Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-05-23
Sad Story of a Life.


A writer in the Macon (Ga.) Sentinel
thus dishes up piece Of scandal concern
ing some St. Louis people, which occur
red years since
In 1850, E. S LeBaum and Dora Shaw
were married. LeBaum was citizen, and
the possessor of an immense property in
St. Louis. Being in the Wabash Valley
upon business of his house, he saw, loved
and wooed this young, beautiful and ac-
complished woman He did not get her
own, but her parents consent, and the
marriage, which followed, was hallowed by
no love, save upon the side of her hus-
band
Taking his bride home to his splendid
palace in the city, she was there given ev-
| erything that wealth could bestow. Still
she was not happy.
| The wife was at once introduced to and
became the admiration of the best people
Of the city. To the outward world she APP
peared the happiest Of mortals, illustrating
how few there are who really know the Sc
cret sorrows of the human heart. She
passed her hours in splendid misery.
At that time the famous theatrical man
ager, Ben DeBar, had 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 thea
tire Mr. and Mrs LeBaum went one night,
and witnessed a play. Dora had never
been inside a theatre before, and before the
curtain fell upon the second act she had ia
ken resolution which should change the
whole course of her life-she had deter
mined to be an actress like Miss Ince.
An interview with the manager was ca
silly obtained, who saw in the aspirations of
the lady chance to make 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 in the lead
ing character of the play she had witnessed
Julia, in the ''Hunchback." 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 as
well as to his company-trained for that
particular purpose and for that occasion.
All this was kept from the husband.
One morning the city was thrown into
fever by the announcement in all the journ-
ais, and upon the bulletin boards, that
Miss Dora Shaw would appear that night
as Julia in Sheridan Knowles great play
entitled the Hunchback.'' lie Baum and
his friends were struck as if by thunder
boltfr heaven. He first entreated appeal
ed to and threatened his wife, and next the
manager, finally declared his intention 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 increased the
sensation and strengthened the desire to
attend. Every ticket was sold by 9 o'clock,
and it were needless to say that when
night came the place of amusement occu-
pied the thoughts of the city.
The curtain rose-Dora appeared
walked, stammered, blushed, and repeat
ed her part mechanically like any school
girl reading her composition at an exami-
nation. Still the audience was pleased
not by the acting, but by the novelty of
the occasion. The next. the third the fourth
and fifth nights were like the first. The
morbid appetiteaof the public satiated with
novelty demanded good acting. This Dora
could not supply. The audience fell off. the
manager became restless, dissatisfied, and
refused to offer re-engagement, but
intimated that she had best 60 to another
city.
In the mean time Lebaum sued for d.
v0rce, which was rapidly granted by the
court. The next appearance OF Dora was in
New Orleans, where her former social po-
sition was unknown, and where she was
wholly thrown upon her merits as an act
ress for success. It were needless to say
that she failed to elicit one single plaudit
The story is soon told. Abandoned by
friends, home, husband, penniless, she fell
to use her own words:
aFell like the snowfakes, from heaven to hell;
Fell, to be trampled like filth in the street:
Fell, to be scoffed to be spit on and beat;
Pleading,
Cursing,
Dreading to de-
Selling her soul to whoever would buy,
Dealing in shame for morsel OF bread,
Hating the living and fearing the dead"
The fighting editor Of Mississippi pa
nnr tells an tsO'nr frua ta1oD M, hitusaIf