The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-23
JOAQUIN MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
The Neglect and Cruelty of Her Gifted
Father and Worthless Husband.
New York Special.


Maud Miller. the daughter of Joaquin Miller,
who has had rather hard experience in stage
life in the West arrived in this city to-day and
is now living in small room on Sixth avenue,
which she was able to rent to-day. She looks
very much worn out by her troubles but is not
respondent She speaks with energy and empha-
sis, hut her conversation shows that she has been
well educated. In the first place, she said that the
reports of her restitution in Chicago, and Of her
fathers and husbands neglect, were true, and
then continued: Father knows better than to
say never was ballet dancer. He knows he
drove me to it He went abroad and left mother
and three Of US children in San Francisco.
was just fourteen years old them He says we
received $50 month. but the money came very
irregularly first, and afterward not at all, and
was compelled to do something to keep us from
starving I was employed in the ballet at the
Baldwin Theater in San Francisco. Mother was
i'll at the time and we were all suffering. Mother
cabled to father, who subsequently placed me in
the Loretto Convent, Canada. / remained there
FIVE years, and father paid 800 year for my in
struction. One day he wrote me, stating that
he had done all father could be expected
to do. and informed me that must look out for
Paris after that with wealthy friend, but he
doesn't say that he gave me only twenty dollars
In money and sent me as a mental in the employ
of friend OF his second wife. Ny own mother
had died from her efforts to support his children,
and from broken heart, caused by his negli-
gence The lady was good to me- but other cir
cumstances arose, and l cabled father l was
coming home No one met me when / arrived
here 1t occurred to me that Mrs. Steele Mac
kaye. whom 1 had known in San Francisco.
lived here, and went to her. / was treated
kindly, but could not remain on charity at her
home. tried in every way to find employment
l wrote to father, but received NO reply
Miss Miller then spoke of her relations with
young Mackaye. He pretended to be in love
with me-" she continued. He took me to see
his father at the Madison-square Theater. but the
father could not give me place. want to cor
rect Mr.. Mackayes assertion that my marriage
with his son clandestine He knew
that we were to be married, and told his that
after the ceremony was performed he would es-
.abiish US in good home and see that
both provided for We were married on Feb 4
last, in the Catholic Church in Forty -second
street. by Rev. Father Brady, in the presence of
Harold Mackaye and others. My husband left
me directly after the ceremony-on i'm
portant business. he said. He left destitute
and with but little clothing, and l was
compelled to appeal to my friends. Miss O'Con-
nor, who was present at the wedding, took me to
her home, where lived for three weeks, never
hearing in the meantime from my husband, my
father, or the Mackayes although they all knew
| of my circumstances. At the end of three weeks
my husband took me to his grandmother's at
Perth Amboy, N. j. My life there miser-
able My husband and all tainted me at every
opportunity. We never lived together. After
his treatment of me couldn't bear the sight of
him. He never gave me penny, and never had
kind word for me. cannot express my aver
sion for him. He is the most despicable of men.
He is small that / wouldn't take
the trouble to drop him into the
East river. I remained at Eagleswood,
Perth Amboy until / was driven nearly
crazy. | asked father for $40, but received no
reply. / finally secured weeks engagement
with Arthur Rehan's ''7-2S' company and after
ward with Loudon McCormicks 40 company.
The company disbanded in Memphis my trunks
were seized for unpaid bills; but finally got to
Chicago without penny. 1t was very unkind
of Mr.. Elder to retract his statement in regard
to my circumstances. His first statement was
| true-every word of it; but think he must be
afraid of father. He secured me my fare to this
| city and enough money to buy shoes. of which /
was sadly in need.
arthur Mackaye never had home of his
| own. The only money ever knew him to earn
was IS week in his fathers box-ofice at the
| Lyceum Theater. He has always been depen-
dent upon his parents. would rather starve
| than to 60 near him"