Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-12
FAMOUS ACTRESSES
Arlington.

The famous transformation of 'sNose- gay Fan," gutter child, street flower girl, kitchen maid and menial of the lowest order, into France Abingdon. foremost actress of her time, model for women of fashion and toast of London, is one of the greatest stories in all art. For it was the art that shone through out the career of this wonderful woman. while the woman underlying it under went little change.
 Called by Garriclz "the worst woman in the worid,' and, at the same time, the best actress, she literally ascended the heights from the lowest depths. There lived in Drury Lane, in I737, a retired common soldier who ran a cob bler's shop. And in that year was born to the cobbler and his wife a daughter yards and streets, selling flowers and running wild generally. Gamin nick named her ''Nosegay Fan"
 Where or how this illiterate bit of hu- manity acquired the knowledge one does not know, but she picked up snatches of Shakespeare and would stand on the ta- bles of taverns and recite them to drink ing men. Then she deserted the streets and became servant for a French mil- liner. She secured pots and pans and was a typical scullion. She became stage struck and sought an opportunity to act. She found it, and appeared at the Haymarket in 1755 as Miranda in 'sThe Busy Body" She was pale and snub- nosed, but she had a trim figure. She progressed well, and one soon found her playing Sylvia in The Re. cruiting Officer; Prince Prettyman ir The Rehearsal, and she even had the nerve to tackle Desdemona From the Haymarket she went to Bath, where she
 became reigning belle. James Lacy brought her to Drury Lane theater as
 Lady Pliant in '"The Double Dealers, and she married bugler named Abing ton from whom she had taken music lessons. They quarreled irnmediatel,
 and she cast him off with a pension
 which, as she was = liking only $7.50
 week, could not have been large
 She ran away to Dublin, where sh, Il became a ruling favorite, playing vart
 ous roles of both tragedy and comedy Comedy was her strong element. Sh brought all Dublin society to her feet
 Women of fashion besought her to shoG them how to dress and be Beautiful, an, she held place in the hearts of tn Irish that she had never dreamed poss!
 ble. It was her first real success, an,
 she remained for five years as the ia vorite of the Dublin folk.
 Her parts ranged from Portia to tn Widow Belmour in The Way to Kee Him" and to theTollicking Kitty in 'eHig l Life Below Stairs" Garrick heard Q her success and sent for her to com
 back to London, offering s25 a weel
 She returned and began her really grea
 career, continually quarreling with Gar rick and other memDers Of the com v pany. She went to Paris for a rest all
 came back with the demand for doubl
 salary. She got it.
 Then her greatest triumph cam, Young readers of American history re 2 call a General John Burgoyne who play
 ed an important part in our own Reyc
 lutionary war, albeit not a very luck s one for England. He was a better pla5 Q wright than he was<a soldier, and h
 wrote for Abingdon Lady Bab of Al
 ington," in which she had the title par t Burgoyne wrote the play wonderfun "a and it fitted the actress like a glove. . paved the way to the work that brougl her greatest fame. She had just tur,
 ed 40 when she created the part
 Lady Teazle in '''The School for Sea, ( dal." Modern lovers of the play wt g remember that this was May 8. TIT r. and that the greatest actress who ey
 had the role is said to have been u first
 Lsl As age came, she went backward ra le idly. Her retirement came in 1790, al VI she lived like a plain housewife, playil
 cards, which cost her considerable mo
 ey, and reyerting largely to her ear
 type. She died March 4, 1915, with u S general verdict of having been a que sf in the mimic world and a chamberna L. in the real one.