The Washington times., 1921-03-30

the famous Mrs. Potter noticed the
run OF bad luck that slowly but
surely overlook the lovely American.
The peak of her success had been
reached seemingly, and she started
down the slope to comparative OBJ
livion.
What a change from those days of
her girlhood and young wifehood in
America, when her adoring audience
was one little girl, the daughter,
Fiji" Of whom family friends relate
that she used to toddle about after
her beautiful mother and sit at her
eide with devotion in her baby eyes.
But the wife of James Brown Pot
ter was irked by his comparative pow
erty. His small income was not
enough for the talented belle he had
married. And she had a gift for act
ing and often performed at private
theatricals.
"'Ostler Joe" Incident.
Reciting "'Ost1er joe" poem OF .
man who forgives a faithless wife,
Mrs. Potter caused a furore in the
New York home Of William c. Whit
ney, Secretary OF the Navy under the
first Cleveland Administration.
For this Mrs. Potter was widely
censured, but also admired.
Kyrle Bellew, handsome young
actor, met Mrs. Potter about this
time. Bellew was a matinee idol of
those days. He became the dramatic
teacher of Mrs. Potter. her guide and
friend
James Potter was opposed to his
wife's earning her living upon the
stage, where she believed a fortune
a n Cd hAr DIT s-.z ~.
for pleasure-taken abroad with Mrs.
Paran Stevens, leader of New York
society. brought Mrs. Potter to Lon.
don, where she announced that she
would make her stage debut. This she
did in 1887, in Wilkie Collins Man
and Wife," produced at the Haymar-
ket Theater.
SUCCESS ON STAGE.
Mrs. Potter took her fortunes at
their tide and was swept along to
victories Of which she had not dream
ed. Honored by the English Queen
flattered by the Prince of Wales, she
usurped Mrs. Langtry, "the Jersey
Lily" as the late Albert Edwards
favorite.
Meantime James Brown Potter in
America was behaving with great for
titude, so his friends agreed. He did
not explain matters to little Fiji, who
did not know that her mother was
away permanently.
But Fiji grew up. She had some
day to take her place in society. And
her father at last sued for divorce, in
1900. charging "wilful desertion.' -
There were those who expected the
long suffering husband to name Kyrle
Bellew in the case, but they were dis
appointed. Potter said that no word
or dishonor would be cast at the wo-
man who was his child's mother.
How different from the principles
of the man Fiji was later to marry
James A. Stillman, who does not hesi-
tate to lay stigma upon his wife and
the mother of his children!
"FIFI- IGNORES MOTHER.
Fiji" is believed to have taken her
fathers part against her mother. II
10 said that she turned away from her
mother and would not speak to her
when the actress came to America on
one occasion.
1t was also believed to have been
one OF the most bitter trials of Cora
Potter's life that she and her daugh-
ter were estranged. Her love for
Fiji" was great, although her desire
for fame and fortune eclipsed this
lVaternal aHectlOn.
THE ICE BROKEN.
But finally meeting came about.
Mrs Potter received note from
Fiji" when the actress was PLAYING
in 1899 at Blaney's Lincoln Square
Theater. Fiji" was now married to
James A. Stillman. and was a mother.
The note read:
Dear Mama:
You must know how very much I
want to see you. But you know
how / am hedged around. You know
how you were hedged around by per-
sons who wouldn't let you do what
you wanted to. 1 want you to come
to my home and see my babies, but
1t would be unpleasant for either Of
us to meet there. Won't you meet
me at the bandstand in the park to-
morrow morning AT eleven? II you
Will, please wear two of thesk or
chids over your heart. Fiji"
Poor Mrs. Potter! She had to wear
an Identification mark of two orchids
over her heart so that the daughter
she had deserted, now Mrs. James A..
Stillman, could know her at sight
The two met, so ft is said, in n
drenching rain. There was a touch
Potter got his divorce, and in 1904
married again, a Miss May Handy Of
Baltimore.
Aid meanwhile Cora Urouhart Pot
ter, who still insisted upon calling
herself Mrs. James Brown Potter"
was planning vast production OF
"Du Barry"
DIG ENTERPRISE FAILS.
She put every cent into the forth
coming play. Costumes. scenery. man
agement, all were paid for from her
pocket. II was to be her great VEN