The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-17

sorrows u OF iAlie' h6nnan heart. "Sbe
pessed erhours in splendid. misery
? Az that time che famous theatrical
manager, Ben. DeBar, had q fine
company atlthef 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, and witnessed play. Dora
had never been inside theatre be-
fore, and, before the curtain fell upon
the second act, she had taken q reso-
luton which would change the whole
course of her lifc-she had deter
mined to be an actress, like Miss
Ince.
An interview with the manager
was easily obtained, who saw in the
aspirations of the lady chance to
make splendid hit, and put gold in
his purse. He gave her every enc6u-
ragcment, dismissed the idea of her
first dssnming second part, but MS
sured her that she should make her
debutIin the leading character of the
play she had Witnessed t'Julia," in
the 'Hunchback." More than en-
couraged-indeed, completely re-
solved-Dora at once commemorative
study Of the. play, and, possessing n
quick intellect, 'was ut least master of
tho language Ill few days. Private
rehearsals appeared to give perfect
satisfaction to the manager, MS we'll
as to his company-trained for that
particular purpose and for that occa-
sion. All this was kept from the
husband.
One morning, the city was thrown
into fever by the announcement, in
all the journals and upon all the bull
letin boards, that "Miss Dora Shaw
would appear that night as Julia in
Sheridan Knowles great play, enti-
tied the Hunchback." LeBaum all d
his friends were struck as if by n
thunder bolt from heaven. He first
entrented, appealed and threatened
his wife, and next the manager, and
finally declared his intention to mur-
der 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 tho sensation,
and strengthened the desire to at
tend. Every ticket was sold by 8
o'clock, and it were needless to say
that when night came that place of
amusement occupied the thoughts of
the city.
The curtain rosc-Dora appeared
walked, stammered, blushcd and re-
peated her part mechanically-like
any school girl reading her compost
ton at an examination. Still the au-
dicnce was pleased-not by the act
ing, but by the novelty of the occa-
sion. The next, the third, fourth
and fifth nights were like the first
Then the morbid appetite of the
public, satisfied with novelty, de-
manded good acting. This Dora
could not supply. The audience fell
otf-the manager became restless,
dissatisfied-refuscd to offer a re-
engagement, but intimatcd that she
had best go to another city.
In the meantime, LeBaum sucd
for a divorce, which was readily
granted by the court. The next ap-
pcaranco Of Dora was in New Orleans,
where her former social osition was
unknown, and where she was wholly
thrown upon her merits as an actress
for success. Tits needless to say that
she failed to elicit one single plaudit.
The rest of the story is soon told.
Abandoned by friends, home, hus-
band, pennyless, she fell-to use her
own words
EEL like the snow-tlakcs, from heaven TO
hell"
The Court Journal relates q re-
markable case of the ruling passion