Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-23
Hopper
Continued From First Page.)

Word of his death was sent to the
actors widow, Mrs. Lillian CHASER Hop
per. singer of Oakland, Calf. She
was , his sixth wife.
Protested Being Put TO Bed.
Trooper to the last, Hopper pro-
tested being put TO bed as sick
man.
Tell them I'm resting, not sick"
doomed the tall, gangling man.
He sat. fully dressed, on the edge
of the hospital bed at IL o'clock
last night, smoking his pipe and
reading newspaper.
Sec you tomorrow, Doc" he said.
81 never sleep until 3 am. anyway.
Run along, while I see what the
Cards did,
He beamed at the pretty nurse.
Hopper was put to bed later and
slept fitfully. After dawn he seemed
to have trouble getting his breath.
The nurse called an inferno.
When he reached the bed Casey
had struck out.
His heart was gone. he was
sick body with mind and spirit
that would not admit it," said DR..
H. P. Boughan.
Once Studied Law.
AS one of the great comedians Of
the American stage. Hopper achieved
fame in a profession other than that
for which he was intended by his
parents.
His father was lawyer and was
ambitious that some day his son might
join him in the practice of that pro-
fession. That plan met with the
approval of his mother and both
we're abetted in the purpose by one
of Americas most illustrious lawyers.
Joseph H. Choate, a warm personal
friend of the Hoppers and godfather
Of their offspring.
De Wolf Hopper went through with
the plans SO far as his preliminary
education was concerned and to the
extent of spending six months in
Mr.. Choate's office. About that time
he took part in an amateur perform
ance of Conscience" at the old Four
tenth Street Theater, New York.
After that he manifested a restless
ness and distate for law and his
distinguished godfather advised his
parents to give the boy a chance in
the theater.
1t was not long after that De
Wolf Hopper's father died and with
money received from the estate, the
son organized his own theatrical COM
pany. 1t was called the Criterion
Comedy Co., with which Hopper made
his professional debut at Talbot
Champneys in "Our Boys" at New
Haven, Conn, October 2, 1878.
The venture proved a failure, but
Hopper emerged from it with some
of his money and his unbounded con-
fidence intact. He then financed and
managed a tour through the West
and South of a company playing
lone Hundred Wives" the stranding
of which ended his career as a man
ager.
Began Voice Culture.
He then was engaged by Edward
Harrigan for a part in The Black
bird" at the conclusion of which he
began training his bass voice with
the idea of entering grand opera.
That was interrupted when Daniel
Frohman engaged him in 1884 for
the Madison Square Theater Co., for
which he played in Hazel Kirke"
and May Blossom" He resumed
his vocal training until the Fall of
1885, when he joined the McCaull
Opera Co., with which for several
seasons he shared honors with Digby
Bell and Jefferson De Angels.
Called upon to- play an important
role on short notice, he did so well
that ne was Immediately made the
comedian of the company.
Thereafter he continued to enhance
his reputation and by 1890 was, recog-
nized as one of the brilliant stars of
the comic opera stage, appearing that
year as the star in Castles in the
Air"
The comedian, whose full name
was William De Wolf Hopper, was
born in New York, March 80, 1858,
the son Of John and Rosalie De Wolf
Hopper. His paternal grandfather
was Taton Hopper, famous Quaker
philanthropist and abolitionist. On
his mothers side he was descended
from the widely known De Wolf FAM
lily of Colonial times, which traced
its lineage back to the eleventh Gen.
fury.
Married Six Times.
While achieving fame as a comedian
and comic opera star, Mr.. Hopper
attracted attention by his
marital experiences. He married six
times and figured In five divorces.
His first wife was Ella Gardiner, Q
cousin on his mothers side. and his