In his later life he used his great mentality and became a real man, a beatific creature. He married three times. His first wife was the distinguished Lucille Western, a most wonderful natural, emotional actress. It is said she has made more money in a single season than any other star of any time. Her first husband, James Meade, a New York gambler, told me he handed her personally more than $600,000 in forty-two weeks! This was during the Civil War. And she died in poverty! Herself a spendthrift, she was ably assisted in dissipating her fortune by both Meade and Hearne. Her death followed her marriage to William Whalley, a ne'er-do-well but clever actor and at that time a great Bowery favorite. After Lucille's death Hearne married her sister Helen, one of the most beautiful women ever born. They were very unhappy and a divorce speedily ended their union. From this time Hearne's career showed a marked change. He died nearly a Christian! Behind him he left his third wife, a most brilliant, clever woman who helped to bring about his regeneration, several successful plays and two talented daughters, Julie and Chrystal Hearne. * * * * * It is just as natural for two human beings, brought constantly in contact with each other, to mate as it is for birds and animals. * * * * * A man of genius, if he marries at all, should marry a peasant. [Illustration: JAMES A. HEARNE _He knew how poor Sol "fell"_] _Chapter LXIII_ EDDIE FOY Fancy a man's being father of six or seven or eight children--and then adopting an additional brace! What a heart, what a great, big, fine heart has a man like that! And this is what Eddie Foy has done. Eddie Foy is a unique character in the American drama. Aside from his prowess as a disciple of that theory which measures patriotism by infants he is the greatest clown our stage has ever known. And he takes his clowning very seriously. I always like to hear Eddie Foy talk. I enjoy being with him. He is a true comedian. It happened I was his fellow voyager on his first passage across the Atlantic. He was on his way to meet his bride, an Italian woman. (Fancy my listening to rhapsodies about a bride--not my own!) They are a numerous family--and as happy as numerous. He is a most generous and home-loving person for all his fondness for his clubs. I love to hear him talk about playing Hamlet. He really thinks he can! Perhaps he's right. I wonder. _Chapter LXIV_ WILLIAM GILLETTE