The Strand Magazine/Volume 1/Issue 6/Portraits of Celebrities

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Portraits of Celebrities at different times of their Lives.

JOHN LAWRENCE TOOLE.

HEREVER the English tongue is spoken the name of J. L. Toole is a household word. After winning his spurs in Dublin, he made his first appearance in London at the St. James's Theatre, which was then under the management of Mrs. Seymour. This was in 1855. From the St. James's he migrated to the Lyceum, where he played, among other characters, Flip Flap to Charles Dillon's Belphegor, Mrs. Bancroft, then Marie Wilton, being in the cast. It was but a step from the Lyceum to the Adelphi; and his merry reign there, in conjunction with Paul Bedford, will be always remembered in connection with that theatre. It was during this period that our first two portraits were taken. The third portrait represents him at forty-five years of age, before which time he had produced Byron's "Dearer than Life" at the Queen's, Henry Irving playing Bob Gassett, and Lionel Brough Uncle Ben. The theatre he built for himself in King William-street was opened in 1879. Our fourth portrait was taken in Dunedin, New Zealand, about five months ago, in the course of his remarkably successful tour through the Australasian colonies.

For these portraits we are indebted to Mr. Toole's courtesy.

EDWARD S. WILLARD.

Born 1854.

Age 18. From a Photograph.

Age 27. From a Photograph.

R. E. S. WILLARD, whose career at the Shaftesbury Theatre within the last two years firmly established his claim to be regarded as one of our few really great actors, made his
Age 36.
From a Photo. by J. Templeton Grove. first bow to a theatrical audience at the Theatre Royal, Weymouth, in December, 1869, and afterwards gained some useful experiences on the "Western Circuit." In 1875 he married Miss Emily Waters, now well known in literary circles as "Rachel Penn," and then he made his first appearance in London at the Covent Garden Theatre. Five years of hard work in the provinces followed, leading to his engagement at the Princess's under the management of Mr. Wilson Barrett. His performance of the Spider in "The Silver King" was no less popular than that of his chief. Although Mr. Willard's position in the first rank of actors could not have been long delayed, his sudden leap to the front was almost the result of a fortunate accident. He had accepted a long engagement from Mr. Hare for the new Garrick Theatre, which, fortunately for Mr. Willard, was cancelled by him when he refused to play the opening part assigned to him. This left him free to assume the reins of management at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where his remarkable performances of Cyrus Blenkarn and Judah established his claim to pre-eminence, and more than justified the faith and confidence of his numerous admirers.

MISS KATE RORKE.

Age 12.	Age 14.
Age 16.	Present Day.

ISS KATE RORKE, at the age at which our first portrait represents her, was already on the stage, in the character of one of the little school-girls in "Olivia." At fourteen she was still a stage school-girl, this time in the Bancrofts' production of "School" at the Haymarket. Soon afterwards she joined Mr. Charles Wyndham's touring company, and at the age of our third portrait was delighting the audiences of the chief provincial theatres in a variety of characters. These early studies, combined with great natural abilities, have borne the fruit to be expected; and to-day Miss Rorke, as the frequenters of the Garrick Theatre know to their delight, is one of the most charming and finished actresses at present on the English stage.

THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND AVONDALE.

Born 1864.

Age 5. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 7. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.
Age 14. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 19. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.

T the age of seven Prince Albert Victor was receiving his education at home.
Age 26.
From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey. At fourteen—at which age he is here depicted in a Highland costume—he was, like his brother George, a cadet on board H.M.S. Britannia at Dartmouth. At nineteen, he became an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge; after which he was transferred to Aldershot to study military science.

These portraits are published by special arrangement with Messrs. W. and D. Downey, whose permission thus to reproduce photographs of celebrities from their enormous and unique assortment we are the first to obtain.

THE DUCHESS OF FIFE.

Age 3 Months. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 10. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.
Age 6. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 15. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.

HE Duchess of Fife, as our readers are aware, inherits in no small degree the
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey. conspicuous gifts of grace and beauty for which her Royal mother is so preeminently distinguished. That such has been the case throughout her life is manifested by the charming portraits which here represent her from the age when, as a solemn baby, her first photograph was taken, down to her appearance at the present day.

These portraits are reproduced by special arrrangement with Messrs. W. and D. Downey.

PRINCE GEORGE OF WALES.

Born 1865.

Age 3. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 5. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.
Age 14. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.	Age 18. From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey.

F Prince George at the ages of three and five we have nothing to record; but at
Age 25.
From a Photo. by Messrs. W. & D. Downey. the time at which our third portrait represents him, he was a middy on board H.M.S. Britannia. A sailor is always a popular member of all classes of society, and "our sailor prince" enjoys the reputation of being among the most popular of his profession.

These portraits are reproduced by special arrangement with Messrs. W. and D. Downey.

MME. ALBANI.

Age 18. From a Photo. by Levitsky, Paris.	Age 19. From a Photo. by Bergamasco, St. Petersburg.
Age 25. From a Photo. by Sarony, New York.

HE
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Sarony, New York. first portrait we give of Mme. Albani-Gye shows her at eighteen years, when a student under M. Duprez, of Paris. The second represents her at nineteen, as La Sonnambula, in which rôle she made a triumphant début in 1872 at Covent Garden. Mme. Albani spent her 25th birthday in New York, where she created the part of Elsa. The last photograph represents her as Desdemona, a character which particularly appeals to her.

MISS AGNES JANSEN.

Age 18. From a Photo. by M. Hansen, Stockholm.	Age 24. From a Photo. by Florman.
Age 27. From a Photo. by Chancellor, Dublin.	Present Day. From a Photo. by The Stereoscopic Co.

HE first photograph we give of Miss Agnes Jansen brings her before us at eighteen years of age, then a student at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Under the guidance of her accomplished master, Hugo Beyer, she made such marked progress that she was shortly afterwards engaged to appear in the leading contralto rôles at the Opera House of her native city. In 1885, on pleasure bent, she came to England, and, in the cause of a charity, made her début at the Albert Hall, since when she has been continually sought for concerts in town and country. Only a few weeks back she appeared for the first time in a London opera at Covent Garden, where she is now performing.