The Irish standard., 1918-11-16
Mary Anderson's
81 Years Of
) Retirement
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absence from my native land have but
deepened my love for its soil, its peo-
pie, and it's acts. When I
babe farewell to the stage on the eve
Of my marriage, 1t was as'irrevocable
as anything could we'll have been In
this world of change, and until the
war broke out my resolution remained
unalterable. But with the advent of
hostilities I realized that all precon.
ceived plans would have to be aban.
doned for the unprecedented needs Of
a world-war. Then it was that asked
myself, what could do to help? I
saw splendid men leaving comfortable
homes, wives and children for the hor-
rors OF war, sacrificing all they held
dear. life itself. for cause which
they believed to be just. What would
be the sacrifice of consistency on my
part compared to such sacrifices as
theirs? I thought-perhaps I had
hoped-that although a quarter of a
century had interviewed, there might
still be some left who remembered
Mary Anderson; and determined to
try If I could do my bit, with the exer-
else of what talents remained to me,
for the noble fellows who were fight
ing the great battle for the safety Of
humanity" Now read carefully the
details of what Our Mary did in fol-
lowing out her generous schemes, with
your eye on that modest insinuation
of her that some people still remem-
bered her. If Mary Anderson toured
the Republic at this moment it would
take five years for her old admirers
and the new, whom they have en-
tranced with descriptions of her
beauty and talent, to pay personal
tribute. The managers know this, and
not few of them have suggested to
her tour of America in her old plays.
Should there appear any exaggeration
in this statement, follow closely this
account Of Our Mary's adventure with
the English public.
At Her Own Village, Broadway.
First, she appeared in her own vii
lafie, called Broadway, where she pre-
sented the sleep-walking scene from
Macbeth and the balcony scene from
Romeo and Juliet, with the aid of
Lewis Waller, Ben Greet and other
actors. Her own music room was the
place, two performances were given,
one for a Red Cross hospital and the
other for the Passionists in the town,
a community which has sent many
chaplains to the front.
Next, this affair havingsproved sue.
cessful and attractive, she went to
Liverpool, where she recited ia con-
cert for a patriotic fund, and played
her favorite, Comedy and Tragedy
She writes: GAIL these performances
were great monetary successes, and
opened my eyes to what might be done
in the future. 1t seemed very strange
to me, when acting Comedy and Trag.
edy, to be doing exactly the same
thing I did twenty-five years ago,
when King Edward, Alma-Tadema,
Gladstone, Ruskin, Joachim, Clara
Schumann, Sir Frederick Leighton
and other celebrities were in the audi
ence; but the new audience received
the play with the same understanding
and appreciation as they did. Acting
again Proved so natural to me that l
could hardly realize I had ever left
the STAGE"
Third, she played Rosalind in the
open under the direction of Ben Greet,
at a place called spetchley Park, the
homo of an old Catholic family. Al
little stream separated the audience
from the actors, the play was given
at twilight and she admitted that she
enjoyed the acting, which she thought
never to enjoy again. Wherever the !!
name Of Mary Anderson was announc.
ed that particular entertainment could
not accommodate the public. Conse.
quently she went about everywhere,
reciting and giving short scenes from
her plays until she was invited to
London.
Fourth, the Princess Louise invited
her to appear for the benefit of hos.
pital for the wounded, and she gave
Pygmalion and Galatea at His Males.
TVS to a house which represented
ten thousand dollars for the wounded
soldiers. Members of the royal fam
lily were present, guard of honor |
from the hospital was present and
gave her a bunch of Madonna lilies, |
she greeted them out in the big Hay
market square, and one admirer roar
ed to the crowd, God bless Our
Mary"
Fifth, for four weeks she appeared