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In 1874, when Julia was nine years old, she played as Sir Joseph Porter in "Pinafore" with her younger sister, Alice. In 1879 she went on a tour in a company with Miss Dowe, and during that tour saw much of Shakespearean characters. One day the Romeo page of the company was sick, and the youthful Julia, after proving that she knew every line of Romeo and Juliet," was permitted to play the page's part. She did it in such a way as to suggest great possibilities, and for the next four years she studied in retirement with Miss Dowe. She studied school branches and elocution, with all the stage "business," and soon was ready to begin regular work before the public. She played in New England towns with great success, and on 20th October, 1887, she made her debut in New York City as Parthenia in a matinee performance of "Ingomar." She won a triumph at once. All the critics were favorable. Soon afterward she appeared as Viola in "Twelfth Night." and her success led her to enter the ranks as a star. She made a tour, appearing in "Ingomar," "Romeo and Juliet," "Twelfth Night." "As You Like It." "The Lady of Lyons," " Pygmalion and Galatea" and "The Hunchback." While her first tour was not wholly successful financially, it introduced her to the public and paved the way for her brilliant triumphs of the past four years. She has steadily worked her way to the front rank, and to-day she is considered one of the leading actors. In 1890 overwork brought on a serious illness in Philadelphia. Pa., and she was long ill in the home of Col. Alexander K. McClure, of the Philadelphia "Times." Since her recovery she has continued her successes in the principal cities of the country. She is a woman of slight form, with a beautiful and expressive face, and in her roles she appears true to life without visible effort. Her art is of that high, sure and true sort which hides itself and makes the portrayal natural.

MARSH, Mrs. Alice Esty. see Esty, Miss Alice May.

JOANNA MARSHALL. MARSHALL, Miss Joanna, poet, born in Harford county, Md., 14th August, 1822. There were published her first attempts at song-writing. Her early life was spent mainly in Baltimore. Md., where her family lived for many years. In her childhood home she received her first schooling from her father, Thomas Marshall. Having directed the elements of her education aright, he permitted her to browse at will in his well-stocked library, Joanna received her literary bent from her father. No slave ever toiled on her father's homestead, freedmen tilled his lands, and women disenslaved performed the household services. Her mother, Sarah Marshall, belonged to the Montgomery family, one of the oldest and most prominent of Maryland. In their Fairmount home in Cincinnati, Ohio, for many years have lived the Marshall sisters. The three sisters shared the home of their married sister, Mrs. Louis F. Lannay. Miss Marshall possesses a pleasing personality. Her love of flowers she shares with tier love of poesy. Endowed with a deep religious feeling, she aims to make her life Christ-like. Her pen is always ready with contributions to Christian literature. A deep spirituality pervades her later poems. The late years of Miss Marshall's life are lied with peace. Her pen is not so busy as in her earlier days, but her later productions have been her very best.

MATHER, Margaret, actor, born in Tilbury, near Montreal, Canada, in 1862. She is of Scotch descent. In 1868 her family left Canada and settled in Detroit, Mich. Margaret went to New York City to live with one of her brothers, MARGARET MATHER. who offered to educate her. She passed through the public schools, and her brother died in 1880, leaving her dependent upon herself for a living. Having become inspired with the desire to go on