Illnesses

From what I have read, it seems that Maude Adams was a very "delicate" woman and it's not surprising that she was subject to illnesses and exhaustion.

Daily Iowa State Press, Jan. 27, 1899.

The Post Standard, August 12, 1900

The Oakland Tribune, June 8, 1901

The Mansfield News, Sept. 6, 1902

The Trenton Times, Sept. 6, 1902

The Fort Wayne News, Sept. 13, 1902

The Trenton Times, Sept. 20, 1902

Evening Telegram (OH), Jan. 30, 1919

Top row, left most article, is the earliest reference of it's type I found relating to Maude Adams' health. First, notice that her name is spelled without the "e". Second, "grippe" is basically influennza, and the article says it was a "severe" attack.

Top row, second from left, notes that she takes yearly vacations to "build up her strength". The next article refers to her taking a rest at a convent (which a separate article interpreted as her plan to eventually become a nun.) The fourth article in the row refers to her having to cancel an entire season due to her being ill.

Second row, left-most article, is from the same date but written differently, referring to an "impaired nervous system", and the most telling part is when it says "It has been known to the friends of Miss Adams for a long time that she was physically unfit to bear the strain of her profession." The next article is about a week later but is still saying basically the same type of thing. The third article is another week later, again saying she will have to leave acting "for some months." The final article is seventeen years later and is referring to a "nervous breakdown" that could be causing her to retire permanently from acting.

The Post Standard, July 7, 1901

The Evening Tribune, April 7, 1953