Woman of the Century/Nella Brown Pond

POND, Mrs. Nella Brown, dramatic reader, born in Springfield. Mass., 7th May, 1858. Her maiden name was Nella Frank Brown. She is an accomplished reader and stands in the front rank of the women of America who have made their mark upon the platform. Her father, Dr. Enoch Brown, was an eminent physician of Springfield, Mass., for some years, and afterwards moved to New York, where he died, while Mrs Pond was quite young. The family then went to Middletown, Conn., and finally became permanent residents of Boston. It NELLA BROWN POND. was there Mrs. Pond's natural dramatic talent became known to a few friends, who induced her to become a member of the Park Dramatic Company, an amateur organization of great excellence. She appeared for the first time as Margaret Elmore in "Love's Sacrifice " and achieved an instantaneous success. She remained with the company during that season, and her great dramatic talent secured for her a widespread popularity and won recognition from prominent professionals. She received numerous flattering offers from managers of leading metropolitan theaters, but refused them all, having conscientious scruples against going on the stage. Mrs. Thomas Barry, then leading lady of the Boston Theater, became greatly interested in her and advised that she appear upon the lyceum platform as a reader, prophesying that she would soon become celebrated. Through Mrs. Barry's exertions an engagement was effected with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, and Mrs. Pond at once assumed a position and gained a popularity which successive seasons have only served to intensify. In 1880 she became the wife of Ozias W. Pond, of Boston, the well-known manager of musical and literary celebrities. Her husband died in February, 1892. Her home is in Boston, Mass.