In the Holy Souls chapel at Westminster Cathedral, next Monday, there will be an opportunity to admirers of Gertrude Kingston's artistic and dramatic gifts to honour the actress by praying for her eternal welfare. Although it is now many years since she exercised her stagecraft, except for rare appearances, the record of this versatile woman's work for the theatre is a full and interesting one
Gertrude Silver, née Konstam ("Kingston " was a name adopted for stage purposes), might, had she not elected to make the Stage her profession, have become highly successful as a painter. Her early inclination was towards that career; she studied art in Paris and in Berlin, and throughout her life did much mural and other work by way of recreation. Her life as a professional actress began fifty years ago under Sarah Thorne, in seaside performances. Later she came to London, where she had a long series of successes in the West End. A volume of reminiscences, Curtsey While You're Thinking, published this year, gave proof of her ability on the literary side; picture-books for children, also, and other smaller works, came from her.
During the South African War, Gertrude Kingston went out and did good service, for which she was mentioned in dispatches, in connection with the Hospital Hut provided by the theatrical profession. Early (Continued in next cohimit.)