TELEPHONE PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

TELEPHONE PROPOSAL.

CISSIE LOFTUS AGAIN MARRIED. Miss Cecilia Loftus, the popular actress, has been: secretly married to Dr. A. H. Watermen, a Chicago physician. The wedding took place at Kensington on June 9. This is the second marriage under romantic circumstances which Mi? 6 Loftus has contracted. In 1894 she met Mr. Justin Huntley McCarthy, the well-known author, and there was a runaway marriage. Five years later Miss Loftus was granted a divorce in the New York Supreme Court, on grounds which were not stated. Miss "Cassie" Loftus is the daughter of Marie Loftus, and was born at Glasgow. She was educated at the Convent of the Holy Child, Blackpool, and whilst at school developed her faculty for mimicry. On July 15, 1893, when she was 15, she was placed in the bill at the Oxford Music Hall. From the first she scored a huge success, and,three months later went on the regular stage and played the part of Haidee in "Don Juan" at the Gaiety. Then came, in 1895, the marriage with Mr. McCarthy. When he first saw on the halls the girl who was afterwards to become his wife, he wrote : — . • Through a leering, laughing crowd Wanders a wonderful thing— A girl with the grace of Spring. After a tour in America she returned to the halls. In 1900 she went to America again, where she later became leading lady to Mr. E. H. Sothern. In 1902 she appeared with Sir Henry Irving at the Lyceum as Margaret in " Faust," and ■as Nerissa and Jessica.in "The Merchant of Venice." She voyaged to America again, and resumed'

THE PLAYING OP LEADING PARTS. with Mr. Sothern. On September 13, 1904, Miss Loftus commenced her career as a " star" at the New York Lyceum, playing Eileen O'Keefe in Zangwill's comedy, " The Serio-comic Governess." In 1905 Miss Loftus came back to London, and played Peter Pan in Mr. Barrio's piece at- the Duke of York's Theatre. In December of 1907 (in the State*-) she broke down, and was very ill. She then declared in an interview that her imitations had kept her from getting a good part in the play. "When a manager thinks of me at all it is simply as Oissie Loftus, the mimic." However, she is charming large audiences at the London Coliseum now with her wonderful " impressions." Miss Loftus gave an interview to a pressman.. "My husband," she said, "is an American, a doctor, who has been practising in Chicago, where I met him. A few weeks ago he came to London, rang me up on the telephone at Liverpool, where I was fulfilling an engagement, and proposed to me. He told me not to hesitate, a 6 every minute over three meant money, so I had to say 'Yes.' After another fortnight I go to Dublin for a week. Then we sail for America, where I shall fulfil one engagement, and return with my husband to settle down for good in London. Yes, I shall remain on the stage. I could nob tear myself away from my profession. I love it too .well." Asked why she had kept the marriage secret, she said : " I dislike publicity very much. And then, as you know, I was brought up a Roman Catholic, and, if the Church had known, it would not have sanctioned my second marriage, seeing that my former husband and Xwere, separated by law." "So that your alliance with Dr. Waterman means that vou will be -excommunicated by the Catholic Church?" "Yes." .