Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-08
OFFENDED GENIUS.
Why Miss Alice Marguerite King
Demands $4,000 Of the
American.
The Head and Fe0nt of Its Of
tending as Set Forth In
Her Complaint.
Nashville American, 8.

Nashville American, 6.
Circuit Court Of the URitsd States for the
Middle District Of TepnasssA, CsIehsr
torn, 1ssS. AliS0 Marguerite King,
plaintiff We, Enieu and Americas Rus-
fishing Company, dsfsndnAt.
Plaintiff, Alice Marguerite King,
states: That she is now and was at the
time herein mentioned a citizen of the
State of Alabams, and that her occu-
patton and business in lite is that of a
reciter and reader Of selections from
standard authors and of atragedienne
in dramatic scenes; that the defendant
is corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Tennessee, and
has its chief office at the city OF Nash
vile, State aforesaid, which is in the
Middle district OF the United States
Circuit Court, in and for said State OF
Tennessee, and now and at times
herein mentlonedowned and published
at Nashville aforesaid the newspaper
called The Daily American"
That the defendant, on the 18th day
of February, of the year 1888, while it
owned and published said newspaper
the Daily American, falsely and ma
liciouslY published of and concerning
her, in said newspaper, the following
false and defamatory matter with in
tent to defame the plaintiff, namely:
"GEoRGIA's DEBUTANTE.
I'VE have had an affection this
week in the shape OF Miss Alice Mar.
guerite King, of Georgia, a stage struck
young woman who is travelling mainly
on the strength OF her name. Her
grandfather, or somebody Of kin to
her was a great man. She has been
studying under an elocutionist seven
hours day steadily for the last two
years, so she tells me. She fancies
she is going to be great actress. She
is small woman with a tremendous
nose. Very homely. She is going to
hire herself troupe and go to Eng,
land.
Americans are not appreeiative
enough. She says she will go to Ger
many and play in English with
troupe OF German actors. Booth does
this: Salvini does this; so shall |, says
she. She scorns the old methods Of
our famous actresses of to day, and
says: What are they2 What actresses
have we now?
81 mentioned humbly Mary Ander.
son, Clara Morris, Rose Eytinge, Mrs.
John Drew. Mrs. Drew, by the way,
played 10 New Orleans, b. G.
Miss King read Mary Stuart, and
gave sufficient proof that she has not
single qualification for the stage,
She will never, so | think, be a good
actress. | mention her because she is
curious illustration OF misdirected
ambition. | have made a neat little
calculation, and find that, at the low
est estimate, Miss King has devoted
3, 400 hours to dramatic study. |
know many young women anxious to
educate themselves who think they
are doing wonders if they devote half
an hour a day to study, and yet by
joining the Home Study System of
Boston, and pledging ones self to
devote even an hour day to study, |
have known women to accomplish the
most satisfactory results and to gradu>
ate from the system in the course of
two years"
Plaintiff states that defendant meant
thereby that plaintiff was unfit and
incompetent to give Rotations and
readings from standard authors, and
to be a tragedienne in dramatic
scenes and was unworthy of patron
age and employment in her said occu-
patton and business in life and SO hu-
initiate and put her to shame.
Plaintiff sues the defendant for
s25 900 damages for the said false and
malicious publication OF aud concern
ing in said newspaper.
The plaintiff for a further and other
cause of action states:
That she is now and was at the
time herein mentioned a resident citi-
zen of the State OF Alabama, and
that her occupation and business in
life is that of a reciter and reader of
selections from standard authors and
a tragedienne in dramatic scenes.
That the defendant is corporation
organized under the laws of the State
OF Tennessee, and has its Office at city
of Nashville, State aforesaid, which is
in Middle District Of United States
Circuit Court in and for said State of
Tennessee, and now and at time
herein mentioned owned and pub
lished at Nashville aforesaid the
newspaper called the Daily American.
That the Defendant, on the 22d day
of February, Of year 1883, while it
owned and published said newspaper,
the daily American, falsely and malic
iously published of and concerning
her in said newspaper the following
false and defamatory matter With
intent to defame the plaintiff, name
w.,
Alabama has been asked to eneour,
age Miss Alice Marguerite King in
her studies and exhibitions Of dramatic
reading because she is the niece ofthC
late and celebrated Albanian, vii
liam Rufus King. In Justice t
Alabama it must be said she hes dom
her duty. Alice Marguerite was patteC
on the back and otherwise encouraged
until she threatened to claim fee sim
pie of all of US. In an evil hour
! however, she went to New Orleans
! and elocutionized in scenes from Mar,
Stuart. The New Orleans peopl,
being stiff neeked and rebellious, ant
knowing not William Rufus King
9 failed to patronize the gifted voice 0
the gifted Albanian and the newspa
pers told her plainly she could no
read. One of the critics lot her dow
gracefully by advising her to 20 on tn
!. stage, where of course she will neve
! be heard Of more, She has take
7 refuge in this advice and announce