New-York tribune., 1922-06-17
Stage Folk Give
Lillian Russell
Last Farewell
5000 Associates at the Hip
pOdrome i'm Services for
Beloved Actress, Hailed
as Queen of Them All"
Tribute by Mrs. Harding
''Radiatcd Sunshine and
Happiness Through Her
Life" Says the First Lady

4 life size portrait Of Lillian Russell.
surrounded by American Beauty roses
and palms. stood in the center OF the
Hippodrome stage yesterday afternoon
while 5000 theatrical people. many
with tear-dimmed eyes. paid tribute to
"the queen of them ALL
Francis Wilson. who presided over
the service. summed up the love OF the
profession for Miss Russell
we adorcd Lillian Russell" he said.
mot alone because she was beautiful.
but because she was brave and gencr-
Gus. and because in later years she de.
Tended the rights Of her comrades IN
times when such loyalty was costly.
Farewell, Lillian Russell-yet not
farewell. The legend Of your beauty.
the charm Of your personality. are
destined TO dwell with Us. through the
long, long years
Messages OF tribute from Mrs. Hard
ing. wife Of the President. who was a
personal friend OF Miss Russell. and
from James +. Davis. Secretary Of La
Dor, were read.
Mrs. Harding's Tribute
"She was q noble. lovable woman.
who radiatcd sunshine and happiness
through her whole life. which ended
all too soon." was Mrs. Harding's mes
sage.
The formal culogy was delivered by
De Wolf Hopper. who told Of Mss
Russcils kindness % young actresses.
OF her own success after vicissitudes
and her FINAL triumph N the eyes OF
the world. so that she had done more
than any other person 20 dissipate the
prejudice which years ago prevailed
against our profession
The fact that the Lillian Russell
Moore Of Pittsburgh was the owner
and user o. a weil-thumbod Bible was
revealed in letter from the Rev.
Edward s. Travers. who ofiic.atcd NJ
ncr funeral This letter was read BY
the Rev Archimandrite Patrick. OF the
Cathedral o. s.. Nicholas, who Is a
former actor and member OF tho
Actors Equity Association, under
whose auspices the service yesterday
was arranged.
"it should surprise no ono that n
great stage fnvorite was tho possessor
" n veii-thumbcd Bible" ne said after
thc church arc more closely akin than
oco,fe always realized. Snc served in
a ministry of happiness which some OF
us nigat well emulate. The world is
20 FUN Of sorrow and suffering that
those o. YOU who can entertain are
lust az sacred as we OF the church. and
I tAink that God is better pleased with
happiness than with the whining and
weeping about being miserable sin
ners.'
Marines Fire a Nolley
Tho portrait Of Miss Russell was
Hanked by squads q United States
soldiers. sailors and marines. The
marines. for whom Miss Russell re-
cruitcd during the war. fred volley
on the stage al the conclusion or the
service. and their bugler sounded taps.
Musicians. who rad played with Miss
Russell. composed an orchestra, which
gave its services with the consent Of
the musicians union. and n quartet,
conpcscd OF Scott Walch, Belle story.
Sarah Edwards and Herbert Waterous
led in the singing OF Rock of Ages
and others OF her favorite hymns.
on the stage beside Francis Wilson
and De Wolf Hopper were Miss FLOR
ence Reed. the official representative
Of tho Actors Equity Association, al
Miss RusselVs funeral; Marjorie Ram
beau, Mary Shaw. Grant Mitchell.
Amelia Bingham. Ernest Truck, John
Golden. Allan pollack. Louise Groody.
Daniel Frohman. William Courtenay,
Virginia Harmed, Will II. Hays, Louise
T. Shipman. Z. T. Rice. Lew Fields
Joe Weber. William Collier, Julian
Mitchell. Fritz Williams and David
Warield.
A tribute 20 Lillian Russell will be
given A. the Keith Theaters throughout
fbc eountrv tomorrow morning. AZ
tho Palace Thoater in New York the
spcakers will be Senator William
Calder and Representatives STEPHEN H.
G. Porter and Frank MonoeN'