The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-03
HANDSOME WOMEN.
Competing for the $4,000 Prize
offered for "The HandsOmeSt
Woman"

The following are given as few
Of the many letters received by MIR.
2. z. Barnum in reply to his ad
vertise ment for 'sthe hsndsomest
woman in America"
A lady in MinersV,lIe, Pa, writes
en- gilt.edged note paper:
My personal description is as fol-
lows: Five feet IL inches in height;
an abundance OF DARK, Wavy hair;
large, ark and expressive eyes;
complexion fair. and exceedingly
rich color; broad shouldered and
plump form, and considered the
finest formed woman in the
State Of Pennsylvania. I re-
greet I have not a better photo
I to send: You, no doubt, have seen
my name in the papers IS the ac-
knoWledged lovelie5t lady in the
lGnd, not only in the face, but in
form. Mr. FOIepaugh wanted me
to come, but [ would not ride his
elephant il he gave me- S50,000-not
thai I feared, but in consequence Of
being a member of highly es~
teamed family. If you would Ike
to see me personally. [ should not
fear your criticism. I am q young
girl nineteen years Of age, and noted
heTeabOuts for refinement and Ye>
spectability.
From Oshkosh comes this avowal:
My DEAR Mr.. BARNUM: l am
called the most beautiful woman in
this town By a young man here who
hiss been in New York and other
large cities. MY hands are sons
what hard from milking, but IL you
can advance me- q part OF the prize
money [ could fix up so as to be v. ~
Mica, as see by the papers they sell
lots Of things TO make women look
better.
In delicate hsnd on 3 sheet of
note paper, with pretty picture in
tie corner showing some flowers, q
birds nest, and couple of bees
walking arm ia arm, Was written:
"MR. BARNUM: want to be your
$40. COO beauty, not for money, but
for fame. There ia a whole lot of
stuck-up girls in this town who are
just SO Jelous as they can be Of me,
and treat me horrid mean, and say
the spitfullest things about Just be-
cause l cant keep those fellows
away from the house. I would go
on an elephant into the ring any
where"
The Lady who wrote this had
greater confidence in her spelling
than in her beauty:
Troy, New York.-Mister Bar
cum: Is this good time to go on
the stage i Have bin wanting to 60
for some time want a opinion there
in New York. I could play the
beautiful woman If its got speaking
IN 1t. 1 am thought smart by the
Boys and Girls. A picture amt no
use no way because Talent is
Wanted not looks Can you en-
ploy me in the show.
The next is q little in the same
way.
New Orleans, La.-Mr. Barnum
s. Co: Although [ am not quite |
white, am nearly so, and no one
could tell the difference unless you
told them. l have refused twenty
offers of marriage because I am TOO
beautiful to throw myself away on
any ordinary man. II I get the
prize I will pay you a handsome
com mission. L must stipulate, how
ever, that when I an exhibited /
must not be expected to talk to peo>
pie.
P. 81 am a girl, as you will see
by my Photograph.
Boston is to be credited with the
following:
"Mt. Barnum-I will give you a
description of myself. l am five
feet FIVE in height, and perfect
form. | have hazel eyes and brown
hair, dimple in my chin, and am
tod every day | SIN handsome. /
have beautiful arms and hands and
q pretty foot. l have a handsome
bright eye. My teeth are white as
pearl. L am quite sure II you were
TO see ne you would engage me. I
come from the private walks of life,
ouu du1 very +1LtAo hAUHu, SEU NY
mother hearing that you are a
Christian gentleman has given her
it L am chosen. My arm,
hand and face 8re handsome az well
as form, and were 1 in stage cos
tune on exhibition should be al
sparkling beauty"
a widow wrote in a free, bold
hand: -......e
"KEYPoRT, n. il am % and
have been widow three years.
am rather lonely, 1 would like the
change and excitement OF travel FIR
q time. 1 am a 6ne performer on