The Washington times., 1921-03-30

ndSc Suo~H the IdCt NNdt beAuNdls
was registered as a "tutor" and
therefore not assigned to quarters In
the hotel usually occupied by SER
wants Of wealthy guests.
ture. She was to be a great actress
manager.
"Du Barry failed.
Mrs. Potter-who shall say?--per-
haps recalled the curse pronounced In
1901 by Lady Meux.
The sweet relationship of mother
and daughter which had been re-
newed in 1899 was ended. Whether 1t
was because of the character of the
piece in which her mother had ap-
peared Is not known.
Hl-luck followed Cora Potter.
In 1904-5 she was forced into bank
ruptcy.
She appealed to Fla" who could not
help her.
FRIENDS PAID DEBTS.
Friends paid her debts. so it is ru-
mored.
One story was that the elder Still
man. father of the man who now sues
Fiji" Potter Stillman. offered to set
tie all the claims against Mrs. Potter
and give her an annuity IL she would
promise never to appear on the stage
in America. and never appear on a
music hall bill. These conditions she
refused.
Still the rumor persisted that Rock
efeller-Stillman interests were back
of Mrs. Potter. At last a stage man
ager in London sent out letters deny
ing this.
1t was no secret that James A. Still
man did not want his actress mother
i1-law about his home or social circle.
Yet Stillman does not seem today
to be antagonistic to the stage or
those who earn their living upon 1t.
no matter for how brief a time.
Times change. and customs perhaps.
After years Cora Potter retired from
the stage and took up cults. She
would sit for hours in meditation.
OF what was she thinking? Did she
achieve the calm the cults demand?
TURNS TO CULTS.
Did she mediate upon her failure
at last after years or homage and
plenty? Did she think of the time
when her daughter Fin" was formal
ly removed from her guardianship?
Mrs. Potter knew nonor. glory and
the adulation Of the crowds. She
madly in love with ner. Her gowns
widely copied. Books were dedicated
to her by their admiring authors;
music and poems were written for
her. She travelled all about the
world.
She played many parts, among
which that of Juliet was her IA
vorite. However, IL was always said
that Mrs. Potter. with all her natural
ability and talent for the stage,
would brook no criticism, and thus
did not reach such a degree of ex-
cellence in her work as Mrs. Langtry
who. although she WINGED under sharp
corrections, profited by them.
But could an angry woman's curse
really bring Ill luck on the victim
Of her wrath? And unto the second
and third generation?
1t would seem so II we Judge by
the circumstances that face us.
As IL evoked by an evil wish. Mrs.
Potter's determination to put all her
fortune into one venture. "Du Bar
ry." brought disastrous failure.
Her correspondence and friendship
with her daughter, "Fif." ceased.
The woman who had the world to
choose from, for friends love, amuse-
nent, riches and glory had to turn
for moral sustenance to the Guru
cult, which compels Its members to
sit and think" What worse fate
for the woman who set two hemis-
pheres agog with her charms?
Now the Stillman case and the
hardships Mrs. Fiji Stillman must
bear as a result Of her husbands s
charges.
DOES THE CURSE PREvAILf
What could strike more deeply at
mother-even one who neglects her
child for fame-than to know that
the daughter she loves Is accused Of
O terrible crime? And particularly
when she herself was divorced by
her husband? And that her grand
child Is called illegitimate?
Does the curse of Lady Meux hang
over all connected with Cora Urqu-
hart Potter?
Twenty years ago, just before the
curse was called down upon the ac-
tress. about the time of the reconcile
alton made in Central Park in the
rain, a writer of that period put these
questions:
"will 'Fif' Potter StilIman repeat
the career of Cora Urquhart Potter?
: would Mrs. Brown Potter desire
her daughter to follow her own
career?
luo psNJoM usIpIIuo Isu 10 lusmuop
Has Mrs. Brown Potter really no
regrets, or has she formulated for
herself false philosophy to still the
voice OF vain regret?"
Has the curse of Lady Meux extend
ed to Fiji Potter Stillman-or has
the curse of Mrs. Potter's own abap-
against herself and them both,