Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

Ing. Would the Orury Lane contract
be renewed? 1t WAS not. Garrick re-
tired and the new managers curtly in
formed the Siddons couple that they
were not wanted.
Travelled From City to City.
The couple travelled from city to city,
town to town, playing In small thea
tiers. In Liverpool they became ac-
quainted with Elizabeth Inchbald. In
Manchester John Kemble, aged 10,
joined them. In York in April and
May. 1777, they had some success. IN
October, ITS, they arrived at Bath TO
This last was q step up the ladder as
well as q new step toward London. 1t
was 1.-The most distinguished theater in
England outside London" Mrs. Sid
dons' salary was three pounds a week
and her benefit brought her husband
146 pounds. They played at both Bath
ard Bristol. going back and forth by
coach.
bath may fairly claim Mrs. siddons
as, dramatically, its child. To. Mrs.
Siddons Bath was a college"
The standards of the house were exact
ing and the young actress meant to
surpass them. She studied her char
acters at night when all the domestic
cares and business Of the day were
over" It Is said, by the way, that her
ease In committing parts to memory
was prodigious." She possessed the
priceless gift Of concentration" "A
fortnight Of rehearsals Sufaced her at
all times, even for the biggest part"
The nrSt Bath season closed June /,
1779; the second began September 81
Of the same year. Mrs. Siddons was
very popular. Among her admirers was
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who
made 1t her duty to spread the fame of
the star wherever she went. Hard years
were these at Bath, but "unremitting
perseverance in study and practice
gradually brought Mrs. Siddons'
art to perfection" Her benefits brought
her husband considerable sums in $780,
1882. At last it was announced that
she was leaving and it was advertised
that at her final appearance she would
exhibit her three reasons" for going.
The three reasons were little Henry,
aged 8, and his small sisters, Sally, z,
and Maria, 3. The house rang with
sincere applause and sympathetic
laughter as the three children were led
downstage by their beautiful mother.
but this final night at Bath was the
end Of q long and arduous chapter in
Mrs. Siddons' life.
First Night Was Triumph.
Drury Lane again. But she approach
ed the house without fear. Nervous
she always was just before the rise of
the curtain, but not nervous for cause.
Her first night was triumph, stu
pendous triumph. London went mad
about her.
The remainder Of her story may be
briefly summarized. For 20 years she
filled alternately the Drury Lane and
the Covent Garden Theaters. Her act
ing of Lady Macbeth and Queen Kath-
arine were and still are internationally
famous. She played other roles now
forgotten, maintained herself in the
van of her profession by earnest devo-
ton to its exactions, enjoyed the favor
of the court, occupied a fitting place
in society, bore three more children,
kept her name unspotted In day
when standards were not very high,
and remained to the last a woman no
less remarkable for her genius than
for her beautiful character. She was
painted by all the great painters Of
her time: Reynolds picture, THE
Tragic Muse" is universally known and
appreciated Her friends included every
man and every woman worth meeting
in England in her generation. Lord
Byron said Of her: she was the beau
ideal of acting: her tones were super
human; her power over the heart
supernatural" She said of herself Is
her life closed: II was an honest act
ress, and ut all times endeavored to do
my best"
Some sadness, necessarily, there was
for her She lost four of her children
one in infancy, and Henry, Sally and