Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-04
The Brief Career and Tragic Fate of q Pretty
Danseuse.

The remains of Miss Kate Hayden, the
Young and beautiful danseuse, who died
in this city on Thursday from the effects
of injuries received on the night of the
goth of October, at the Metropolitan
Music Hall, were yesterday forwarded to
Cincinnati, her home, where they will
probably be inferred to-day.
Kate Hayden was perhaps no better
known than hundreds Of others of her
profession, but her tragic fate has carried
her name to every household in Louis
vile, and there was no one who read the
shocking details of the horrible accident
through which she met her death, who
had not some word of sympathy for the
unfortunate girl, or who could not for the
moment forget the unenviable calling to
which the last years of her life had been
devoted, and say: Poor girl She
never could have deserved 80 terrible a
fate What fearful death to die
She was Cincinnati girl, and in that
city she first took to the ballet for live
lihood. Her parents were Irish emigrants,
and little is known here of her childhood,
save that her father died, leaving her
mother in abject poverty, with Kate and
an older sister to care for and train up to
a useful life, if, under such discouraging
circumstances, two beautiful girls, con-
stantly exposed to the temptations which
always beset poor girls in large city,
could be brought to anything useful.
As che grew up, poor Kate's life was q
wretched one. The tolls and sorrows
inseparable from poverty like that
under which the Irish mother suffered,
we're not without their baneful results.
The temper of the head of the family,
never the most amiable, became soured
and vindictive, and Kate was not spared
when there was any occasion for repri-
mand or abuse. Her sister, q prettier
girl than Kate, seems also to have Joined
with her mother against her, and between
the two, the poor girl cher own story for
it) was made one of the most wretched
little creatures in existence.
The widow and her daughters lived op-
posite one of the telegraph offices, but
whether this had anything to. do with
Kate falling in love with one of the tele-
graph operators is more than is known
to many. This operator was somewhat
imaginative genius, and at one time
while employed at Nashville was corre-
spondent of either the Police Meas or
the Police Gazette-we don't remember
which. He thought great deal OF Kate,
and married her while she was yet very
young, much against the will of her
mother, for Kate had been brought up
Catholic, and her lover was Protestant.
She was turned out of doors, and as the
marriage ceremony had been performed
by magistrate, instead Of priest, the
mother declared it to be illegal, and en-
deavored to bring suit against the young
operator for seduction. So bitter were
the feelings engendered on both sides,
that the husband soon became disguised,
and would have nothing more to do with
Kate. who was thus thrown upon the
world. without home or friends. Her
mother was relentless, and when she was
about 10 be confined refused her shelter
The unfortunate girl was taken TO one Of
the hospitals, where she gave birth TO q
child. This child is still living.
In October, 1867, she made her debut
at the Palace Varieties, in Cincinnati,
then under the management Of Signor
Gus Bsrrown, the present accomplished
ballet master at the Metropolitan IN this
city, and took part 10 the rather omi-
nous spectacular Of The Derifs Auction,
then being brought out in that city. Her
pretty face, and slender. graceful figure,
~ere much in her favor, and il was soon
evident that she would AZ no distant day
rank among the fret in her profession
or fifteen other girls who entered the Va
rieties at the same time with her, all am
bilious Of success in their new calling.
every one failed, and we're compelled 10
seek other employment Strange 70 say,
during her very first engagement, she