Download File

XVII
Adelaide Neilson
NO player in my time vied with
Adelaide Neilson in respect of
the keenness of the curiosity and
the profuseness of the admiration of which
she was the object. Both curiosity and
admiration were justified. As a woman
and as an artist she was difficult to ac-
count for. I do not pretend to know the
truth about those portions of her life which
have a dubious aspect. After she came
to the fullness of her power the voice of
disparaging gossip grew faint, as if there
could be but one verdict, and that of ap-
proval, upon a personality which appeared
so refined in every public manifestation.
It is known that her baptismal name was
Elizabeth Ann Brown; that she was born
[ 159 ]