“I hope you had some tea,” I said.
“Tea, my dear! Certainly not. I shall have a glass of hot milk at six, when I get in, and then my dinner as usual, a little later.”
Over seventy years of age, she thus had played a strong rôle for three hours, yet did not even need to be refreshed with a cup of tea. Geneviève Ward certainly is a great woman.
The three greatest English actresses I have ever seen are Ellen Terry, Geneviève Ward, and Mrs. Kendal. The latter two are among the most brilliant women and most charming conversationalists I know—outside their stage life I mean.
One February day in 1909, Mrs. Kendal walked up Portland Place to fetch me en route for luncheon with Geneviève Ward.
“Why have you suddenly left the stage like this?” I asked in banter.
In a serious voice she replied:
“Because we want no farewells. I went on the stage when I was four, and no one knew I was there. I go off the stage when I am fifty-five, and I do not see why people should be asked to contribute to my well-advertised disappearance as to a charity. I’ve worked hard for fifty years, and have retired to enjoy myself while I can. Actors have long-drawn-out ‘farewells’ lasting for two or three years. I don’t wish to do likewise. We’ve worked hard, and we’ve been thrifty and saved, and now we can retire from a kindly public—as their friends, I hope. I don’t want to write to the papers, or make speeches, or call myself their ‘humble servant.’ I’ve given them of my best, and they’ve paid me for it, as they pay for their hats and gloves. No gratuities, nothing more than I have rightly earned. Don’t you think I’m right?”
“Well, it is certainly more dignified, but we should have liked to give you a farewell cheer.” Then, reverting to others, I asked why Irving was so poor.
“Ah, because he was so generous. I remember an instance; when he heard the Duchess of Manchester (afterwards Duchess of Devonshire) had taken two stalls, he at once sent off to offer her a private box. She accepted, and then he ordered a two-guinea bouquet to be placed therein, and invited her to supper. Again she accepted. He at once asked a party to meet her; that cost him over twenty-six pounds. He told me so, and he returned the Duchess her guinea.