Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1898-12-16 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

ELLERSHAW•  SIGN OF THE STOCKING. 17, MARKET STREET, LANCASTER.  THE ACTRESS'S SUICIDE.  A STORY OF LOVE AND DF.SPONDENCY.  The suicide of Miss Kate Graves, aged thirtyfour, an actress (formerly in Mr. Penley's -Charley's Aunt" compsny), WM investigated on Wednesikiy, by the Wt London aorouer at Kensington Town Hall.  The father, Mr. John Ren.ry Graves, of 30, Cornwall-road, Westbourne Park, said km daughter had been a emoceaaial animist for a number of years, and at the time of her death was under contract with the Theatre Royal, Manchester, to play principal boy in the pantomime. She had been engaged to a gentleman much younger than hermlf, but, aosiorr on, witnese's advice, this was broken off. She had said, "Yes, mg darling father, your advice* eight." I This. the I.ItIWAS added, had made her lowepirited. About three year* ago the decease at-. tempted to take her hie wih laudanum. The only reason she assigned for that act was, "Ole dear father, I am useless; what is the good of living?" Quite recently *he had threatened to . commit suicide. She was oten very depressed. I Continuing, 'vitaeesa said that the deceased I wont to bed as usual on Saturday night. Early on the Sunday morning he was aroused, and going to hie daughter's bed-room he found the doer locked or obstructed. An entry was effected. and then he discovered the deceased hanging by I a piece of clothes-Ime in the adjoining dressing! rocm, her feat being tied together. Margaret Bates, a servant at Mr. Graves'ii. mild die had eeen the deceased crying frequently. The deceased was to have gone to Manchester on Sunday morning, but the had said to witness, "I don't think I shall ever go there." Witness was preceeding to describe the finding of the dead body when she broke down and had to be taken cut of court. _  A daughter of Mr. Graves also oommenced sobbing bitterly. and a pathetic scene °marred. Coroner's Orbeer Moss proved fiudang in the deceased's room 5 bottle containing laudanum. Mrs. Or,lia Rofke deposed that the deceared, whom she knew as a friend, was frightened ea to whether she wou:d succeed at Manchester. The verint was "Suicide during temporary ineaxoty."  A clergymen. acrely tired bye dosing majonts of hie audience. stopped spftklng. When they all awoke, he said: "My good friends, five sermon has cost me a good deed of labour, and Ido not think you have paid it the attention it deserves. I ahall, therefore, go over it again."  - - During a recent performance at one of the Paris theatres, a man and his wife had to quarrel on the stage—the woman ins rage of jealous!, the man trying to persuade her that she was too suspicious and too passionate; both were living with great spirit, when the wife moved her arm too near the candle, and her muslin dress was is flumes in an instant. Both actors kept their heads, however, the husband extinguished the bre, and proceeding with his part, interpolated, -You see, my dear. I was right; you are ready to Hare up at the least thing!" By the time the girl is old enough to perform the dunieo of a househol& or any mention of them, she is enti,led to be treated with a certain amount of consideration, and to exercise a certain amount of discretion. It was not go with the servant of fifty, years ago, who was Imperfectly educated tit indeed. she had had any edacation at all), and looked up to her mistress for advice and testruction on matters pertaining to herself, as well as on those which related to her duties. Girls are now better able to exercise their own judgment. and on querions which concern themselves alone, they ought. in our opinion to be permitted to exercise it. The mietrese wh °poredee a reasonable intelligence to her domeetic will be bee ter served than the one who under takes to do all the thinking for her. If she n, orly a servant a young woman should be encouraged to feel the responsibility of her years. and taught to judge and act for herself.  Established. 1841.  T.