Several instances have occurred of famous actors being seized with serious illnesses while parlorming on the stage. The celebrated Edmond Keen, while laying the part of Othello at Covent garden, was suddenly smitten with an His last words, as be fell into the arms of his son were, I am dying; speak to them for me, Charles."
Similarly, the beautiful Peg Wofting-ton, while acting as Rosalind in "As you like it," was rendered speechless by 'a sudden attack of paralysis after repeating the words of the epilogue, "I'd skies as many of you as bad beards that pleased me,"
Bat perhaps the most traly pathetic and intensely dramatic episode that has lever occurred on the boards of the stage was that enacted by the famous actress, Mrs, Montford, who was the subject of -known ballad " Black-eyed Susan." After retiring from the stage the mind of this lady had become her friends. Qae day, daring " lucid interval, she soked the attendant what play was to be performed that evening, and was told Hamlet.
In this play the part of Ophelia had been her greatest success, and the recollection must have stirred her frenzied mind to " strange resolution. With the cunning that insane people frequently possess she contrived to dade the care of her keeper, and eeeaping from the asylum made her way the theatre. Here she concealed herself on the stage until the scene in which Ophelia enters in her mad state she then pushed on the stage before the actress who had performed the previous part of the character could come on, and exhibited a more repre sentation of madness than the utmost exertions of the actor's art could effect.
She was in truth mad Ophelia to the amazement of the performers as well as the audience, The poor lady bad, how-fever, made her lest effort; on quitting stage she exclaimed, It is all over," ud allowed herself to be conveyed back to her place of security, where in a few days she died.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.