The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-01-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LADY MARTIN AS HERMIONE.  In an article in the January number of Bierle. re par:. Jingo:Me Lady Martin thus describes her own first appearance as Ilermione:—l was called nion to play Ilermione very EOM after my &1411.  I was still very young, and by my years and looks st unfit even to appear as the mother of the young Alamillius. Why Mr. Macready selected me• for the task I could not imagine, and most gladly would I have declined it. But his will was law. Ally remonstrance or objection was met by reasons and arguments so broad and strong—you were on earnestly reminded of your duty to sacrifice yourself Jo the general good, and the furtherance of the effort be was making to regenerate the drama— that there was nothing left hut to give way. All you could urge seemed so small, no merely personal. Therefore play Hermione I must, even as I had not long after to play Constance of Bretagne, a still severer trial and much greater strain upon my yoiing shoulders. Hermione was a character that iral net then come within the circle of my favourite Shakspearian heroines. It was, therefore. (mite new to me. Mrs. Warner had been lor years the recognised Permione of the London stage. On this oec..sion she was cast for Pauline, a character for hich nature had eminently fitted her by a stately (glrl e. fme voice, and hem, earnest mincer. How admnahly she acted Emilia in "Othello " I must 'ever ri member, especially the ma y she turned in Othello in the last scene, in which Mr. Macready was also very grand. On the audience, who could re, hVir looks and gestures, the. impression they  ta,'e most have been very great indeed. J. as the tiered Desdemona, could hear only. My first ler.iance as flermione is indelibly iirprinted on my memory by the acting of Mr. Macready as 1 hove &scribed it in the statue scene. Mrs. Warner hail rather jokingly told me, at one of the rehearsals, to be preperrel hr iv-inething extraordinary in his manner, when Hermione returned to life. But pre_ _  pa; ed I was not, and could not be, for such a display fif uncontrollable rapture. I have tried to give some idea of it, but no words of mine could do it ji,tice. It was the finest burst of passionate spe,chless emotion I ever saw, or could have conceived. My feelings being already severely strained, I natura,ly lost something of my self.command, and as rerdita and Florizel knelt at my feet I looked, as the gifted Sarah Adams afterwards told me, "like .Niobe. all tears." Of course, I behaved better on the repetition 01 the play, as I knew what I had to expect and was somewhat prepared for it; but the intensity of Mr. Macready's passion was so real, that I never could help being moved by it, and feeling much exhausted afterwards.  Mr. Richardson, member for Hartlepool, died at his country residence, Kirkleatham, near Yarm. Yorkshire,on Monday morning. The deceased had -,en in ailing health for some time. With but on,, I • I .rmissinn of a year he represented the borough of 11.1etlepool as a Liberal from 1868 to 1886, when lie Wi..Fl returned as a Unionist.  Telegraphic communication with the Continent and India by the lines laid from the Suffolk coast was entirely cut off for a time,ordStmday morning by a fire which broke out in a marine-store dealer's shop near Woodbridge Railway Station. Three spans If the trunk lines were rendered useless,and though mpt temporary repairs were effected by the Ininspector of blgraphs, it was six lens ,"070 ccrinnunicatinu 1.01:11C1,11.  At Mitchelstmen on Saturday an incluest was held ..n Bridget Healey, who died from injuries inflicted by tier husband, who. on Christrms-ece, beat her and kicked her with wcod, n shoes. Both were the worse tor drink. The husband is in custody charged th murder.  MAglStrat, : tr • NO: prount unot t:o• et, t,••, was cemmittod on ye Mit ness : "May it phis, the cuort, I had pat got, there." Briefleas (a young lawyer): " Well, be hanged !" Old Legal Hand: "I wouldn't he surprised --that is, if you defended yourself."