Johnstone Bennett

Walenton (or Valentine) Cronise[1] was possibly born in France, or Spain,[2] or at sea (sources tell various stories), and was adopted as an infant by Mrs. Mary Bennett in the United States.

[4] Johnstone Bennett was with a small touring company when she was discovered by Richard Mansfield and cast in Monsieur (1887) in Madison Square Theatre.

She also appeared in Honor Bright (1888), All the Comforts of a Home, A Noble Son (1889), The Story of Rodion (1895), and in starring roles of Jane (1891),[6] The Amazon, Fanny,[7] and A Female Drummer (1898).

[16] Novelist Willa Cather described her as "jovial, natty Johnnie Bennett, a hail-fellow-well-met, and the trimmest tailor-made New Woman of them all.

She is another one who has learned how to cheat time: her cheeks are just as ruddy and her big gray eyes as frank and frolicsome and boyish as they were in the days of Jane, eight or nine years ago.