Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-26
a STAGE STRUCK GIaL
Experience of MisS Mary Hig.
gins. Who Wished 90 be an
Actress, bui Not a Variety
esirl.



New YORK, November 2l.-There
is joy 10 the family of the Higginses,
of 635 Water street, over the return
Of Miss Mary Higgins, aged seventeen
years, who was decOyed to Chicago,
and placedin a low dance hall through
the Misrepresentation of a dramatic
agent Of this city. A reporter called
at the house this morning and was re
eeiyed by Mrs, Higgins, a eomely mid
die aged woman, who, By. her manner
and language, gave evidence Of hav-
ing known more prosperous days than
these Of the present, her apartments
being humble but scrupulously neat.
The sllusion to her daughters sdven-
ture drew tears to the mothers eyes.
Mary she said, has for some time
cherished the idea Of going on the
stage, and the reading Of dramatic
notices aod stories relating to the ao>
tors life made her dissatisfied with her
lot. Whenever she preached the sub.
iect OF going on the stage | reprOved
her, for both myself and husband op
posed her desire in that respect
When she found we would never per
nit her to take such a step, she sec,
reilly made endeavors to get on the
stage, and two weeks ago answered an
advertisement for young ladies to 60
on the stage in Chicago, the article
further relating that no experience
was necessary.
But, perhaps" said Mrs. Higgins,
Il had better let Mary speak for her
self. tsrtl.f
She called her, and a slender girl
with rosy checks and long auburn hair,
which was done up in heavy eurls,
came tripping into the room. With
her eyes flashing, and letter from a
dramatic agency in her hand, she said:
81 have been shameiully imposed
upon, and intend to bring the au-
thors of all my trouble to justice. Yes,
| always did have a great desire to 90
on the stage and, bursting into tears,
she continued: IL think / might have
accomplished something under proper
circumstances. | answered an adver
tisement two weeks ago, and called
upon Mr.. r. FITZGERALD, dramatic
sgent, No. 10 Union Square. He told
me that be wanted to engage young
ladies to go on the stage in Chicago at
So Q week in hrst-elass theater. He
drew up a contract and / signed it,
taking a duplicate, with me, which l
lost on the train. In company with
halt dozen other young girls | was
placed on the train in charge Of a Mr..
Howard, who was accompanied by his
wife. He was represented to me as
the owner Of the theater at Chicago
10 which we we're to play. When we
got to the city we were all taken to
the Buckingham Palace and told that
we would have to sit in the'boxes and
take drinks with the gentlemen when
not on the STAGE"
Il got out OF that place, continued
Miss higgins, as quick as | could, and
went toSt Mary's church, and thl ough
the demands of the Alderman, Mr..
Howard consented to buy me ticket
back to New York, although be at
first declared most positively that he
would not do a thing for me. And
just think. continued the disappoint.
ed girl, they made M declare here
that | was Of good moral character,
and did not swear or smoke or drink
to excess. All Of the girls we're as
badly deceived as l, and l don't know
how they are getting along out there,
a. none Of them had any money when
they left here"