SEARCH FOR A STAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2230, 17 August 1914, Page 3

SEARCH FOR A STAR

MYSTERY OF A FAMOUS D*ANO7R. Whero is Mile. Carmelita Ferrer, the beautiful Spanish dancer, and what is tho secret of her- disappearance? The missing lady, who is a liioco of Francisco Ferrer, the' anarchist, who was, shot by order of t-lie Spanish Government at Barcelona in 1909, is being anxiously inquired for by her mother, who states, that she has reason to believo that a, love romance may be tho cause of- her daughter's disappearance» Since the end of the run of the London Opera House revue "Come Over Hero," in which she was one of the "stars," Mile. Ferrer has been fulfilling contracts in various, parts of France, including Nice, Marseilles, and Paris. She stayed in Paris with her mother, who has accompanied lier to all her performances, and it appears that she suddenly disappeared. Tlie mystery was reported to the Paris police, and inquiries, that were made elicited the information that she had been seen travelling on a boattrain for England. Mmo. Ferrer immediately travelled to London, and although she has not been able to trace her daughter, it lias been ascertainable that she had been staying at a boards ingliouse jn Richmond. She left this place, however ; taking her luggage with her, but: leaving no address.- Mme. Ferrer lost a large sum of money and most ,of her jowellery while in Paris. She Has almost exhausted her resources in her search for her daughter, - and is in a state of great mental distress. A Prosa representative found Mme. Ferrer at a private hotel in Padding ton. Sho is deeply distressed by her daughter's disappearance, and is greatly handicapped in'her search by the fact that she can speak only in English. "I have reason to believe -that a love romance may bo the cause of my daughter's disappearance," she said. "I always attend Carmelita. at her performances, and I was with her in Paris up to last Sunday week, following her tour in France, j She seemed quite happy when'she went to Mass in the morning, but_ she did not return, and lamat my wits' end to find her. You may be surprised to learn that Carmelita is only 18 years of age, as she looks much older. When I last saw hor she wore a navy blue serge costume and a black and white hat trimmed with white feathers." Her history is tragically romantic. ' She went on tho stage against the will of Francisco Ferrer, and they were estranged in consequence at, the time of his arrest on a charge of having led the revolution in Catalonia. When he was sentenced to be shot, however, 'the young _dancer made frantic appeals to the King of Spain for a. reprieve. Her messages were ignored by the Spanish Court; 1 Two. years after an extraordinary sequel occurred in;a' Paris theatre. Tie King, of Spain happened to bo present during one of'her performances^ l and was so delighted .with it that, unawares .of her association' with the tragedy at Barcelona, he ordered a bouquet to' be eent to her dressing-room. The flowers wero promptly returned to-tjie King by Mile. Ferrer, 'with.a message that she was the niece of the "murdered" anarchist. Mlto. Ferrer is- one of the most famous Spanish dancers in Europe. She dances the Spanish national dances ,dressed as a,man, .and takes the same steps as the male.dancers in Madrid. '•