TERRISS AND THE MARCHIONESS.

Evening Star, Issue 11676, 7 February 1902, Page 8

TERRISS AND THE MARCHIONESS.

Mr Albert Chevalier, the famous coster impersonator, in a readable book of reminiscences just published, tells the following, which he vouches for as absolute truth ” : —“ln a certain North London hoardinghouse where the proprietor catered fox the theatrical profession there lived a poor, hard-working general servant —a typical lodging-house ‘slavey.’ She had rather a pretty face, but of this fact she appeared quite oblivions until she dressed for her nights out. On these rare occasions she would tittivate herself to such an extent that, as she walked down the street on her way to the Adelphi (her one and only source of enjoyment) nobody would have recognised, in the neatly-attired, somewhat delicate-looking maiden, the dirty, slovenly, down-at-heel ‘ Marchioness ’ who cooked and scrubbed for a miserble pittance at No. 18 street, Kilbum. She was madly in loye with William Terries, and made no secret of the fact. In the kitchen, in the scullery even, the walls were decorated with pictures of her hero. She had hitherto worshipped him from afar —from on high. It was her night out. A mad desire to have a look at him off the stage suddenly seized her. After, perhaps, a little extra tittivation, she hurried away to the Adelphi stage door in Maiden lane. On her arrival there she heard a cry, and saw someone reel. Rushing excitedly forward, she was just in time to see her hero. He bad just received his death-blow. Terrified, she flew from the spot, and for some days did not show up at No. 18. When next she was seen cleaning the front doorsteps, she wore, pinned to her torn print bodice, a tiny piece of draggled black crepe.”