Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06
Drama>Music
Stars Won
Fame Here
Wilton Lackaye
And Carroll
Institute
By John CIagen Proctor,

The recent death of May Irwin
as she was known theatrically. or
Mrs. Kurt Eisfelt off the stage-not
only brought to mind this actress
as she appeared Eefore Washington
audiences years ago, but also re-
called many of her contemporaries,
whom We frequently waited at the
gallery door to see on Saturday
lnatinees. after we we're married
which was. of course. for economy
sake. though we willingly paid full
price. for orchestra seats, to see
the same people before that impor-
tant event took place. But money
was not growing on trees during
the Dos or COS. any more than it
Is today. and those who hoped to
break even with the world, or save
a penny or two for a rainy day.
had to be economical and thrifty,
just as they must do today in order
to keep out of debt and off public
relief.
May Irwin was careful in money
matters, and died wealthy. Others
could have and should have, done
the same, but in many cases, ap-
parently, preferred to spend their
declining days in the Actors Home
There were two of the Irwin sis
ters-May and Flo. They were born
in Whitley, Ontario. Canada, and
were daughters of Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Campbell. They made their
first appearance in Buffalo, N. Y,
in 1875. Two years later they were
"discovered" by Toney Pastor, an
old-time producer. But in WASH
ington they became popular in the
COS. and the writer recalls Flo Irwin
when she starred at the Academy
of Music, at Ninth and D streets
in The Widow Jones'" This
was during the week of March Z,
1898. Flo Irwin died December 81,
1880, at Los Angeles, Calf.
One of May Twins best plays was
"Courted Into Court" which she
brought out in New York in 1897,
and which was shortly afterward
produced here at the Columbia The
alter with Marie Dressler in the
stellar role Later. when Miss Irwin
became a vaudeville attraction, she
also gave scenes from this same
play, with John c. Rice as leading
man. She also sang Negro dialect
songs. a favorite being The Bully
of the Town" In 1898 she came
to the National Theater in THE
Swell Miss Fitzwell' during the week
of March 7, 1898.
There is probably very good rea-
son why Miss Irwin saved her money.
She had the good fortune-for in
many instances it is good fortune
to be born poor. Her father died
in Canada when the Irwin girls were
mere tots, and the mother and her
two daughters were left practically
stranded. What to do and where to
go was the problem Mrs. Campbell
must solve, and like many another
brave woman under similar circum-
stances, she did not hesitate to make
move, for something had to be
done.
Her daughter had talent. At least
she thought so, and her conclusions
proved correct. Soon she left her
home in a Canadian lumber village
for Rochester, N. Y. and when she
arrived there she asked a bus driver
to direct her to good but mex
pensive hotel, which he did. And
when she arrived there she wrote
on the register: Mrs. Thomas
Campbell, Georgia Campbell, Ada
Campbell"
Mrs. Campbell, we are told, then
summoned the landlord and said:
1--WE got just 500 in the world. I
am a widow. My husbands death
has left me beggar. My family
wants me to live on their charity,
but we'd rather die"
Eyes. we would" echoed two small
voices in chorus.
II want you to tell me-" continued
the mother, "how to get theater
engagement for George and Addy
They can both play on the piano and
sing like angels. Please do help us"
Mister said the younger and
chubbier, still holding tightly to her