MISS ADA WARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 16 May 1907, Page 4

MISS ADA WARD.

THE STORY OF HER LIFE. AVcsloy Churcli was overcrowded and hundreds wore unablo to gain admission (says the Melbourne Argus) when Miss Ada AVu?dj the actressevangelist, told the aiory of her life and conversion.

Whon sho was a child, Miss Ward said, sho was unhappy, miserable, and noglected, although hor brothers and sistors woro loved and cared lor. It was not Until sho became a woman that sho realised tho reason. As a child sho usod to hovor about tho, thoatres aiul music-halls, and sho gradually developed a passion for acting. Blessed with a splondid memory sho used to learn tilings and repeat them to ragged little urchins; and when quite a child there was hardly a horoino in Shakospoar’s plays that she did not know by heart. After receiving an excellent education at a convent in Paris, sho obtained

situation as a nursery governess in London, She yearned, however, to go on the stage, for hor visits to the thoatros had created that awful fascination that every girl must get if sho wont to tho theatre often. At last sho saw an advertisement — “Good-looking young girl wanted to play a part; she must be tall.” “Being as Shakespeare said, ’more than common tall,’ and being a very silly, giddy girl, I naturally thought I was very good-looking,” continued Miss Ward. “So I went and asked if I would do for tho part. I told tho manager I was only a nursery govorness, that I had boon in a convent, and that I had no dresses. He said tho part ..would require throe or four handsome drosses. However, eventually he said, ‘l’ll engage you, but you must' find tho dresses, and I will give you ns a salary to begin with los per week.’ (Laughter). “I said,/ ‘Very well, I will take it.’ I accepted the situation, and got into debt for tho drosses; hut I made a success of tho first part I played, so tho papers woro full of tho young lady who had just come out as an actress, and predicted a great careor for mo if I studied and worked. I did study and work, and in a short time was engaged as leading lady at Hnymarket Theatre. “Developing a passion for oxcitemont, Aliss Ward said, she went to suppers and races, ami joined in everything that afforded a prospect of pleasure. Then she met a gentleman who represented himself as being the son of a nobleman, who lavished upon her hundreds of pounds’ worth of jewels, and in the end asked her to he his wife. She did not love him,

but, carried away by tho alluring prospects which ho held before her,

she married him, only to bo faced soon afterwards with tho bill for the

jowols ha had given her. Upon her experiences with that man sho could not dwell, but within one year of the marriage sho had obtained a divorco.

Thou sho had come to Australia, and toured tho world. Always in search of excitement, she became a terribio gambler. She earned thou-

sands of pounds, and sho lost them recklessly. In South Africa a gentleman joined her company, and when she was about to leave again /for Australia, he asked her to marry

him. But she said, “No thank you; never again.” (Laughter.) However, he came to Australia in tho same vessel as sho did, and sho consented to his playing leading parts with her on condition that lie never made love to her off the stage. (Laughter.) While in Tasmania, however, Aliss Ward became seriously ill, and she was told that her recovery was to a large extent' clue to the nursing and medical knowledge of her loading man an.l admirer. After that she liked him better, and* when ho renewed his proposal, and pointed out how lonely

she was in the world, she consented to marry him. So they returned to England. Later Aliss Ward once more came to Australia, and her husband, after calling at South Africa, was to join her here. One night, however, when she was playing Juliet in Adelaide, she received a tolegram announcing the death of her husband. Finishing her part, and making her way to her hotel, she realised tho full extent of her great loss.

Aliss AA r ard went on to describe bow in time slio bad plunged into still greater excitement with frivolous companions. But at Portsmouth, while rehearsing a piece in which she hoped to make the greatest success of her life, sjio was asked by a little lass to go to Salvation Army meetings. She reluctantly consented, and wits considerably impressed with what slio saw and heard there, but her heart was not really touched. Then one night, when about to go to tlie opera, witli a supper to follow, she was overcome by a strango feeling.

She returned to her room, cast off her magnificent opera cloak, and wondered if she were going to die. She tried to study, but without success. Then, for tho first time iu her life, great hot tears came to her relief, and she appealed to God for help. Again she went to tho Salvation Army meeting, and, after experiencing strange feelings and sensations, had a vision of the blessed figure of the Saviour. After finishing tho season for which she was under contract, and playing as if slio had been inspiled, Aliss AYard said sho took

an affecting farowell of the company dividing her costly wardrobe and liei stage jewels among her fellow-act-

As soon as possible, Miss Ward said, she wont to London, sold her house, her carriage and horses, and her jewels, and, after paying her debts, found that slie had practically nothing left. She was convinced, however, that God would always keep her, and, although she had boon in some straits, she had been loft a small annuity by a gentleman whom she had soothed in his dying hours, and every penny which her mission brought in >yas devoted to God’s work (Applause.)