Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-02-12
From the Macon (GeorEia) Sentinel ]
ssThe FALLEN Snow,

AESsRs. EDITORS :-H on published in
your paper of Wednesday morning the
above poem, q production of extraor-
Edinary merit The author'sfname does
not appear, no doubt to the disappoint-
ment of many readers who admire the
true and beautiful in sentiment and
composition. Knowing her history,
purpose giving brief biography.
The maiden name of the author was
Dora Shaw. She was born and grew
into womanhood in the Wabash Val
ley, Indiana. Her parents 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 receive. That &C.
complished, her father and mothers
next ambition was to wed her to some
wealthy and distinguished gentleman.
As is too often the case. .fhey had tho ia
tai delusion that the daughters will
should be sacrificed upon the altar of
Msmmon that wealth and ambition
should be preferred to love. ~
In 1850 F. s. LeBaum and Dora Shaw
were married. LeBaum was citizen,
and the possessor of immense property
in st. Louis. Being in the Wabash
Valley upon business of his house, he
saw, loved and Wooed this young, beau
tifui and accomplished woman. He
did not get her own, but her parents
consent, and the marriage which fol-
lowed was halloHed by no love, save
upon the side of the husband.
Taking his bride home to his splen-
did palace in the city, she was there
given everything that wealth could be-
stow. Still she was not happy. Did
you ever see a contented eagle in
gilded cage2 s--5- s, Z. ~
The wife was at once introduced to |
and became the admiration of the best (
people of the city. To the outward |
world She appeared the happiest of |
mortals, illustrating how few there are I
who really know the secret sorrows of 1
the human heart. She passed her I
hours IN splendid misery.
Z Atthat time the. famous theatrical 1
manager. Ben. DeBar, had q fine COM /
pany at the st. Louis Theatre. His /
leading star was Miss Annette Ince- I
no less renowned for her acting mimic
life than her beauty and many woman
ly virtues. To this theatre Mr.. and
Mrs. LeBaum went one night, and wit
messed play. Dora had never been
inside theatre before, and before the
curtain fell upon the second act, she
had taken a 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 obtained, who saw in the aspirs.
tons of the lady a chance to make a
splendid hit and put gold in his purse.
He gave her every encouragement, dis
missed the idea of her first assuming
a second part, bat assured her. she !
should make her debut in the leading
character of the play she had witness.
ed-' julia in the HsDsek6aok. More
than encouraged, indeed, compietely
resolved, Dora at once commenced the
study of the play, and possessing a
quick intellect, Wss at least master of
the language in a few days. Private
rehearsals appeared to give perfect
satisfaction to the manager, as well as
his company-trsined for that particu-
lar purpose and for that occasion. Ant
this was kept from her husband.
sa0ne morning the city was thrown
into fever. BY. an announcement in
all the journals, and upon the buiIetin
boards, that miss Dora Shaw would
appear that night as Julia in.Sheridan
Knowles great play, entitled the
Hunchbsck." LeBaum and his friends
were struck as if by thunderboIt
from heaven. He first entreated, sp-
pealed and threatened his wife. and
next the manager, and finally declared
his intention 70 murder her upon the
stage the moment she made her an
pearsnce.e All to no purpose. The
manager duly had all this passed into
the streets, which of course increased
the sensation and strengthened the de-
sire to attend. Every ticket was sold
by nine o'clock, and it were needless
to say that when night came that place
of amusement occupied the THOUGHTS
of the city. 5-7 .I.,.-- s-s so
4 The curtin rose-DoTa appeared
walked, stammeTed, blushed and re-
peated her part mechsnieally-like
any school girl reading her compost
tion at an examination. Still the au-
dience was pleased, but by the novelty
of the occasion. The next, the third.
fourth and fifth nights were like the
first. Then the morbid appetite of the
public, satiated with novelty, demau-
ded good acting. This Dora could not
supply. The audience fell of, the
manager became restless, dissatisfied.
refused to offer a re-engsgement, but
that she had best go TO an
other city.
In the mean time, LeBaum sued for
a divorce, which was readily 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 up
on her merits as anactress for success.