MRS PATRICK CAMPBELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18677, 5 October 1922, Page 4

MRS PATRICK CAMPBELL

HER SECOND MARRIAGE. In the latest instalment of “My Life and Some Letters." published in this week’s issue of me “Queen,” Mrs Patrick Campbell writes of her second marriage (to Mr George Cornwallis-West), am) recalls some poignant incidents of war-time, and the heavy blow dealt her by the death of her son in action, In .lime, 1913 (she-, writes) Sir George Alexander revived “The Second Mrs Tanqiioray.” In the autumn of this year Jenny divorced George, *On April 6 of tin- following year we married. Ihe decree absolute had been field up for three months, owing to business reasons. It looked odd that wo married only a few hours after tlie decree was finally made absolute, hue “Pygmalion" was to be produced in five days' time, and then there would be no chance ot a few day,?’ quiet together. . . . -unongst hundreds of telegrams and letters of congratulation I quote a few, which show friends felt the marriage might bring Us happiness; “U)i, my dear, my joy was great, and I feel so interested in life when 1 think of you, at last brilliantly contented, .too Loon 1 hope to see happy faces. How glad 1 am he talked to me at'■'Alice Hoppel's. It makes all the difference to have heard from him what adoration and devotion he has for you. His people must love him because of his expression, if nothing else, ana if they love him they must bo glad to know how happy he is. Bless you Pot-h. —V. R.” (the Duchess of Rutland). ' Stella, darling—All my love and thoughts to you. Bless you.—Rachel (rile late Countess of Dudley). Wo were happy at last—l with my belief in tlie love 1 had struggled against for so long l —convinced that George had been avery unhappy man —that his unhappiness had been the fault of others—and that I cou-id help him.

In September I went to America with “Pygmalion,” leaving George in my house in Kensington square. The wrench wa? hard. Put he had to remain in England to attend to his financial affairs. As risnal, I had to make money. After a few months George l came out to mo, and learned (o know intimately my life and work. This dose companionship filled me with happiness.

But the rumbling of the war was growing louder—rne whole -world was on its mettle. .Again he had to return to England to take up Ins military duties. Koine months later George came out to mo a second time, and I felt still more sure of our future together. This time lie insisted on acting with me, 1 taught him Doolittle in “Pygmalion” and Orreyd in "Tanqueray,” and he acted well. After some weeks he was called -back to England again. Goorge met me at Falmouth on my return from America. It was the daj his bankruptcy was published. We remained array from London a few days—far too hn-PPy t 0 worry, and then returned to Konsington-squaio. My mother-in-law lived with me at 33, Kensington-square, during a time of severe trial for her, and I, with ether friends, did rny best to help George’s mother. 1 encouraged Gecirge to write plays, and for some time it was an absorbing pleasure to him. During the next few months the agony and nervous strain that was upon the world had broke i up all normal living and normal thinking. The servant question, anti food, had become a tragedy: air raids —tho evening’s entertainment. If there was no cook, and you could cook, that was a triumph; I- felt more proud of my sudden ability to ccok —and that George proclaimed my cooking as good as the “ Ritz ” —than I have ever been of my success on tho stage. Companionship in the homo was not expected ; that yo-ur man was alive —your son safe and sound, happy on his “ten days' leave’’; that, was enough. Tho long, grey lino of motor ambulances waiting for the wounded at Charing-cross—■what a sight it was. to pass, almost every night coming home from the theatre. ... At tho Savoy one day a handsome officer came down the steps of tlie restaurant, carrying his friend on his shoulder—an armless, legless trunk, with a gay,, handsome, laughing face. . . .

In Odobei- 1917, “The Thirteenth Chair - ’ was produced at tho Duke cf York's—a popular play that met with great success. During the run of this play my heart was lacerated: “Admiralty. “Deeply regret Acting Lieutenant-Com-mander Alan U. Campbell killed- in action, December 30. Letter follows.” Beo had been killed in France. Beo—.'l had not realised this could be. . . . Hue day’s rest to get my heart steady. Then work again. Life seemed pitilessthe theatre—hell— Friends wrote: “Thank God you have Goorco to love and take care of you”— but. George was strangely silent; this made the pain harder to bear. ... 1 was in deep sea, and there was no light anywhere.