Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-24

Romsntic Career of AIce Oates = gifted Woman
Who Wasted OpporIunities.

W h'u w " tHhiHkttn III 'lN'tNif A07Nt .
was attracted one evening by the sound of
music proceeding from All open doorway on
Tenth street Strolling in found myself in
one Of those low dives in which our National
capital abounds. At one end Of a long, low
ceilinged apartment was small stage,
and at the other bar. Fast, dissipated look
ing men were sitting on wooden chairs ar.
ranged In irregular rows, partaking freely ct
drinks which we're served throughout the
auditorium by colored waters. Glancing at
the programme OF the evenings entertain
ment which had been thrust into my hand
by an Unlocking fellow at the door, | saw
upon 1t IN large letters the name of Alice
Oates billed 10 appear in burlesque which
was to conclude the performance, a special
feature being made OF her singing OF the
familiar ballad, "Good.hye, Sweet heart
Goodbye" ! was surprised beyond ex.
preston. Gould 1t I've the same Alice oates
who had once been one of the most success.
tul and popular OF opera boutfe artists
Could IT be the same one who had appeared
q few years before in all the principal thea
ters OF the country 10 audiences that crowded
them in every part? Could IL be the same
one who had often aroused such sssemhlages
to the utmost enthusiasm 10y her rendition of
Hatton's charming song | waited i'm
patiently through round OF tough song and.
dance men, antique negro farces and queer
serio comics Tor the burlesQue The badly
dsubed curtain rose upon 1t at length, and
For moment doubted the evidence Of my
senses. But no, l could not be mistaken.
In the blOated, haggsrd face and the limits
auh bust swollen out OF all proportion |
could distinctly trace the once lovely,
piquant features and the statuesque form
| that years ago had been so irresstibly charm
| INK IN " La Bile de Madame Angot," "Ls
Jolie Parteumeuse' and "rhe Princess of
| TTebiZonde.'
! IL HER GLORY.
| The orchestra played the symphony Of
| "GoOd-bye, Sweetheart and Is Alice Oats
stepped down to the footlights to sing could
| not but contrast her surroundings an1ysfns,
ditions with what they had 4ssscan, on:
Sas at 70 the nsF the same amen
| phia. in ,Htne dscG Street theatre, PhilsdeI.
| tse ... .Iie fall of 1875. She had Just re-
,,---.Ined from tour OF the Pacific coast, which
4 had been one continued ovation. She was
| then al the height of her success as the most
| popular OF all American artists in opera
boutie. Her drawing power was equal to
| that OF any attraction in this country. she
was young, beautiful and admired. Mrs.
| john Drew's fine old temple of the drama
| was packed that night to It's utmost capacity.
| W hen Alice Oates came down to the foot
| lights To sing "GOOd bye, Sweetheart the
| great audience was completely stilled in its
| eager desire to catch every note and at the
| finish of the song they gave the singer a
| double encore and presented her with
| many rich tlnral designs una several singing
| birds in cages. Now how different! With
| her youth, beauty, popularity and reputation
| all gone, she was singing in a dive to an au-
| dienCe OF deprayed wretChes, who Clnked
their beer and whisky glasses and laughed
and talked louder than ever while she
| WAS singing, though it must be confessed
that with every shred Of melody torn from
the last remnant OF her voice there was
| nothing in her rendition Of the song to excite
| anything but rIdlcule or pity. As | left the
| dive with heavy heart | realized even more
| tDrglblV than that "a no
trod the American stage has had sad, more
romantic history than Alice Oates who is
now daily expecting the summons of the
| grim Csll-bOy Death for the last act in the
drama Of lie.
| She was born in Cincinnati about ISIS, her
real name being MERIT, aud she went upon
the stage in childhood. when very young
and beautiful girl she married James A.
| Oates, This was a purely love match. Oates
| seemed to have power over her which no
| one else was ever able to acquire, and with
| firm hand he controlled ths wayward, head.
| strong spirit which after his death ruled its
| pretty mistress completely and made her al
| ways turn deaf ear 30 good advice and wise
| counsel lie was ust the man to fascinate
| such woman and enforce her respect and
| obedience. Big, bold, and fearless, with 4
bluti, outspoken manner he made every
| one who came into his presence feel that il
| would not he advisable to trifle with him.
He - veil remembered in Philadelphia in
the days OF the old volunteer fire depart
| ultill As one tl tUt hardest and most Caring
| of the fire laddies
| While he lived the star OF his ~iie's success
and fortune Was constantly tn the ascendant.
| Sho first attracted attention and became a
| popular star during summon season at
| NlDlO'6 garden, New York, In l~Gg, " hen she
appeared ia a spectacular production OF the
familiar burlesQue, The Field OF the Cloth
OF Gold" Perhaps it was 70 the character Of
her surroundings quite - much as to any
intrinsic merit OF her own that tho great hit
she then made was due William II. Crane,
| since so widely known in his connection
| with Stuart Robson, made bis first great sue.
cess at the same time as the principal come
| dian Of her company, and her Temainir Z
| support WAS equally clever.
At length Oates siCkened and died. Ga
his death bed he summoned to his side his
besom friend and business msUager, Tracy
| TITUS, now dying OF consumption in Chicago.
Placing the hand of his wife in that OF Titus,
he eGaCted from the latter q solemn promise
that he would always watch over her wei.
| fare, and expressed a wish that II It should
| prove agreeable TO the feelings of both they
| would marry when he was gone That wish
| was complied with and Alice oates became
the wife Of Tracy Titus. Their happiness
was Of very short duration. Clouds soon be-
| gan TO arise. The waywaFd spirit which
| Oates had controlled 80 well, could not be
curbed 10y his successor. As usual in all
such cases there was some blame on both
sides. Mutual charges OF lnhdelity were
| made. The friends Of each give a very diff.
| TO have abused Ills wife, and on one occasion
| 10 have pointed pistol Al her, but his friends
| clalm that Il ever guilty OF such an act, he
| had greater prOyOCaIiOn 10 1t than any man
| could brook Be that as it may, his wife
| sought and obtained a divorce.
oN The DOWN GRADE
| Up that time her reputation and popu.
larlty with the public had steadily increased,
| a. they continued to do for a short time
| aileTwardr tut she had in her cOmpany as
principal tenor young Englishman named
Henry Laurent, aud scandal soon began 10
couple her name unpieasanuy with his Then
her star commenced 10 waue The hck q
, public showed symptoms OF wearying of
her Her voice, which though always sweet
| aud pleasant, had never been remark able for
strength or brillianCy, began to tail.
In the autumn OF 1879, as the Rev. James
| NELL, prominent coal dealer aud "A local
| preacher OF the Method ist ch urCh, was sitting
in the paTlOr OF his residence at ls25 Wallace
street, Philadelphia he received call from
lady and gentleman, who inquired II he
had any scruples against marrying divorced
persons, lie replied that he had not pro.
Nided they had been legally divorced. The
, lady stated that she mad been divorced from
, former husband, and Was desirous of beng
, | welded 70 her companion, whereupon Mr.
| Neil proceeded To make them man and vile
, | Nhen asked their names they gave them a.
| AllCS Oates ana Samuel l.. Watkins Tne
= | lAuer was well known nOn-prOleS4O0a al OF
: | Philadelphia, aud in the ensuing fall he nm
| ueflnOk 10 manage al opera company, OF
| which his vile was at the head. This ven.
ture proved most disastrous one, and from
| that time the professional career of Alice