Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-31
Former Opera Star Is Now
Inmate of Workhouse

One of the cheeriest residents in the
Fulham road workhouse is a woman OF
seventy-three years who once delighted
London on the operate stage.
Under the name of "Lennox Grey
she played many leading parts at the
West End theaters in the seventies
to-day her frail hands are still making
music.
Almost any afternoon you may see a
little crowd of eager listeners gathered
round an untuned piano in the work
house sitting room: "Lennox Grey" is
playing old tunes beloved in her girl
hood, and her thin, trembling voice
still strangely sweet, sometimes sings
the old Victorian words.
"LennoX Grey" in private life is Mrs
Louisa Gibson.
She is deeply interested in the coming
revival of the Gilbert-Sullivan opera,
because she knew Sullivan long before
he was knighted.
He was dear man." she said, and
a light came into her eyes as her MEM
ory went back to the days of her bril-
liant triumphs.-
Il was introduced to him at the
theater he told me he liked my speak
ing voice and that 1 ought to be able
to sing. Ultimately he asked me to &c
to his home in Pimlico, where he gave
me several lessons.
He was devoted to his mother in
deed 1 do not think have ever met a
man to whom his mother mattered SC
much. All that learned of singing ]
owe to Arthur Sullivan. -.
MY mother was an actress" Mrs
Gibson continued, and as a small child
played several parts, but I did not
take up acting seriously until after my
return from India in 1868. 1 appeared
at the Princess, the Olympic and the
Adelphia, all under the management OF
Chatterton and Webster.
fI played in Monte Cristo' and in
many other dramas, until 1 went to the
old Philharmonic. Then went on tour
Snd afterward came to the Alhambra
where we did opera for four years.
played with Julia Mathews and Harry
Paulton, and then went to South Africa
with a variety company
I'VE were very jolly crowd, and
if 1 had not been unfortunate enough
to get rheumatic fever l should have
been happy enough. But the company
went north and left me to fate, and /
was five months in hospital.
There were no pawnbrokers in Cape
Town in those days, and all my effects
were sold. But l got home by working
my passage as a stewardess. There
were only two women on board, so I
had a very easy time.
In my days a chorus girl was lucky
to get S. a week. She never got more
than S6.25. The $3.50 a week which /
got at the old Philharmonic was con-
sidered to be a star salary in those
days-for such work an actress would
not get less than $3.50 a week to-day. =
Mrs. Gibson came to the Fulham road
workhouse only a few days ago.
Il was for some time in an institu-
ton where 1 was not at all happy" she
said. 80 I ran away and came to
the union, and everyone has been very
kind to me here. II could persuade
the master to get the plano tuned thai
would be a great joy. I think I shall
settle down very happily here"
There was a pause for a moment
Then Mrs. Gibson said:
"Of course, it is a little lonely. II
would make me very happy to come
across someone who knew me years
ago and has not forgotten Lennoy
Grey 1 loved the life, and should
like to have visit from someone in
the profession, for I cannot get about
much now. But there, there! One
must not expect too much"
Underneath her skirts "Iennox
Grey keeps a big black bag. 1t holds
old photographs and letters and little
souvenirs-all that remains to her OF
star