OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR. WARD LYONS

PERTH, June 20

I The death is announced of Mr. Ward Lyons, a prominent actor.— (A. and X.Z.) ? In Drivatp life Mr. Ward Lyons had long been known by the nickname of "Cappy." When Mr. Lytton was in search of a type for the Peter B. Kyne role, he found what he regarded as his ideal "Cappy," after nine months , search, in Ward Lyons. At the first Melbourne performance of the bright American comedy, the whole audience was asking "Who is Ward Lyons t" The answer was that Ward Lyons was a sterling character actor of the good old days of "stock." There was no part he had not filled in his thirtyseven years' association with the stage. In that period it is claimed he has played 756 parts. During recent years he had been doing "the provinces," as the small town tours are known abroad. In 1912 he was producer for Mr. George Willoughby at the Princess' Theatre. He created the Henry Lawson type of Henry Mitchell in "While the Billy Boils" at the King's Theatre just about that time. He then left on a tour of Australian and Xew Zealand towns, playing Burke (the detective) in "Within the Law," and was acknowledged by those who know to be a better "Burke" than Lincoln Plummer, who played the part in Melbourne.

Although Ward Lyons was "Cappy Ricks" to the life, yet he was not always irascible. He played gentler, sentimental types in keeping with his rugged per- ' sonal appearance as well. Prior to the purchase of the stage rights of the play, Mr. Lytton searched everywhere, ior a type for "Cappy Ricks," as described in Peter B. Kyne's book. It was not, however, until he met Mr. Ward Lyons that he realised he had the man, and he secured the play right away. After many years, Ward Lyons got his big chance, and took full advantage of it. It was given to few actors who reached Mr. Lyons' age and remained comparatively unknown, to achieve a metropolitan triumph in a night. Though they did not realise it, the first night audience which saw "Cappy Ricks" at the Athenaeum Theatre was witnessing something very like a stage romance. SMITH T. GREEHWEIX. (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The death has occurred in Sydney of Mr. Smith T. Greenwcll, a veteran of the Maori wars, aged 83 years.— (A. and N.Z.) OLGA OF RUSSIA. LONDON, June 20. The death hae occurred of Olga, formerly Dowager Queen of Greece.—(A. and X.Z.) Olga, formerly the Queen Mother of Greece, wag the Grand Duchess Olga Constantinova of Russia. Born in 1851, she was married in 1867 to George I. of Greece. George was assassinated at Salonika on March 18, 1913. Olga was a typical Russian aristocrat, extremely talented, of the utmost refinement and

; rejoicing in good works not only involving her religion but the comfort of the poor. She spoke English with great accuracy and charm, was otherwise a competent linguist and was a painter oi miniatures on ivory. She ■wrote many stories Vhich were rarely published. These all breathed her simple kindly .thoughts, and it is said they may iurI vive as real literature.