drew. have
occupied there during the winter
months for several years.
The immediate cause OF Mrs. Drew's
death was a heart lesion and resultant
complications. which developed In re-
cent weeks. During the summer Mrs.
Drew had suffered recurrent periods
of illness at the Drew country home
in Lily Pond lane, East Hampton
l.. l. She was still very Ill last month
when the date arrived upon which
she annually closed her summer resi-
dence to return with Mr.. Drew and
their daughter to their winter home
in the Algonquin, but temporarily Mrs.
Drew had recovered sufficiently to
make the journey into town.
More than two weeks ago II be-
came apparent to her family and
physicians that her illness had reached
point which indicated that there
was little hope for her recovery. Her
husband and daughter were at her
bedside when she died.
Came From Family of Actors.
Mrs Drew will be buried in Phila-
delphia, the birthplace of Mr. and
Mrs. Drew, tomorrow. The funeral
and burial services will be private.
Besides her husband and daughter
Mrs. Drew leaves an infant grandson,
John Drew Dcvereux, who was born
TO the former Miss Louise Drew and
her husband, Lieut.. John DeYereuN.
They were married on the day Lieut..
Devereux received his commission in
the army a year ago last summer. He
is now serving at the front in France.
Mrs Drew was Miss Josephine
Baker, Philadelphia girl noted for
her beauty. Her father was the late
John Louis Baker, an actor or dlstinc-
ton, who was a close friend Of the
famous Mrs. John Drew, one OF the
most noted aetress-managers In the
mother of the John Drew. whom n
present generation has recognized as
a leader OF American actors.
The John Drew Of the present day
and Miss Baker were, owing to the
friendship between the Drew and
Baker families In Philadelphia in the
old days. r'aymates and close friends
from childhood. Mental ability and a
recognized physical charm caused Miss
Baker. as she was approaching young
womanhood, TO devote her gifts to q
stage career, whereupon she was as
| signed 10 a part in play which Mr.
Drew and his mother then were pre-
senting.
| Gave Up stage After Marriage.
/ Shortly thereafter, or not long after
Miss Baker had made her successful
stage debut, she was married TO John
I Drew, the ceremony taking place in
/ Philadelphia in 1880. Despite the
temptation to go on with a career
which had started auspiciously. Mrs.
| Drew decided upon her marriage 10
give up the stage.
The late Louis Baker, her brother
did his part to uphold the splendid
stage traditions which seem inevitably
| associated with the Drew Barrymore
Baker families. Mr.. Baker playing
many important roles admirably UP &c
the days OF his last illness n few years
ago Mrs. Drew's son-in-law. Lieut.
DevereuX. was achieving fame as ar
actor when he gave up his work TO &c
TO the firing line In Flanders.