The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-05-03

- NIitet VI tnt haC0u Npa.J tVHtfHt
thus dishes upa, piece of scandal con-
cerning some st. Louis people, which
occurred Years since: ..,- - - g.. s,s1
In 1850, Il. 8. LeBaum and Dora Shaw
were married. LeBaum was citizen.
and the possessor Of an immense prop
erty i'm 81. Lonis. Being in the Wabash
Valley upon bnsiness Of his honse, he
saw. loved and wooed this young, beau
tiful and accomplished woman He did
not get her e~n, bnt her parents con-
sent, and the marriage, which followed,
was hallowcd by uolove, save upon the
side of heiymlsband. y 3Fp9GJs .Est
Taking his bi iie home to,his slteudid
palace in the city, she was there given
everything that wealth could bestOw.
Still she was not happy.
The wife was ut once introdnced 10
aud became the admiration of the best
people of the city. To the outward
world she appeared the happiest Of NOR.
tails. illustrating how few there are who
really know the secret sOrrows of the
human heart. She has passed her hours
in splendid misery.
At that time the famous theatrical
manager, Ben DeBar, had tine COM
pany ut the st. Louis Theatre. His
leading star was Miss Annette lnce-no
less renowned for her acting mimic life
than her beauty and many wOmanly
virtues. TO this theatre Mr.. aud Mrs.
LeBaum went one night, and witnessed
o play. Dora had never been inside q
theatre before, and before the curtain
fell upon the second act she had taken
resolution which should change The
whole course of her life-she had de-
termined to be m actress like Miss
Ince.
An interview with the manager was
easily obtained, who saw in the aspira-
tions OF the lady chance to make a
splendid hit, and put gold in his purse.
He gave her encouragement, dismissed
the idea of her first assuming second
part, but assured her she should make
her debut i'm the leading character Of the
play she had witnessed-Julia, in the
hHunchback." More than encouraged,
indeed completely resolved, Dora at
once commenced the study of the play,
and possessing quick intelligence, was
at least master Of the language in few
days. Private rehearsals appeared TO
give perfect satisfaction to the manager
rs we'll rs tn his compauy-trained for
that particular purpose and for that oc-
casiOn, All this was kept from the hus.
band.
One morning the city was thrown in
to fever by the announcement in all
the Journals, and upon the bulletin
boards, that Miss Dora Shaw wonld
appear that night as Julia in Sheridan
Knowles great play entitled the Hnnch-
back" lie Baum and his friends were
struck as if by "a thunderbOlt from
heayeB. lie first entrcated, Appended
10 and Threatened his wife, aud next
the manager, aud finally declared his
intention to murder her upon the stage
the moment she made her appearance.
All to 10 purpose. The manager duly
had all this passed into the streets,
which of course Increased the sensation
and strengthened the desire to attend.
Exery ticket was sold bye O'Clock, and
it were needless to say that whom night
came tho place Of amusement occupied
the thoughts of the city.
The curtain .rose-Dora appeared
walked. stammered, blushed, and re
peated her part mechanically, like any
school girl reading her composition at
an examination. Still the audience was
pleasedH not by tle acting, but by tho
novelty ofthe oeeasion. The next, the
third, the fourth and fifth nights were
like the first. The morbid appetite Of
the public satiated with novelty de-
manded good acting. This Dora could
not supply. The audience fell of, the
manager became restless, dissatisfied,
and refused to offer rr-engagement,
hut intimated that she had best 90 to
another city.
Inythc mean time LeBsam sued for q
divorce, which was rapidly granted by
the court. The next appearance OF Dora
was in New Orleans, where her former
social position was unknown. and where
she was wholly thrown upon her MGR
its as an actress for success. IL were
needless to say that she failel To elicit
one single plaudit.
The story is soon told, Aband0ned
by friends, home, hnsbahd, liefniiess,
she fell-to Use her own words:
-Fsil like the snsxfisk~-. from hea gen To- he'll:
Fell. 20 be trsmpied Ike filth In the street;
Fell 10 be seoiied. to he spit on and beat;
-. 81 CiTsine .gtgBss -
Dreading to die.
Selling her soul TO whoever w0uld bay.
Dealing In shame for mors-l Of bread
Hating the living and fearing tho desa