The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-14
4 ROMANCE OF THE CIRCUS.
Ella Zoyara, the Man Who Was Loved and
Admired as Queen of the Arena.


dressed and carried little tin pail in his hand.
Nevertheless. as he threaded his way through
the picturesque throng, the purchasers at the
stalls ceased their merry clash for . moment
Dniy to break forth in shrill and soft murmurs
and ordinations of surprise. Cakes and sweet
meats we're thrust into his hands and pockets,
the aunties of Africa wing with ladies' In Paris
bonnets in their attentions and caresses
As the child stood there an artist from the North
made rough sketch of him. and II tbs ready
pencil had held color as well as shape. you
would have seen something like this: boy of
seven, with n figure the Greeks would have
worshiped Harmonious in its PROPORTIONS.
perfect in it's outlines. The clearly-cut limb
and the 1.-THE body. without one ounce of super
duous flesh Hands and feet alike bare, small
beautifully formed, and like the dainty ears,
those of thoroughbred
The child's features were not classic, nut they
bad g certain regularity and fneBess that, com
bined with superb coloring disarmed criticism.
Spanish creole was stamped upon his face in the
warm olive skin. the large, long, black eyes,
Eringed with heavy ashes, that almost touched
the rose OF his cheek, and the 1ustrous hair that
fell in big black curls over his round neck. The
boys name was Omar Kingsiv. Spencer @
Stokes saw him and speedily closed q contract
with Mrs Kingely, whereby the boy was ap-
prerticed to him until he should become of
age A few weeks later Mr.. Stokes APP
peared at his headquarters, where he had al
ready in training a very pretty and brieht-eyed
little girl of six. whose name was Emma Samp-
son. Emma glad to her guardian but
enchanted with the beautiful little girl he
brought to be taught with her. The little girl
o positive brunette, with long black curls. She
said her name was Ella Zoyara, and she would
have been charming but for her constrained
manner and habit of pulling at her clothes and
shruggine her shoulders, as young Indians do
when first put into civilized garb. How
ever, this wore off in time, and soon Ella forgot
che had ever been Omar.
From the day the half-tamed creole boy had
been put in petticoats, had his curls parted in
a a a
Gus change came over him. Instead of rebeling
he took kindly to the scheme. He learned to
embroider, TO crochet to play duets the
piano with little Emma. to dress dolls. and TO
take pride in his pretty frocks. Meantime
gifted with strength, absolute fearlessness and
grace. he made wonderful progress in riding,
ana when the two children appeared together in
the arena this marvellous little girl" astonished
she public. Little Emma, who had danced in
the ballet and had twinkling feet even on horse
back, won her share of admiration. too.
In 1852 Mr. Stokes went abroad with the
children and a number OF horses. They made
great sensation. beginning in London at Asst
leys, under Balti, and then going to Belgium
with the famous Soullier. whose then great at
traction WAS Tom MacCullum, popularity known
MS "Apollo." and the first that ever rode
two horses at once. They travelled slowly
through the continent filling long engagements,
ana everywhere E1la, whose true sex was never
suspected. created great Juror
Ella was fifteen years old then. She-for to
avoid mplications the "hen shall be discarded
looked about eighteen. and was considered
though outraged, seemed to lend herself to the
deception, and Ella, while tall, retained her
glenderness. wore a soventeen-ipch corset,
two-and n half boot and six-and a-quarter kid
glove The luxuriaut curls now fell down to the
slim waist and many and curious escapes did
they have from ervious and amorous scissors.
Care In wearing wells and avoiding exposure
kept the skin soft, and exquisite French dresses
were made to show off the fine figure of mad
emoiselle"
When Ella reappeared in England at the Gre
rhG n VaEfa JIAro ofodH ho1 Iowa.
gy creature. She clad in airy skirts of
snowy tariatan, with Spanish bodice of gold,
and a jeweled necklace glittering on her white
neck. 1t was then Ella executed the tremendous
feat-even for man-of jumping through one
hundred balloons" or paper-covered hoops in
succession, in which performance she was as
sisted by superb white horse of such intelli-
gence that he would time himself to the tenth of
second in meeting his rider.
+ Every appearance was triumph. Flowers
and fruits, Don hons and Jewels flowed in and
Aow of embarrassment which
dime only increased Lovers by shoals declared
themselves, and among them were the scons of
houses in England. Many of these assumed
that virtue and the circus ring incompati-
Bile, and when convinced to the contrary were in
nowise discouraged, taking it for granted that
the beautiful Ella must retain the susceptibility
of her sex 10 love, if not to titles and riches.
Every imaginable ruse and plot resorted
so in order to gain private interviews. Even a
Cabinet Minister not above irving to bride
Elias maid. The maid, by the way, was four
service,
m idea that her mistress was not what she as
sumed TO be. Finally, Mr. Stokes was driven
to the wall by persistent suitors that he hired q
erim-faced dowaRer to be present at those inter
views that account of the visitors rank could
NOT be denied. During the performances he
himself never lost sight of Elias dressing-room
door.
AT the close of the London engagement the
company left for Germany with great eelat. In
that country their success was unrivaled in the
history OF public entertainments. The Germans
- 49, A. mtwn he
In Berlin the prices of admission were doubled
and still thronRs were shut out-eren TO the
American minister, who made application for
box sixty days before he could get 1t. Every
morning the good old Emperor, who is
dead and was then King. came with either the
Crown Prince or Bismarck to see Ella rehearse.
and the Crown Prince was particularly loath to
60 away.
They all sent her costly gifts, and the Crown
Prince had Elias portrait done by the court
painter. 1t 10 certainly q most singular fact
that their knowlsdge of anatomy never betrayed
Elias sex to the physicians who saw her per-
form, or the several artists to whom she sat.
The unnatural muscular DEVELOPMENT WAS al
ways attributed 10 the profession she pursued.
In Berlin Ella was the cause of number of
duels among the German officers, who were
alike distracted by her beauty and her pc rfect
''she"Iearned to make eyes. to coquette with
. fan a lace handkerchief, and 20 assume the
thousand little languishing airs and graces that
become the one and bewitch the other. At
the same time she mastered marvellous feats of
skill and daring To the ''baIlooD act" was
added "a grand finish" slipping bride and bit
Of her steed, and making the latter run at
furious rate while she balanced on one foot
Vienna was the next and perhaps the greatest
scene of Elias triumphs. The first and most
noted victim of her charms the unfortu-
nate Macmillan. whose infatuation for the
lovely circus rider became matter Of public
scandal, and also of serious alarm to Mr.
Stokes. Among other tributes from Maxi
milan was diamond bracelet inscribed "A
Souvenir of Love-" and a tiny whip the gold
handle of which studded with precious
stones. and the recipients name in diamonds
The Emperor o. Austria, whose eccentric wife
had not then developed her mania for the
erena, was enthusiastic quite to the borders of
discretion. He sent Ella a pair of thorough bred
carriage horses harnessed in silver and Russian
leather, and costly landau made after q new
sesign named ''The Ella" The landau was ex-
auisitely fitted up and contained . gold and
IVORY dressing case.
Stimulated by the applause she received.
Ella resolved upon n most hazardous s'act,"
Witch Mr.. Stokes planned. This called the
rate FIv0 hiph gates vera erected about