Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-11-22
3us Aueeles Nrrald.
OWENS BABY.


The Famous Comedian Adopts Poundling-
Iafantile Hslplessnsss Finds a Responsive
Chord in the 0ctogenarian Breast-The
Light Of Other Days.
From the.s. F. Post, Nov. 49,
The following letter from the cell
ebrated comedian, who is the GEN.
trail figure of the interesting incl
dent subjoined, is self-explanatory:
PALACE HOTEL, Nov 10, 1879.
My Dear Sir: Thank you for the
advance proof ofyour article, which
Ia correct in almost every particu-
lar, except that you have over
drawn the scene in the theatre
slighIy, and made, l think, too
much fun of a matter which to me
is one Of the most serious events OF
nv life, Little David for / have
resolved to call him after you) is
sleeping quietly in the new crib |
bought for him this morning. and
I have an alcohol lamp to warm
his milk the moment he wakes up.
1 have already learned how to
dress, undress, wash and powder
him, from a kind matron residing
on the floor below, and can per-
form every Office that his infantile
helplessness demands of me. l had
TO discard the "Maws Feeding Bot
tle'' for another kind with rubber
attachment that works better. If
you know any friends who have
children and could spare me few
bibs and one or two pinning blank
cts, send them along. l have all
the dIadems I want. ID. is just
waking up, and the little rascal has
kicked off one his wooden shoes.
Excuse my closing this abruptly,
as have to take him. He has
commenced to cry. Your sincere
friend, JOHN E. OWENS.
THE FACTS OF THE CASE,
Which will be eagerly read by all
who know Mr.. Owens, are as fol-
lows: He had retired to his room
on Monday about half-past three in
the afternoon, and, after taking off
his coat and shoes, lain down to
take a short siesta as preparation
for his evening labors. He was
Just beginning to doze off when he
heard loud knock at the door,
which he answered by requesting
the caller to wait. About a min
ute and a half elapsed while he was
putting on his boots and coat, DUR
ing which he heard the rustling Of
the dress of some person evidently
hurrying down the corridor and
the cry of an infant. When he
opened the door there was no one
in sight, while on the mat outside
lay a beautiful baby boy about
three months old, with large blue
eyes. and Growing Justify. When
his first burst of astonishment had
passed away, he naturally lifted
the little one and noticed a page of
note paper pinned to its dress. On
this was written:
"My Dear Sir: 1 have seen your
performance of Higgins in DIR.
Clyde and consider it one of the
finest representations l ever wit
messed. The only way in which 1
can evince my gratitude to you is
by offering you one of the loveliest
infants I could select from the
Orphan Asylum. Take 1t and cher
ish 1t, and may God bless you and
prosper you.
IAN UNKNOWN ADMIRER.n
He was on the point of taking the
little helpless cherub, and in a mo-
ment of
ANGER AKIN TO INSANITY
Dashing 1t to the floor. but the
baby was smiling at him, and his
heart melted in a moment, while
great tears welled up from the
prineely breast of the old comedian
as he folded it to his bosom and
carried it into his suit of rooms.
There he laid it tenderly on the bed,
covered it with red handkerchief
and a green coat, wrapped its little
feet in an old scratch wig, looked
at 1t, chucked it under the chin and
-wells-kissed it till his prickly
beard made 1t cry. Then he
soothed it, and pulling an
arm chair close to the bed,
contemplated the situation.
'sI'll keep it,n he cried, ''in spite
of what 0ny one may say. Pm
eighty-four years old and a mem
Der of the Baptist Church, and only
six weeks in the city. I'll defy
public opinion; rll be - if /
don't.n Next he rang the bell, sent
for Mr.. Sharon, told his story and
his resolve. The latter secured the
services of kind lady guest, who,
amply provided by Mr.. Owens
with the necessary funds,
secured q lavish outfit for
the foundling within an
hour. When the time came to go
to the theatre, he for the first time
felt anxious obout his treasure. He
could not leave it, and some one
might steal 1t. Like the Spartan
heroes Of old, he faced the music,
the gibes of the company and the
incredulous disgust of the leading
lady and the soubrette, and with
the child sleeping in his arms and
q feeding bottle sticking out of his
pocket, entered his dressing room,
where he improvised a crib. He
would allow
NO ONE TO NURSE 1T,
Except his friend Mr.. Kennedy, nor
to touch it or handle it. The noise
Of the orchestra woke it up, and its
screams drove the leader nearly
wild and annoyed the audience,
but he persevered, and merely set
his teeth and sent for some paragon
ic. How he sat up all night with
IL and sent for DR.. Bishop to allay
its collie, and how devotedly he
nurses 1t day and night are matters
which will be told by and by. His
act was that of good, brave and
generous soul, and, as such. de-