The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-06-21
FAY TEMPLETON'S LOVE
STORY.
Entranced With Negro Minstrel at
First Sight, She Marries Him De-
spite of Her Parents


spite of Her Parents
Detroit News.
The fact that "Billy" West, the minstrel,
went from Detroit to Tennessee and mar
ried Fay Templeton was noted in the News,
There was dash of romance about the
love affair of the Emerry minstrel and the
piquant bo,iffer, and the gossips of the
profession have had great deal to say
about it during the past year.
Miss Tenpleton has been on the stage
ever since she was five or six years old, and
became an enormous favorite in the South.
She was beautiful and precious child. An
old fashioned photograph which hangs in
the green room of the theatre at Little
Rock, Ark, shows her'to have been slender
and delicate, with great, earnest black eyes,
exquisite features and head crowned with
roguish little curls. Her father John Tenn
pletbn, a typical Southerner with long
black hair sallow features, and her mother,
AlICO NdhN1 q opuA hllll5 oOuDICbbS, WHO
now at forty is as supple and winsome as
the daughter, were for time the only
support of the infant phenomenon. When
affairs became very prosperous, Ellis Ryse,
the big basso, and a contralto singer
were secured But Gay" was the grand
attraction, and she sang and danced in
little farCeS and opperettas, and many Wee
her triumphant tours through the Southern
circuit and even away down into the WEST
Indies. The
CHILD PRODIGY DEVELOPED
into charming young woman. The thin
limbs grew round and symmetrical, the
big eyes blacker and saucer, and the crisp
cws became a wealth of raven ringlets
which, whenuconfined, as nthe Mascot
Tumbed in bewildering profusion about
plump shoulders and trim little waist.
Tier voice was a rich and mellow contralto,
not very well cultivated, but good enough
Tor the requirements of light opera II
Flort Fay at eighteen was stunner, and
Fhen Mr.. Billy West first saw her head
eclining on Pippo's breast and heard her
pity join in the Gobble, Gobble duet, he
gas, to use the comprehensive professional
hrase, 'paralyzed.'
When Miss Templeton went to the min
relS Matinee and Mr.. West, with his
primer Mr. Primrose, trippedlighty forth
~ pa began their gentcel song and dance,
knew that her hour had come. The
~ velvet coat, the knee-breeches w HIGH
'ealed the gentle cjirves of MI. Vests
'peIy calves, and the big diamond which
liAlea on the expansive shirt front, made
SIMPLY ravishing in her eyes. Her
Aatuatlon was complete when Mr. West
'r '0u very smooth, dressed very sprucely
- with the burnt cork carefully washed
's Oh his ears, obtained IAN introduction
Pusu a member of her company. 1t
j." mutual mash, and the elder Temple
Soon LOOK alarm. Their love for the
was almost idolatry. NOTHING was too
iol her and no deprivation was too
" II could add to her comfort. FAY
'ne choicest loom at every hotel. and
parents would go higher up where the
were cheaper. If there was an all
nut ray had section of the Pull
anu the rather and mother SAT mn in
4ulhary coach. They have been known
mn 4
WIS .llne and again to cut down ex.
lhey deprived themselves all
: They had N1 ''-0
!, DENT ALL THEIR ENERGIES
e. professional advancement and had
/. 81 iler at the head of well balanced
opera company. She was becoming
.'0"0 l"Vorlte everywhere, and her
: ''S were very bright. TWAS evident
D : 'lne was close at hand when there
;on ,.''V golden reward for the years
waiting and severe privation.
was young, beautiful, accomnlisb-
' j " , soon be rich. There was no
~ inc orilliancy of the future which
Otured Tor her.
}. has been the old story over again.
ES ..ss ~ l'' Vi 'ne parents have been nm
t tlo prospects for the future disre.
s;5 is oouncing Fay is now the min
'" "'u The old folks are disconso-
IL y .oula have had her pick of the
oas "'al'ny youths who paid her
s..; 'N overwhelmed her with flowers
people will think her unwiso -
.a9 ros sn away on niger singer
g s ~, .,nul' may be, or what effect the
sAnn rn nave nav, on Fay's professional,
NJ 4 IA IVY oe determined. 1t is inter
Esss t s. mat Miss Templeton was
"a lrS' love There are two ladies'
moving high in society circles
NsA o FRY wives and devoted mothers.
q g.s s days. 'i'0A 0"'io"
ittcr itn
81 EyrEH
sct ~
ION. z&fNeTt without o.. -