Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1894 — Sherman’s Opinion of Mary. [ARTICLE]

Sherman’s Opinion of Mary.

“Our Mary.” as Americans delight to call Mary Anderson, may marry or may not. as future inclination seizes her, but at all events her past is assured. Her history reads like fiction. John McCullough found her a poor girl in Louisville, and wrote of her gifts and ambitions to his friend John W. Norton, the manager of a St. Louis opera house. Her opening night in Louisville she played Juliet to a S4O house, but she convinced Norton that in the green Kentuey girl a great actress was concealed. General Sherman, then a resident of St. Louis, was present by Norton's invitatiou After the performance he was taken with others behind the scenes and was introduced. Mary at this time was awkward, but a perfect vision of beauty. General Sherman kissed her in his fatherly way and predicted.greatfuture for her. A half hour later Norton asked his judgment about the budding actress. “My dear toy,” said the General, “she doesn't amount to anything, no matter how long she lives.” Two months later, when all the country wont wild over her. he saw his mistake and acknowledged it frankly. A house at Gold Hill, Nev.. that cost SB,OOO a few years ago was sold the other day for *2OO.