The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-12

Disputed AuthOrshIp-A New Claimant
for the Poem OF "The Beautiful
Snow" - Romantic History of Dora
Shawl
correspondent Of the Macon (Ga.) Sentinel,
N noticing the publication in the columns of
THAT paper OF the poem OF "Ehe Beautiful Snow"
without "the authors name," gives the follow
ing biography
= The maiden name OF the author was Dora
Shaw. She was born and grew into woman
hood in the Wabash Valley, Indiana. Her pa
rents were plain, honorable people, blessed with
plenty, though not rich, as the word goes. They
loved their beautiful Dora, and bestowed upon
her an eduCation which few females ever re-
ceive. That accomplished, her father and
mothers next ambiuon was to wed her to some
wealthy and distinguished gentleman. As is TOO
often the case, thev had the fatal delusion that
the daughters will should be sacrificed upon
the altar of Mammon, that wealth and ambition
should be preferred TO love.
In 1850, f. S. LeBaum and Dora Shaw were
married. LeBaum was citizen, and the pos
SCISSOR OF immense property in st Louis. Being
in the Wabash Valley upon business of his
house, he saw, loved, and wooed this young
beautiful, and accomplished woman. He did
not get her own but her parents consent, and
| the marriage which was folio was hallowed
| by no love, save upon the side of the husband.
Taking hls bride home to his splendid palace
in the city. she was there given everything that
| wealth could bestow. Still she was not happy.
| Did you ever see contented eagle in gilded
| cage?
The wife was at once introduced TO-, and be-
came the admiration of the best people of the
city. To the outward world she appeared the
| happest Of mortals, illustrating how few there
are who really know the secret sorrows of the
human heart. She passed her hours in splendid
| misery.
| At that time, the famous theatrical manager
Ben. DeBar, had a fine company at the St. Louis
Theatre. His leading star was Miss Annette
Ince, no less renowned for her acting mimic life
than her beauty and many womanly virtues.
To this theatre Mr. and Mrs. LeBaum went one
| night, ano witnessed play. Dora had never
| been inside theatre before and before the cur
| tain fell upon the second act she had taken q
| resolution which would change the whole course
| of her life-she had determined to be an actress
like Miss Ince.
An interview with the manager was easily OBJ
tained, who saw in the aspirations of the lady
chance to make splendid hit, and put gold in
! his purse. He gave her every announcement,
dismissed the idea of her first assuming
second part, but assured her she should make
her de9ut in the leading character of the play
she had witnessed-"Julia,n y in the Hltocbbdck.
! More than encouraged, indeed completely re.
| solved, Dora at once commenced the study of
| The play, and possessing quick intellect, was
at least master of the language in lew days.
Private rehearsals appeared to give perfect
| satisfaction to the manager, as well as TO his
! company-trained ior that particular purpose
and for that occasion. All this was kept from
the husband. .r
One morning the city was thrown into a fever
bXran announcement in all the journals, and
upon all the bulletin boards, that Miss Dora
Shaw would appear that night as 'Julia" IN
Sheridan Knowles great play, entitled the
HUachbdck. LcBaum and his friends were
struck as if by a thunderbOlt from heaven. He
!, first entreated, appealed and threatened his
wife, and next the manager, and finally de-
clared his intentions to murder her upon the
stage the moment she made her appearance,
All to no purpose The manager duly had all
this passed into the streets, which of course in.
creased the sensation and strengthened the
desire to attend. Every ticket was sold by 8
O'clock and il were needless TO say that when
night came that place of amusement occupied
th G thoughts OF the city.
The curtain rose-Dora appeared walked,
stammeIed, blushed, and repeated her
part mechanicaly--lik any school girl reading
her composition at an examination. Still the
audience was pleased, not by the acting, but by
the novelty OF the occasion. The next, the
third, fourth, and fifth nights were like the first
The morbid appetite of the public, satiated with
novelty, demanded good acting. This Dora
could not supply. The audience fell off; the
manager became restless, dissatisfied, refused 10
offer an engagement, but intimated that she had
best 90 to another city.
In the meantime, LeBaum sued for divorce
which was readily granted by the court. The
next appearance of Dora was in New Orleans
where her former social position was unkno wn,
and where she was wholly thrown upon hei
, merits as an actress for success. 1t we're need
less to say that she failed to elict one single
: plaudit.
The rest of the story is soon told Abandoned
by friends, home husband, pennlless, she fell
10 use her own wOrds:-
, FELL like Ihe snow flakes. from heaven TO hell
! Fell, to be trampled as filth In the street;
Fell, to be scoded, to be spttten and beat;
Pleading, ...~
--H Dreading to die;