The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-08
THE STORY OF ELLA D0YARA.
THE BEAUTIFUL QUEEN OF THE CIR
GUS WHO WIS ONLY 4 BOH


Honor-uer Charities and her Discretion.
One OF Thomas Bailey Aldrch's best short
stories is called Mademosellc Olympic "a
briski." II tells how young Van Twillcr. tho
scon OF one OF New York's most worthy Knick-
crbooker families wealthy. handsome. talented.
much sought after by tho young women OF his
SGT. fell desperately in love with female rapcze
performer called Mademoiscllo Olympic Ia
briski. whom he happened to see Mt n variety
theatre. In Van Twillor's eyes. Olympic was
not common circus girl. Sho was a most
daring and startling gymnaste with beauty
and grace OF movement that gave her auda-
-cious performance almost an air Of prudery.
Watching her wondrous dcxterity and plant
strength. both exercised without apparent
effort II seemed the most natural proceeding In
Che world that she should do those unpardon
able things. She had a way OF melting from
one graceful posture into another. like the dis
solving figures thrown from n stereopticon.
Sho was 1.-the. radiant shape out Of tho Gre
clan mythology"
Young Van Twller haunted tho theatre when
.sho appeared worshipping Mt a distance his
common sense telling him TO give up his wild
and unreasonable fancy. his honor preventing
him from even seeking m interview with the
girl At last he determined to go to Europe to
escape from the destinations OF Olympic. but be-
foro going he resolved TO send her a present
worthy Of his passion and OF Van Twicr.
Ho chose a magnificent diamond bracelet and
sont It to tho theatre. In return came tho fol-
lowing note;
Ma Van TwrLrR-D.tr sir. am very rroaiiull to
ioc The Nadsmocc zabri.8 dos about piaG T out
Ny beard Is getting too much tor me shall have 60
nusiash anl take to some other line OF BUSINESS don't
..l that Bracelet rcas acccp my thanks for your
Bcauuia land uncNpccicd present.
lNI rf afHU arr
CnARtFs MoSruosESoi WALTERS
dr Van Twiller did not 20 TO Europe
II Mr.. Aldrich did not have the once famous
Ella ZoyarO." known in Europe and America
rs ono Of the most remarkable equestrennes Of
any time. in his mind when he wrote the story.
tho coincidence is remarkable. for his descrip-
ton Of "Olympe Zabriski" is that OF Ella
Ioyara" The effect OF the former on Van Twill
Ter was repeated scores Of times by the atter on
the gilded youth OF two continents and both
were young men. Ella Zoyara being simply
Omar Kingsley. the news Of whose death in
Bombay. India. has but recently reached this
city.
Tho story Of Kingsley's remarkable career IA
q female impersonator SURPRISES in interest
any fiction that has been written on like sub
iect. Ho was born in Louisiana in 1910. and
when n child moved TO St. Louis with his fam
y Spencer .. Stokes was then the leading
Snowman Of the West and Southwest. and was
In st. Louis giving circus performances and
spectacular displays. in which children took
part. Among those whom he engaged for such
performances was little Omar Kingsley. then
years old. The boy took kindly TO the business.
and the result was that he was apprentced
10 Stokes. TO learn tho art OF circus
riding. About this time Maybee's Circus
rival Of Stokess. came TO St. Louis and rs a
great attraction advertised Miss Wells the
equestrienne who afterward married Mr..
Frank Whitaker OF this city. In those days
women who could ride well were not rs penti-
full as now. and Miss Wells who was an excel
lent performer. drew well. Stokes was at loss
for counter attraction. Among his appren-
tices was boy called Leon" graceful
rider. Stokes Immediately filled the city with
the largest posters then known. announcing
the appearance OF Mile Belle Caroline. a won
derful French equestrienne direct from Paris
Then dressing Leon in woman's attire. he sent
him into the ring to personate Belle Caro-
line" The next day the rival manager posted
Belle Caroline as n fraud-a boy in girls cloth
ing. OF course the result was that the people
nocked to Stokes's canvas to see for themselves
the new and mysterious rider. and Stokes's
treasury was Overlooking and his rivals corre-
This Incident gave to Stokes an idea that he
immediatelY acted upon tI'' e. Omar was VAS
and Stokes had seen that in the children's per-
formances in which he had appeared. the boy
caslon demanded that he should be dressed as
such Stokes determined TO rear the boy as a
girl, and to train him ms rider. To this end
the boy was thereafter always attred in the
garb OF the female sex; his companions were
girls Of his own age; his pursuits and plays
were those OF girls; he was taught 10 sew. to
ombroider. and in short. he was carefully
reared as q girl He was called Ella" The
boy soon became an excellent rider. and early
evinced a decided talent for acting. and when.
II ls4S; stokes built the Peoples Amphi-
were Lending attractions.
In 1852 Stokes decided to go TO Europe He
thought that he had great attraction ia Omar,
or Ella. now a boy OF ~. Six years OF careful
training had made a wonderful rider OF the
boy, and six years OF the incubation OF iem.
nine ways and graccs, the constant wearing OF
feminine garb before the public and in private.
combined with certain physical advantages,
to deceive the most critical. Omar at that tlmo
was a mediums sized boy His face was oval
and his features very regular. His eyes were
hair hung to his waist. He had worn corsets so
long that hi waist was small and round. Round
limbs and "A full bust completed Il figure
essentially feminine. His voice was girlish,
soft and low. There were but two or three
persons connected with the establishment who
knew that Ella was Il boy. He himself seemed
to enter into the scheme Of his employer heartl.
ly, and was remarkably discreet. He associated
with the young women OF the circus. occupied
the same dressing room with them, and not one
OF them knew OF the deception. The history OF
snance. as il was told Yesterday by Mr.. 8. d.
Stokes in this city. Mr.. Stokes Ia the father OF
Miss Katie Stokes the equestrlenne connected
with Barnums show, and his life has been
spent In the circus business.
>" We first opened in Drury Lane Theatre,
London" Mr.. Stokes said. and from the very
beginning Ella made a, hit Just as had ex-
pected she would: mr.. Stokes throughout his
Interview, with few exceptions, spoke OF tho
boy MS she. and seemed to be thoroughly i'm
pressed with the idea that he was n grill She
played under the name Of Ella then-nothing
"a WA n nr on
the Continent as Ella Zoyara.' The 'Zoyara
was added years aiterward She looked in
those days like girl Of 49, was remarkably
anything like her on horseback. She had a
was absolutely perfect. You sec that's where
she surpassed every one-in style. Everything
was done with dash and fire that were thrill
Ing. and yet with an ease aud grace that were
charming. No woman could compare with her.
before or since
In those days It was quite tho thing for tho
young men OF rank and wealth 10 90 to the sta
Dies between acts. and to send in their cards to
those of the performers whom they desired to
sec. One night the Princes Frederick and Will
liam OF Prussia came to the theatre with Col.
Phpps. and between the acts came back TO the
stable. They were delighted with Elias per-
Torrance. and said so, and asked me to 20 10
Prussia. They asked TO see Ella, and l per-
mittod them 10 do 80. in my presence Of course.
made IL rule 10 go with her ql-
ways. and to DO with her whenever she
raeoived calls Tho prinoes were very pOlite