Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-28
MATILDA'S MADNESS.


How the Eccentrfc Actress Made
Reporter swallow Magnesia.
From the San Francisco chronicle.l
The gas was lit, and near the windov
sat small, pale child, girl about siI
or eight years of age. This was Ma
tiIda Heron's little daughter. The re
porter took an armchair proHered b,
Matilda and survey Of the disorderl.
room. tyfr
Matilda -Bijou, my darling, leave u
for a little while. aRh =
The little, girl arose, left her meal
and quietly withdrew from the room.
gf'aita THE MYSTERIOUS BOTTLE. a
Matilda--So i have those who ar,
enough interested in me to wish to know
what / have been given from dead Harry
Byrnes plenty2 Well, IT, A sh y
Here her eye fell upon large bottle
of some kind Of liquid standing on q
table. Selling it, she shook it in the
astonished reporters face, and almost
shrieked, "Do you see it? Do you see
it? Don't say it's. whisky It's not
whisky IL is not rum! 1t does NOT
make drunkli Seel see see" y" IA
saw. The bottle was labelled, Citrate
of magnesia." E o Nt Ea b E (
ReporterT-I see what i. is. ! will not
say is spirits. f 4,ja58
Matilda-No, you cannot say so; you
cannot say so, but you shall taste, and
then you cannot say only told you il
was not rum. e-m .a
sr Saying this, she placed her left arm
around the reporters neck, and with her
right hand placed the neck of the bottle
to his lips.
The reporter was a small man--Ma-
tilda was a stroag woman. He did not
want to take the mixture, whatever it
was. He told Matilda SO. He said, II
know it's not whisky. 1t smells sour,
and | know it's not spirits of any kind. !"
Matilda-Yes; you shan't say, She
told me it was not whisky; it did not
look like whisky; it was not labeled
whisky; it did not smell like whisky. :"
You have got to say all this, and besides
you have got to say, 1T did not taste
like whisky" wns 4waU
Reporter-It is not necessary. | am
willing to declare that what is in that
bottle is not whisky. la ia rH
Matilda-But you could not do so
truthfully. Come, taste; that is good
dear. 5F.f.,...t.
Reporter-0, my dear madam, don't
insist upon my tasting this. assure
you It Is not necessary.
Matilda-Yes, but you must. Matilda
Heron Byrne says taste. haAfsA ffd
THE REPORTER TAXES A NIP.
The grip of her right arm frightened
about the reporters neck, the neck OF
the bottle was pressed firmly against his
teeth and lips, and he saw that he must
either taste or have q struggle to get
loose, so he decided torun the risk, and
yelled out, "Stopl III taste itl' Ftr
This caused q cessation Of the bottle
attack The reporter took the stuff
from Miss Heron's hand and slipped
few drops from the bottle It had a
pleasant acid taste. 1t was citrate of
and not prussio acid, after all.
He took big swallow, and smiling
handed back the bottle to the triumphant
woman, who laughed in a manner so
peculiar that it made the reporter feel
queer. EIkNl "a 6Ak1gI y wv ~
Matilda-Now go and say that was
whisky if you dare.
Reporter-I assure you I'll say it was
citrate Of magnesa.
Matilda-fes, you must. Now sit
down. .g.anIl
The reporter seated himself, aud
opened his notebook.
Matilda-Therel you have your note
book and shorthand already TO proclaim
10 the world what you call the rawlings
Of an insane old woman. Now, don't
you put'pencil to paper till ! say when.