TWO NOTABLE WOMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

TWO NOTABLE WOMEN

WRITER AND ACTRESS The world or art has been robed of two distinguished women recently, states a London writer, by the deaths of Miss Katharine Tynan, the wellknown writer, and Lady Wyndham, better known as Miss Mary Moore, the actress. Miss Tynan achieved fame with her Irish stories; sho was always at her happiest when writing about her own country, and most of her novels and stories were Irish in their outlook. Although she wrote over 100 novels, Mi 5 Tynan was also well known as a poetess and her poems aro included in many anthologies. She started writing at the ago of 17, and was soon an outstanding figure in Irish literary circles. Both she and her husband, Mr Hinkson, who died in 1919, were very popular and had hosts of friends in Ireland, where Miss Tynan spent most of her time, although her death took place in London. Lady Wyndham had been ill for some time, but her passing is mourned by a large circle of friend; who were devoted to her In tho old days sho used to give an afternoon dance every week—these dances, indeed, were a feature of London life, and one was always sure to meet interesting people there, people who were distinguished in all walks of life. Although sho had a great success as an actress, slio had an equal success as a manager. Sho possessed, indeed, a very shrewd business head and was of the greatest assistance to her husband in his theatrical ventures. She was associated with him in business before her marriage to him. for he had noticed her ability in business and had asked her to join him as a partner in tho theatrical management. It was in this way that Mary Moore’s name has come to be associated with three theatres—tho Criterion, Wyndham’s and tho New, all rtf which were under her management.

The tragedy of a once famous stage beauty, a friend of King Edward, was revealed in London recently. Sho was Miss Alma Stanley, who until a few days prior to her death lived over a garage in Notting Hill. She died in the prison hospital at Holloway, where sho was under remand on a charge of drunkenness, her name appearing as Miss Alice Porter (78), widow, Notting Hill Gate. Her husband was Stuart de Garmo Porter. At the inquest Dr John Hall Morton, the governor and medical officer, stated that death was due to bronchitis, congestion of the lungs, and chronic alcoholism. Airs Porter would not admit that she was more than 56 years old. The jury recorded a verdict, of “Death from natural causes.” Miss Alma Stanley played leading parts at, most of the London theatres. She was one of the idols of London when she starred at the Gaiety, the Royalty, and the Haymarket, and numbered many well-known people among her friends, 'i'he daughter of Captain Stuart Stan ley, a member of tho bodyguard of the Emperor Maxmilian of Mexico, she was trained as a dancer from her childhood. hen only 18 she made her first stage appearance at Milan, and her dancing brought, her instant success. Londoners saw her on the stage for the last time in 1902, when she played Mrs Vesey in “The House Agent’s Dilemma.” “I had known Mrs Porter for the past five years,” Mr Alfred T. Barnes, pronrie : tor of the Coronet Garage, Notting Hill, said. “She led a quiet life in the five rooms above the garage. She cou’d speak three languages fluently. Always dressed fashionably, she did not look her years, and before her illness one would have taken her for a woman 20 rears younger.” An intimate woman friend said: “Mrs Porter was a Ladyi Bountiful of tho district, and would, help anyone who came to her with a story of poverty. She held court like any modern stage star would do in her dressing room, in the little flat above the garage. I understood that she served with the transport services in | France, and was wounded.”