The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-06
BESSIE TURNER.
HOW SHE CAME TO CT Upon THE STAGE.

A representative OF the Enquirer met
Miss Bessie Turner yesterday at the
Walnut Street House, and had very
pleasant chat with her. He found the
lady very bright, intelligent. and viva
cious, and, withal, with many claims TO
comeliness and to beauty. She is rather
below the medium size of women, with
large, lustrous eyes, and prominent feat
ures generally. In conversation she is
modest and unaffected, yet as sharp as
chain lightning, and after few moments
talk with her one can readily understand
how it was that she was able to bffie the
eunningest attempts of Theodore Tilton's
lawyers to make her stultify herself AZ
ter the usual greetings of the day had
been passed, our reporter explained that
the object Of his call was to learn from
her lips the reasons that induced her TO
adopt the stage as a profession. Miss
Turner smilingly announced her willing
ness to be interviewed on the subject,
though it was half evident that she felt
inclined to wish her prosecutor in Kam-
schataka.
well, to begin" said she, ''most peo-
pie, in consequence of my being mixed
up with the greatest scandal of modern
times, seem to regard me as sort of Gu
riosity, ard this fact annoys me beyond
measure. What | did in that case I CiId
out Of gratitude to Mrs. TiIton, who was
almost a mother to me. and the testimo-
MP gave was true III every particular to
the best of my knowledge and belief. 1t
was through my desire to serve my friend
that | got mixed up in the case, though
the strong points of NY testimony were
elected from me through information
given her lawyers by Mrs. Tilton. I
have been blamed by many for portions
of my testimony, which, God knows, l
had no desire to go upon the witness
stand and detail, no matter how true they
tions of the lawyers, who told me that the
life OF the case depended upon my telling
all ] knew. They were old, respected
citizens, as well as lawyers, fathers Of
families, and | was girl Of 16. Mind,
/ am not apologizing for what did. All
that told was true, and [ would testify
to the same facts tomorrow if necessity
required, but what I wish to say is that
if they feel inclined to blame me they
may know that / was not swift witness,
and only yielded my judgment to that Of
wise and honorable men. After the trial
I found myself notorious, and I was
sought after eagerly by managers who
desired me to enter the lecture field and
turn my notoriety into money. ! was of
tered 81, 900 by one gentleman merely to
accompany Olive Logan and show myself
on the stage twenty-six evenings. [
would not have had to lecture, but mere
ly to read little poem, give recitation,
or something OF that kind. Not wishing
to thrust myself on the public, I refused
to accept this and many other equally
advantageous offers, though I do not
know that my course was the Wisest for
me to pursue, as both Mr.. Beecher and
Mr.. TiLton have made the most out of
their connection with the case by lectur-
ing ever since. After the trial was over
| found myself thrown on my own re-
sources for my maintainance. I had been
teaching music In a certain school. bnt
after giving my testimony [ was dismiss
ed from the position, and then 1 began
to look around to see what ] could do.
had been told by many that the manner
IN which gave my testimony evinced
that possessed dramatic talent, and
thought best to devote myself to the
stage. La doing SO [ determined to be-
gin at the foot of the ladder and to learn
my art thoroughly, knowing that if DOS
sessed talent and adaptability for the pro-
feSslon that L should soon rise in if.
while if I began starring" after the
novelty of seeing me had worn off 7
would sink ont Of sight. I procured q
position in "a Celebrated Case Com.
pany, and made my debut as Annette in
Newark, under the name of Beth Averv.'
that beng my mothers maiden name,
and also my middle name. Mr.. Tilton
called me Bessie, to distinguish me from,
his wife, whose name is Elizabeth. be-
heve | was fairly successful in nv debpt
and L intend to work myself up in the
dramatic profession if hard work. study.
and the desire 10 improve will enable me
TO do So" This closed the interview.
Last night, at the Grand Opera House. a
great number of ladies attended especiaI-
iy TO have look at Miss Turner. The
role requires her to be in at the rise of
the curtain. but as the name Of the char
;scter she represents is not prominently
mentioned, a great many were unable to
decide which of the many ladies OF the
company on the stage at the time was
she. For the benefit of those who attend
tonight, we viii state that at the BERN
ning OF the prologue she occupied chair
at the extreme right OF the stage facing
the audience.--Ciacinaat EraDaisaer.
1t seems to bs hard work to get to the
North Pole. 1t is to be approached only
by Laborydoor.
A cats eyes ere said to be the largest