NOTABLE VISITORS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 199, 15 April 1932, Page 4

NOTABLE VISITORS

ONCE FAMOUS ACTRESS An interesting personality who, during her stay here wished her identity to remain unknown, has been a recent visitor to Rotorua. Mrs. James Osborne, a tall, regallooking woman whose famous beauty stirred the theatrical and social world of London in the 'nineties of last century, moved about the district, sight-seeing, fishing and enjoying the amenities in company with her handsome 23 year-old son. As Miss Maude Jeffries, Mrs. Osborne created the parts of Mercia in "The Sign of the Gross"a play specially written for her by the late Mr. Wilson-Battett, who played the opposite lead — and of Lady Mary Carlisle in Booth Tarkington's "Monsieur Beucaire." It seems a far cry to the 'nineties, but talking to Mrs. Osborne, watching the play of her still-magnifieent dark eyes, the charming smile, and listening to the unimpaired golden yoice, one can easily recall her more youthful beauty, and the high quality of her art. When Miss Maude Jeffries suddenly snccumhed to the call of romance by marrying the well-known Australian squatter, Mr. James Osborne, the theatre-loving world felt bereft of one of its f avourite stars, and mourned the loss of her art and a lovely prespnce. . This was Mrs. Osborne's first visit to Rotorua and she was unstinted iu her praise of its many happy attractions. As a fortunate fisherwomae sh.e was thrilled by this sport and is taking back to Australia some of ner frpphies in the shape of smoked rainbow trout. It is her intention to ie* turn to Rotorua whenever the oppor" tunity offers.