The New York herald., 1921-05-23

In walk through Greenwich Village
along Hudson street one passes a plot OF
ground now named Hudson Park which
in the days when New York was young
was known as st. Johns Burying
Ground Within its confines rested the
remains OF many who In their lifetime
were numbered among the favorites
OF fortune. The little Gods acre was
originally the centre of quiet and peace
full surroundings. and though in the
ticalIy uncared for. yet fine old shade
trees used to cast their shadow over the
crumbling stones whose inscriptions
told OF the virtues Of the. departed.
Rambling vines half hid totterine
shrine, while struggling rose bushes
grown wild fowered among the neg
lected graves. In the spring 1t was an
attractive spot and walk through It's
weed grown grounds would have dis
closed to the visitor many name which
had been famous In the world of the
theatre.
In the company which appeared at
the John Street Theatre on the evening
Of February 26. 1896. was Mrs. Elisa
beth Johnson, whose reputation was as
great in Great Britain as in America
Critics praised her dignity of carriage.
her exquisite taste In dressing. and her
acting was of such tragic nature as
to cause her to be referred to as the
Siddons OF America. Mrs. johnson died
In 1880 and was buried in st, Johns
mains was inscribed: Sacred to the
memory Of Mrs. Elisabeth Johnson. Also
two infant children of Thomas and
Eleanor IIilson. Also Mrs. Eleanor
A. Hilson. born November IL. 1900
died April 2. 1897"
Mrs. Hilson was the daughter of Mrs
johnson and the wife of one Of the
great comedians of the day. She was
said to have possessed great beauty
and merit as an actress, and to have
been gifted with a voice of surpassing
excellence, $50 light, merry and joyous
so sympathetic in its tone and quality
that it affected every hearer and COM
PEELED the audience to Join in unison with
her" She had handsome and expressive
features. with rich auburn hair
She made her debut at the old Park
Theatre when 16 years of age and re.
manned at that house for some fourteen
years, becoming the idol of the town
The death Of her mother affected her
to such a degree that she retired from
the stage. returning a few years later
to the scenes OF her former triumphs
only to find that with the passing OF
her youth she was no longer a popular
favorite. In 1897 she passed away and
was laid beside her mother. A writer
of the day in speaking of her death
said: "As a woman she was pure, gen.
tie and amiable; and she had the rare
fortune Of passing without tho slightest
stain or reproach through walk OF life
peculiarly infested by the slanderers OF
female reputation"
In a far corner Of tho little burying
ground was a large slab covering the
grave Of one Of tho earliest actresses
OF the American stage. In letters al
most obliterated by time was engraved
Sacred to the memory OF Mrs. Frances
Hodgkinson, who died September 27
1903, aged 80 years" Then followed
one OF the few poetic epitaphs to be
found in the yard:
Moro worth and virtue ne'er adorned
breast
Than dwelt in hers. who now lies hero
at rest:
A tender mother and a faithful wife,
She passed adored through every path Of
life;
Her infant children feel the Christening
rod.
Her husband yields an angel to his God.
Mrs. Hodgkinson was a member of the
John Street Theatre company, of which
her husband was manager, In 1898, max
Ing her first appearance In this country
In January OF that year. Before her
marriage she was well known on the
English stage as Miss Brett. She was
considered a capable and versatile ac-
tress, and writers Of the day described
her as being "a very fair, light haired
blue eyed woman, SURPRISING her con-
tesnporaries in rustic comedy and sing
ing parts, and equalling most of them in
the general range of the drama"
Not Iar dlstant was lHc bTdSe oL Jo-
seph Tyler. who made his debut In
America. at the John Street Theatre in
February, 1895, an occasion made more
notable by the first appearance in this
country Of Jefferson the Second, grand
father OF the Joseph Jefferson Of RIP
Van Wrinkle" Mr.. Tyler was deemed a
"fine looking man, of dignified and gen.
tIemanly manners, possessing a voice OF
rare excellence, most accomplished
singer, and as an actor of elderly parts
surpassed all other actors of his time.