Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-07-08
COULDN'T SUCCEED.
How Anna Dickinson Tried to Get
Drunk and Failed.

Chicago Letter.
"Yes," said an old English friend
of mine, 81 have seen all the actors Of
any note who have been on the boards
during the last fifty years; have list
ened to the most of the great singers
and musical artists during that time,
and | believe there is but one person,
besides myself, in Chicago, who has
ever listened to Paganini's divine
tones. believe any intelligent per-
son, although he may not happen to
be newspaper man, is able to form
a pretty correct judgment after that
number of years of experience and
observation. You remember that
told you that Anna Dickinson would
never be more than a curiosity as
s'Hamlet," when the announcement
was first made that she would appear
in that part. Now, my reason for
that was, that although Anna is, in
many ways, really a nice fellow, she
is not altogether virile and manly.
don't believe that ever told you that
story Of her attempt to get drunk
Well, whenever she wishes to express
an opinion upon any subject, either
privately or in public, she makes her.
self practically the master, as far as
possible, of experiments and expert
ences, giving her nearly absolute
knowledge in the matter.
Some years ago she was interested
in the subject of intemperance.
First, she read up the subject thor
oughly 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 intemperance, but
in and about the lowest dives in New
York and Philadelphia. Not salts
fed with seeing all that could be
seen of drunkenness and it's results,
she concluded to 60 to work syste-
matically 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
u physician within call, and then, or
dering liquors, set about getting
chock full in most methodical fash
ion. First she drank freely of the
lighter wines. These had no effect
upon her, when she resorted to
stronger liquors. She drank
OH until she had taken
about everything from claret
to straight old Crow and enough
altogether to have sent dozen roys-
tering Scotchmen under the table.
Still she was not drunk. All of a
sudden, however, Miss Anna jumped
about four feet in the air, claspcd her
head in her hands wildly, and gave a
very womanly sort of shrek. The
doctor was Immediately called, and
declared that one more glass of liquor
would have surely had fatal effect.
She was promptly pumped out, and
this result was several weeks serious
illness. But, mind you, she did not
get drunk!"
"Now,' continued the old gentle
man, his eyes twinkling with merri-
ment, "the reason why Anna Dick
inson can't play Hamlet are identi-
Cal with those why she can't get
drunk-and fellows no fellow at
all, you know, if he can't get full
she simply can't do it.'
l subsequently learned from ho-
tel clerk in this city, who was former
ly at the Continental, that this state
ment regarding Miss Dickinson's ex-
pertinent with liquor was true, and
it came very near being the cause, al
one time, Of very unjust accusations
against Miss Dickinson's character.
A few years ago large farms were