Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-24
COULDN'T GET DRUNK.
One Of Anna Dickinssn's Dead
Failures.
Chicago Cor. Courier-.Tou,n.I

Yes said an old English friend of
mine, u have seen all of the actors Of
any note who have been on the board
during the last fifty years, have lis.
tened to most of the great singers and
musical artists during that time; and
/ believe there is but one person. be-
sides myself, in Chicago, who has aver
listened to Paganini's divine tones.
II believe any intelligent person.
although he may not happen to be a
newspaper man, is able to form a pref
ty correct Judgment after that mum.
Der ofyears of experience and obser-
walton. You remember | told you that
Anna Dickinson would never be more
than a curiosity as Hamlet when the
announcement was first made that she
would appear in that part. Now my
reason for what was that, although
Anna is, in many ways, really a nice
fellow, she is not altogether virile and
manly. l don't believe l ever told YOU
the story other attempt to get drunk.
well, whenever she wished to OK
pressed an opinion upon any
subject, either privately or in public,
she makes herself practically the mas
ter, as far as possible. of experiments
and experiences, giving her nearly abb
solute knowledge in the matter.
Some years ago she was interested
In the subject ofintemperance. First
she read up the subject thoroughly
from a scientific, ethical and social
standpoint. Then she secured male
attire and passed days and nights, not
only in the fashionable resorts of vice
and intemperence, but in and about
the lowest dens and dives ofNew York
and Philadelphia. Not satisfied with
seeing all that could be seer ofdrunk-
enneSS and its results, she concluded
to go to work systematically and get
drunk herself.
AT this time she was boarding at
the Continental, in the latter city. She
got one or two confidential friends in
her room, arranged to have a physi-
clan within call, and then ordering
liquors, set about getting chock full
III a mOoO ldoulO0.
First she drank freely of the light
or wines. These had no effect upon
her, when she resorted to stronger
liquors. She drank on until she had
taken about everything from claret to
straight old Crow and enough alto
gether to have sent a dozen registering
Scotchmen under the table. Still she
was not drunk. All Of a sudden, how
ever, Miss Anna jumped about four
feet in the air, clasped her head in her
hands widely, and gave a very woman
ly sort of a shrek.
The doctor was Immediately called
aud declared one glass more would
have surely had a fatal effect. She
was promptly pumped out, and the
result was several weeks serious ILL
ness. But, mind you, she did not get
drunk
"Now," concluded tho old gentle.
man, his eyes twinkling with merri-
ment, "the reason why Anna Dickin-
son can't play Hamlet are identical
with those why she can't get drunk
and a fellows no fellow at all, YOU
know, i he cant get tull-she simply
can't do itl'
| subsequently learned from a hotel
clerk in this city, who was formally
at the Continental, that this state
ment regarding Miss Dickinson's x
pertinent with liquor was true, and
that it came very near being the cause,
at one time, Of veryunjust accusations
against Miss Diekinson's character.