Year: 1870




deeply was then impressed by the excellence OF her
delivery and the exquisite refinement and good taste
that peryaded her every movement long and serious


Illness was the result Of this first public display OF Mrs
Mowatt's dramatic powers; and when her COMEDY OF
Fashion" prepared and accepted by the manage
ment OF the Park Theater, and became personally
acquainted with her. she had scarcely yet recovered
from the effects of her indspositon and retained
fragile and exquistely delicate appearance. she had
forwarded a copy Of "Fashon" for my perusal. and
I was enabled on my first visit to her, to e1-
press genuine admiration for that excellent comedy


received in that first interview an impression OF INC
unselfsh and cvable character Of Mrs. MOwatt whch
has been confirm cd by our continued acquaintance Two
OF her then adopted children were paying her visit
and heard the story OF their destitutOn and adoption
told with such unaffected and touching simplicity that
Il won both sympathy for the children and admiration
for their benefacress also attended her during her
farewell performance at Nblos when she TOOK her nnal
leave OF the stage Her retirement causeda lVey re-
gret among her friends and feeling that the American
stage was losing OF its brightest ornamehtsi lor
whatever may have been the opinion Of critics as to the
claims OF this lady as rstcass artist there can be no
question that when she retired from the American s'aHe'
she left but few who could compete with her In certain
range of characters which her studies, her inherent
genius. and her rare physical advantages pecuhdiy
adapted her.


The success OF Fashion" seemed to point the way Tor
more extended dramatic triumphs that might await
Mrs. Mowatt could she obtain footing on the stage
With all the ardOr OF her nature she determined upon
making the trial She placed herself under the instruc
ton Of an experenced actor Of the Park Theaer and
day was fixed for her debut as Pauline IN the Lazy OF
LYONS" When this definitely arranged, the shrink
ing natural TO woman Of social position, venturing on


step then almost unprecedented in the history OF the
stage seemed to almost paralyze her energies ana
aroused fears that she could not sustain herself under
Of b.rf ami
ever whom she fondy loved gave his consent and the
other branches Of family slowly yielded OF the sue
cess OF the debut her own autobiography mas gwen
full description 1t was in truth, the best first appear
ance ever witnessed. The house was crowded, the APP
pause was genuine and discriminating, and the curtain
fell to bursts Of tumultuous applause


OF her through the country her own narrative
affords sufficient details Her friends watched her pro-
gress with almost painful interest They feared that IN
iudcious attery might prevent her from pursuing hat
course Of study and earnest application whch can
alone create the great actress When she returned 10
New-York and produced her Armand, Witnessed
with great satisfaction its favorable reception ana her
own improyement as actress Her departure Tor En-
gland followed shortly after the production OF AT
mand i" and on her return TO New-York, was imIne-
diatey requested to our personal intercourse.


found her to my astonishment developed into mag
nlcently formed woman, vigorous anu healthy' anu
beaming with geniaty and hOpefulness and from that
perod until her departure for England IN lsGO our per-
sonaI intercourse only interrupted by her occasoha
professional absences from NewYork have hundreds
OF her letters preserved which she used to say shou
find useful In deneang her life and character II sur
vved her. They all breathe the ruest teenhss tnaVe'e
warmed woman's breast


The professional career OF Mrs Mowatt after her re-
turn NewYork, marked by uniform success; the
reputation and standing she had acquired In Lnglahd
established her claim here and her closing professional
labors satisfactory, both artsicaly ana proies-
sonally. This success however, was interrupted by
painful and dangerous illness. During this retirement
from her professional labors frequently visited her at
her fathers residence at RayenswOod and witnessed
with admiration the traits Of character this almost fata
illness developed. She cheerful and resigned to
degree that could only have been the result Of Christian
spirit her day or two before the operation was
to be performed by her friend and physician Dr. Vaen
tine Mott and found her actually joyous the sue
cessfu experiments he had been making with ehoroform
The operation most successfully performed, and she
was restored to comparative health aud To the society OF
her dotng father and friends These remembranees con-


firm the statements she has made in her autobiography
that Christian confidence her support through the
painful struggles and dangerous attacks she encountered
during her residence in England, which eliminated IN
the loss Of her first husband Mr.. James Mowatt.
II is well known that Mrs. MOwatt professed the
swedenborgan faith; she was also firm believer In
spiritual manifestations. have heard her frequently
assert that derived great consolation from this latter



her trials after her husbands decease, she was IN direct
communication with him, and that he guided all the I'M
portant actions Of her life. With her restoration TO
health, Mrs. Mowatt resumed her professional duties
with more than ordinary vigor. never saw her more
earnest in her duties, did ever witness greater
appreciation of the requirements Of her art than she
then eyinced New characters studied with ayidy
and old fayOrite retouched with increased
of perception that gave added interest to her
public representations 1t the remark Of many ex-
perenced actors that the closing months OF her pro-
fessional career she was developing into cOnsmmate
artist


Her young adopted children received generous and
constant her. and many acts Of private char
ity which she did to my knowledge at this time
One delicate act Of riendness at this period should not
be withheld, and both the persons concerned are now
beyond the reach Of praise, censure may with pro
priety the transaction Professional duties brought
me into intimate relations with the talented young
actress Miss Julia Dean In one Of our interviews she
mentioned how much she desired to play Blanche in Mrs
Nowatts drama of Armand" adding that she knew the
wish could be accomplished, for it would not be
sble induce Mrs. Mowatt TO resign her copyright OF
the part it Of the strongest cards in Mrs.
Mowatts own list OF characters. took early occa-
sion 10 open the subject Mrs. Mowat who, without a
moments hesitation, most gladly complied With
Miss Deans wishes, and immediately for
warded her marked copy of armand
with unrestricted liberty to the play wherever she
desired represent It, This generous act toward


sister artist that deserves recording and such acts OF
kindness the rule not the exception OF
Mrs MOyats life This in connection with the fact that
Mrs Mowatt In positively aftiuent cireum-
stances, may certainly he remembered TO her honor
With Mrs Mowatts second marriage ended her career
as an actress and she entered on her new life, among
new associations and strange interests and peculiar
responsibilities a Southern matrOn. which to many
women would have been fraught with difficulties and
perpexities almost insurmOuntabe, the charming
nature that made the idol of her acquaintance at the
North exercised the same magnetic effect In her new
relations at the South. Her residence became the
focus of all that was refined and cultivated in the
society OF Richmond. Here she entered into the