News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-11-20
FOOLED BY A CIRCUS TRICK
HOW ALL THE COUNTRY WAS TAKEN
IN AND MADE TO PAY WELL.
How n Boy Figured In the HinR ms EiIh Xoy
ara and How Well the secret was neP'
for Many Years,

ever connected with the circus profess
sion, says veteran of the ring, was the
rider who was known at different times
by the names OF Ella Zoyara and Omar
Kingsley. He was born Of French par
ents in New Orleans, and while circus
managed by s. Q. Stokes and Signor
Louis Germani was exhibiting in that
city he was apprenticed to the managers
by his parents, being then Z years old.
His real surname Signor Germani has
forgotten, and no one else in the busl-
ness save Stokes knows it, but the Sig
nor remembers that his Christian name
was Sam, or "Little Sammie," as every
body called him. He was at once taught
TO ride, and showed considerable ability.
When he was II years old Stokes, in
view of the boys singular girl-like beau
ty, conceived the idea of transforming
him as nearly as possible into female.
Accordingly he gave him the name OF
Ella Zoyara and at once had him attired
exactly like girl. Every article OF his
dress, both within and without, was
precisely like that of woman, and not
only was he dressed in this way In the
ring but in private life as we'll. He never
again wore an article of mans apparel
till after he was 10 years old. Stokes,
resolved to make the illusion as COM
plete as possible, did not even allow any
of his company to know that celia 10Y
ara" was not genuine girl.
This secret remaiGa &C.,
eight years, during which Stokes soc-'
him to Europe, where he created i'm
mense excitement. His beauty at that
time was remarkable. He had fault
less complexion of the purest brunette
type, his face never showing the slightest
| trace of beard and his features were
perfect and of the most delicate, wo-
manly character, as were also his hands
and feet. His hair, of raven blackness,
hung in lnxuriant masses almost to his
waist. I was playing at Astley's in
London when he made his first appear
ance there, and subsequently Travelled
through England for four months in
ihe same company with him, and in all
that time never had the slightest sus-
picion that he was not a girl. 1t was
probably the most successful deception
as regards sex ever practiced. Stokes
at that time had in his charge little
girl about the same age as the so-called
Ella Zoyara, whom she very closely re-
sembled. She and ella" were always
dressed magnifcently in very similar
manner, were always together, and you
would take them for twins or at least
sisters. When this little girl grew to
womanhood she became the wife OF
Stokes.
Wherever CELIA Zoyara" appeared he
completely enthralIed many of the male
hearts in the audience. He received
letters of the most passionate character
and magnificent presents from the nobil-
ity and gentry of Europe. Among those
who worshiped at the shrine of this
temple of supposed female lovelness
was one of the crowned heads of Ger
many, who, among other costly things,
presented CELIA" with diamond ring,
valued at $4,000, about which I have
often heard the latter tell this story: He
was riding in circus in st. Petersburg
and the ring being rather loose upon hi
finger slipped off one afternoon as HI
was doing his act and flew he knew no
where. Almost frantic at the loss of hi
treasure, he was obliged to finish hi
act. to dress and to wait until the pei
formance was over before a thoroug
;, search for the jewel could be made, an
u even then it could not be discovered
: He left the building disconsolate, neve
expecting to see his diamond agar
L But that night as he was flying aroun
=. the ring upon his horse, he happened
look down and saw bright glitter j
the sawdust at the edge of the ring
The minutes seemed like hours till afte
the audience had dispersed and the
. upon going to the spot he found hi
j ring. which he had at once made smalle
> and never again permitted tito leave hi
finger.
1t was while riding in German
that, through some untoward circum
stance, the fact of his being a man wa
discovered, after he had successfull
carried on this masquerade for more tina
eight years, and as consequence u
was obliged to make hasty departur
from khat country. His entire individu
> ality seemed to have been changed b
> the deception, which he had practice
so long. He had all the whimsicalit
. and caprice of a woman. Stokes use
to buy him long kid gloves reaching t
the elbow, but if, when he tried on
new pair, he found in them the slightes
wrinkle, he would tear them off violent
Iy and throw them away. He had tn
temper of a virago. After the discoN
cry of his sex, he rode as a man, unde
the name of Omar Kingsley, and wor
y male apparel in private life, but D
g never could break himself of the O.
Terminate manners and habits which b
o had acquired during his long masqueI
y ade. He continued to do sewing an
| fancy WOrK III LIS spare MoAoho, "H
g when seeking rest and recreation in th
privacy of his home, would attire hin
n self in lady's wrapper. At times b
y would again bill himself as Ella Aoyar
q and ride as a woman, but he never agai
q attempted to deceive any one save tn
y circus going public. He married Sall
l: Stickney, daughter of Sam P. StickneI
by whom he had three children, but Il
g. union not proving happy one, the
At separated. He afterward married sgai
1T and died abroad some years ago, leaviI
N one child by his second wifs.
rs
" L.