DAME GENEVIEVE WARD.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sue—Seeing your kind notice of Dame Genevieve Ward in the Spectator of August 26th, I should like to record my apprecia- tion of the very fine character we have lost. I knew Miss Ward first some thirty-six years ago, when she came out to Melbourne to act some of her beautifully played tragedies, which we much enjoyed, when my husband, then Sir Henry Loch, was Governor of Victoria, Australia. She also recited most beauti- fully after dining with us in Melbourne and in London in after years. When she heard of great distress about a hospital in Melbourne for women that much needed enlarging and restor- ing, and all denominations were earnestly ready to help, Miss Genevieve Ward offered to get up a Greek play with our assist- ance and that of many Australian families, and she took so much trouble going to visit all and getting them to take boxes and urge their friends to do so. We took a large party from Government House to the town hall, which held 2,000 people and was packed full, and the sum of £2,300 was realized, which Miss Ward said was the largest sum yet realized by one private entertainment. Miss Genevieve Ward was so good in helping all young women and men who were working to be professionals, and gave them such good advice.
I once asked her, if she had a daughter, whether she would like her to go on the stage, and she answered, " Yes. If she had the talent and proper training and the real character, I think a woman could remain as good as in any other profession." I have quoted this of fen to those who were longing to be actresses or singers on the stage, and I am sure Dame Genevieve Ward was to the end of her life a great and good example. She told me she owed her splendid health and activity of late years to daily persevering with Sandow exercises, and I saw her lie flat on the floor and get up without touching it with her hands. She also kept her good strong voice to the end of her life, as well as her keen interest in helping all that was good around her. And though she deserves her well-earned rest at eighty- five, she leaves the world and her many friends to mourn the
loss they have eustained.—I am, Sir, &c., DIEM. Loca.
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