The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-04-21
THE NATURAL LEAF FIRST
An Albany newspaper prints the

actress, who belonged to the stock
company at the Leland a few years
ago, and who was a great favorite
with our theatre goers. She is now
leading lady at Days theater in
New York, and occupies very
prominent professional position in
the metropolis. While in Louis
vile short time ago a Southern
gentleman, a planter broad of
shoulder, gray of head, and large
fortune, who had his winter head
quarters at the old Gait house, after
witnessing her performances two
or three evenings became desper-
ately in love with her. He did not
allow that old thief procrastination
to steal much time on him. He
believed in a rapid advance on the
enemy. He was in love; he was
wealthy; lie was by no means home
ly in feature, or humanity in ap-
pearance. He dressed well, drank
good wine, was an inordinate chew
er of plug tobacco, wintered at the
finest hotel in Kentucky, and de-
spite the "cussed wah, sab, and
the Emancipation act, sah," he had
his negro servats.
Now, he argued, here is an act
ress, "by CAD, sir,'' whose salary
for week isn't equal to the cost
Of my daily after-dinner wine. He
would offer himself and his hand
with all the pecuniary emolu-
ments there-unto belonging.
How could she refuse such an
| opportunity-that of becoming the
| wife of a heightened, A No. lplan-
ter? Especially planter of the
| name Of Sidney.
One of his friends was also a
friend of Macauley. Through his
intervention the aspiring planter
obtained an introduction at her
hotel to the idol of his suddenly
| aroused sentiment of affection.
Il will see the gentleman" she
simply said, in answer to the in
troductory note, little dreaming
what the object OF the individual
might be.
After the usual "weather" for
| malities and the rise-in-the-river
question had been satisfactorily
| disposed of, Planter Sidney, to use
the stage vernacular, ''came to He
| cuba
"Miss," said he, 'I'm a plain
| man, and | don't think there is any
necessity Of beating around the
bush. You can't bring down a
| swamp coon by talking, miss
You'll pardon the expression"
Then he bluntly told her his
story. She should have ''splen-
did home,'' an army of niggers to
attend at her call; should winter
| in N'Orleans, Louisville, ''any
| whah" she chose, and have a fiji
| out that would make "Queen Vic
toria" green with envy.
The actress listened respectfully.
She saw this man was honest, sim
cere, and meant what he said.
"IfI consented to become youl
wife, sir, | should first desire time
to understand your disposition;
second, l should desire your con-
sent to two propositions.s
"Name EN- he said.
"You must consent to my re-
manning on the stage ten years
longer at least"
"Umph? Well, I don't think |
| would"
"And you must at once cease
| the use of tobacco-except in the
form of cigars %
"W- hat" s'The planter start
ed back in his chair, looked around
the hotel parlor, stared at her, and
from his lips there followed a pro-
longed whistle.
"Great CAD, miss? Surely-why
WE'LL" and then he again stared.
Il mean what ] say"
"Come now," he found voice to
speak "come now, miss-let' s
compromise. I'll agree to your
acting year or two, but don't cut
off my tobacco-don't. Td-it
would-don't.'
"You have heard the alternative. "
''Then, by Jackson, there's moth
ing more to be said. l like you
you'd suit me; but when it comes
to choosin' between cliewin' and
marryin', give me the natural leaf
first, last, and always. Good
day, miss"
And as red in the face as a South
ern sunset, he took his hat and his
departure. She never saw him