Illness of Miss Mary Anderson.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 366, 8 May 1889, Page 6

Illness of Miss Mary Anderson.

The 'ftew York Sun' states that Miss Mary Anderson has been afflicted with nervous prostration that has from the first • assumed a very serious aspect. The gravity' of her condition was indicated in the cancelling of her Baltimore engagement, after a futile endeavour on her part to fulfil her Washington contract for seven performances during the previous week. It is bolioved (the London 'New York Herald ' says) that Miss Andersons nervous system has partly given way under the constant strain involved by her later work on the stage, and that her present illhealth is entirely the result^ of this trouble. 1 For a number ot weeks Miss Anderson haa given evidence ofadisturbednervoussystom, no 1 ess painful to her friends than mortifying to herself, She is said to have developed a strange and unreasonable habit of quarrelling with her manager over matters of trivial import. The outbreaks have frequently occurred in the presence of the entire company on the stage and at rehearsals. These outbreaks had recently become more serious in that they plainly suggested a lack of control on Miss Andersons part that first gave rise to her friend's fears. Mr Abbey, her manager, went to Baltimore early last week to look over the ground preparatory to his star's expected resumption of her pi'ofessional labours in that city. It is learned, on the highest authority, that though Miss Anderson was at the depGt on his arrival, shedid notrecognisehim when he accosted her. She stoutly demurred, maintaining in all sincerity that he had no right to speak to her. She did. not know him, she said, and she seemed to be outraged by his presumption. it required some moments to calm her, and a considerable period elapsed beforo she finally recognised Abbey. The impression left upon him by this painful scene is said to have been a discouraging one in every respect. Nevertheless a famous physician's certificate has since set forth that Miss Anderson is suffering only from nervous prostration, and that rest will bring about her recovery.'