STAGE LOVERS

Shannon News, 15 June 1926, Page 4

STAGE LOVERS

SI FAMOUS ACTOR’S RECOLLECV' t TIONS. h’ '' SIR JOHNSTON FORBES- (• ROBERSTON. V, Sir Johnston Forbes-Roberston, giving the 'Livery Committee of the ; > Stationers’ Company his recollections v r . as an acitor, referred (says The t Times) to the privilege that had been r. his of making love on the stage,/ to

some of the most beautiful women in the world. His career as an actor 1 dated from 1874, and the first woman ho had the pleasure of making love t to was the beautiful Mrs Rousby. - She was a supremely beautiful crear'- ture, and he was 21 and very impressionable. The next one who might bp

described as, a “stunner” was Miss Ellen Terry. He had been engaged .■ to play the lover in a piece by Charles Meade, who said that he (Sir Johnston) had better go and call on Miss Terry. She was then in her twenty--1 seventh year, and too alluring and exquisite for words. Yet her beauty

in those days was not appreciated by '' the man in th e street. It was only the artists and sculptors who worshipped at her feet, because the Victorian beauty of the open face and sloping shoulders was in fashion, with the bair worn down on each side, as ! , time went on, however, her particular beauty became a sort of vogue. He Remembered having to make love i to her on many occasions. Ho hoped he succeeded, but love-making on the stage was very hard. The Romeos , and Orlandos were most frying for young men. Talking of Miss Terry's beauty he remembered Whistler saying, “Fori love of Nell, I’d go to hell.” s The next beauty he had to make love to was another "stunner,” Adelaide ■ Neilson. Then there was Kafe Vaugh- > Neilson. Then there was Kate Vaughan, lovely in face and figure, who danced to perfection. He danced with her in miuets and gavottes. There , , was always a plot to such dances, arid they were apt to be complicated. Though Kate Vaughan was most' wonderful among English dancers, she never could remember the plot, and he had to push her about with the amid of th e dancing master. One , of the greatest actresses to whom he had over made love was Mme Modjeska. She was an excellent needlewoman, spoke six languages, and was familiar with the literature of Europe Another great beauty was Miss Mary Anderson, and there were also Miss, Kate Rorke, Mrs Patrick Campbell,. Miss Laura Cowie, and Miss Gertrude • Elliott.