Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-05-04
A LITTLE BUTTERCUP.
SHE IS QUEEN AMONG THE JACK
 TARS AT THE NAVY YARD.

Miss Della Robinson, the Yankee Bumboat Woman, Who Has All the Virtues and None of the Pebbles of Gilbert and suI- Iivan's Little Buttercup.
 When Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan first introduced their nautical comic opera of "Pinafore" to an American public one of the most taking characters that aided toward the success of the distinctively English production was that of Little Buttercup.
 Little Buttercup was represented to be what, among the hardened tars of the queens navy, is commonly known as bumboat woman. whose mode of obtain ing livelihood is by going aboard the different war vessels and supplying the crews with tobacco or knicknacLs of general use from stock carried in a basket or receptacle upon each arm.
 The idea of a lone woman venturing among an army of sailors and blasphe- nous followers of these a to sell her little wares and run the risk of meeting with no polite treatment, as the bumboat woman was pictured, seemed quite novelty for Americans who saw the opera of "Pinafore." Thus, it may come as somewhat of surprise and an interest ing point of information to be made known that of late the navy of progres- sive Uncle Sam has not only become identified with veritable bumboat woman, but with a Little Buttercup whose avocation is that of the identical Buttercup of Messrs. Gilbert and Sulli- vans characterization.
 HER PATRONS RESPECT HER.
 The modern bumboat woman who is now gaining local fame and any number of ready patronizers to her stock in trade, can be seen at present almost any day upon her rounds among the ships of the United States navy anchored in the lravy yard in Brooklyn. She usually appears about midday with a basket on each arm filled with palatable pies and cakes and a good supply of bottled beer and tenn perance drinks, which she readily dis poses of among the crew of the war ships. and to all is simply known as ! Little Buttercup."
 It is said Little Buttercup's" profit i easily amounts to five and six dollars a day alone from the sales of her good things among the jolly tars of the war ] Sh:p Boston, who number over $50, ire 1 sDective of the officers.
 From Commander Francis M Ramsey down to the most ordinary seaman, Little Buttercup," instead of being the butt of the ships crew and target of their unfeeling jokes, as might be SUD- posed, is recognized and looked upon as one of the most worthy of her sex.
 The income derived from her occupa- ton goes to support her aged mother and father, who reside in small house in what is called Irishtown, a quarter mainly inhabited by natives of the Elm. erald Isle and lying just on the outside of the navy yard.
 Little Buttercup's" real name is Della Robinson, and her father, who lost ono of his legs in the late war, had small pension granted to him that will barely go to secure him a comfortable subsist ence. When Della first went to the navy yard to sell her wares some of the moro hardened members of one of the crew. attempted to take liberties with her They bantered her upon her good looks attempted to purloin a pie or bottle o beer when her back was turned, and ont Jack Tar in particular even ventured tt approach Little Buttercup for the pur pose of chucking her under the chin anC planting a kiss upon her pretty cheek.
 This latter effrontery was more thai Della cared to put up with, and droppin! her stock in trade she planted stingin! blow between the eyes of the foolhard, sailor that sent him reeling over the decl as if struck by a marlinspike in tn hands of one of his own shipmates.
 SHE GIVES THEM CREDIT.
 From this out Little Buttercup" la never had occasion to expect affront, il ! treatment or disrespect at the hands o any of Uncle Sam's tars, whether higl or low, and her coming is as eagerl looked for in the navy yard as the strok of the bell announcing all hands to din , ner. If any of the Bottoms crew hay not the money at hand Little Butter cup" is not the one to refuse them tn pleasure of enjoying her pies, cakes o beer on trust. The bumboat woman re lies upon their honesty and knows tha
 when the paymaster makes his custom ary visit her accounts will not be ovel
 looked. In fact, there are no bills pal
 by the sailors at the navy yard befor
 those of poor Little Buttercup." 2 Little Buttcrcup," while disposing (
 her wares among the marines, sailor
 and officers at the navy yard, in dres : and bearing is strictly the commonplao
 appearing bumboat woman of business
 with pleasant smile for one custome
 and a friendly greeting for some tar wh n has returned from a weeks furlougl g When at home or in social circles, tll @ identity of the Little Buttercup' ( Uncle Sams navy is completely lost . the personality of Miss Della Robinson Instead of the matronly conditione . individual of Messrs. Gilbert 6 Sullivan
 characterization, one beholds a reall
 handsome young miss of l9 years, wit
 classical features, natural blonde hair,
 full and strikingly symmetrical and con
 pact figure and manners appropriate fC
 Q duchess. York Journal.