Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-15
The Handsomest Woman.
MISS LOUISE MONTAGUE CHOSEN AS FORE
PAUGH's PRIZE BEAUTY-HER AP-

MISS LOUISE MONTAGUE CHOSEN AS FORE
PAUGH's PRIZE BEAUTY-HER AP-
PEARANCE-BEAUTY.
Miss Louis Montague, a variety actress,
who has been recently playing an engage
ment at Philadelphia theatre, has been
awarded the prize of $4,000 offered Dy
Adam Forepaugh, the veteran Snowman,
| for the services of '1the handsomest lady
in the land,'' to personate Lalla Rookh in
the gorgeous pageant which is to form
conspicuous feature of his street process
sion every day. Miss Montague was Sc
! lected out OF some three OR four thousand
| applicants, many of whom were very beau
tiful. In making his choice Mr.. Fore
paugh's representative was guided largely
| by other considerations than those of beau
| ty alone. Besides pretty face, they in
cluded a symmetrical and graceful figure,
responsibility and intelligence. Miss Mon
tague is a native of New York city, and
81 years of age. In 1877 she made her de-
but in New York as burlesque actress.
Having an excellent voice and being hnu-
sually handsome, she obtained good en-
| gagements. subsequently, she became a
variety actress. While she was playing in
indianapolis. two weeks ago, her photo
graph was sent to Mr.. Forepaugh. AT
that time the choice had narrowed down
to a few applicants, but Miss Montague
at once secured the approval of Mr.. Fore
paugh aud his agents. Miss Montague
| signed the contract at Mr.. Forepaugh's
| residence in Philadelphia on Friday, en-
gaging herself to appear for thirty weeks.
She will be paid the 1000 in weekly in
stalments. A reporter of the Philadelphia
tsproop - VIII n with q nIlmhQr
| of other newspaper men. was presented TO
Miss Montague in Philadelphia on Sunday
evening, had the following interview with
her:
II was born in New York. said Miss
| Montague, without mentioning the date
which her inquirer was too polite to ask
Il am an opera bouff performer and have
been playing at the Grand Central Theatre
in this city. / sing well; in fact; much
better than the average variety performer
/ would shrink from an engagement of SC
public character if it were not for the
money [ am confident that [ shall be
successful, and you can say so if you wish
III fact you can see that for yourself"
''Have you ever heard OF Lily Langtry
the English beautyY' was asked.
ooh, yes, was the response, with toss
of the head, ''but am not intimate with
her. She would never do for Lalla Rookh
in the street pageant IN FGrepaugh's show
do not know that she was an applicant
for this prize, but she has certainly not
succeeded in gaining it. Don't forget te
state that am the best-dressed woman
on the variety stage. My costumes are
simply superb"
By this time the other gentlemen pres
emit had become so jealous Of the attention
paid by the dazzling beauty to the ''Press,.
reporter that the latter deemed it prudent
to withdraw before blood was she'd.
Miss Montague will appear III a howdah
on the back of an elephant in the street
parades. The reporters differ in Their
statements as to her appearance. The
Philadelphia 'Press'' man says she has
gray eyes and dark hair. while the Phila
delphia ''North Americans" representa-.
tive asserts that her eyes are blue and her
hair dark, wavy chestnut. The Phila
delphia 'sTimes'' describes her as small
spirited looking woman, with bright eyes,
an animated face, red lips, perfect teeth
regular features and good figure.
On being asked whether she did not find
it rather embarrassing to see so many
newspaper men at once, Miss Montague
replied quickly, ''Oh, it ism $50 bad as ele-
phat riding, suppose" which would in
dictate that one of Mr.. Forepaugh's condi-
tions, at least, that of Intelligence" is
fully satisfied.