Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-04-27
A LITTLE BUTTERCUP.
SHE IS QUEEN AMONG THE JACK
 TARS AT THE NAVY YARD.

MISS Della Robinson, the Hankee 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 a bumboat woman, whose mode of obtain ing a livelihood is by going aboard the different war vessels and supplying the crews with tobacco or knicknacEs of general use from a 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 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 a veritable bumboat woman, but with a Little Buttercup whose avocation is that of the identical D,,f4 0f HslIo,% zI O,,l1 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 navy yard in Brooklyn. She usually appears about midday with basket on each arm filled with palatable pies and cakes and 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 easily amounts to five and six dollars a day alone from the sales of her good things among the jolly tars of the war ship Boston, who number over $50, ire spective of the officers.
 From Commander Francis NJ. 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 iD what is called Irishtown, quarter mainly inhaoited 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 one of his legs ill the late was, 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 more hardened members of one of the crews attempted to take liberties with her. They bantered her upon her good looks, attempted to purloin pie or bottle of beer when her back was turned, and one Jack Tar in particular even ventured to approach Little Buttercup for the pur- pose of chucking her under the chin and planting kiss upon her pretty cheek.
 This latter effrontery was more than Della cared to put up with, and dropping her stock in trade she planted a stinging blow between the eyes of the foolhardy sailor that sent him reeling over the deck as if struck by a marlinspike in the hands of one of his own shipmates.
 SHE GIVES THEM CREDIT.
 From this out Little Buttercup" has never had occasion to expect affront, il treatment or disrespect at the hands ot any of Uncle Sam's tars, whether higl or low, and her coming is as eagerly looked for in the navy yard as the stroke of the bell announcing all hands to din ner. If any of the Bottoms crew have not the money at hand Little Butter | cup" is not the one to refuse them the pleasure of enjoying her pies, cakes ol beer on trust. The bumboat woman re lies upon their honesty and knows that when the paymaster makes his custom ary visit her accounts will not be over looked. In fact, there are no bills paiC by the sailors at the navy yard before those of poor Little Buttercup."
 "Little Buttercup," while disposing O her wares among the marines, sailor and officers at the navy yard, in dres and bearing is strictly the commonplac, appearing bumboat woman of business with pleasant smile for one custome and a friendly greeting for some tar wh' has returned from weeks furlough When at home or in social circles, tn identity of the Little Buttercup" o Uncle Sam's navy is completely lost il 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 19 years, witt classical features, natural blonde hair, full and strikingly symmetrical and com pact figure and manners appropriate fo duchess.-New York Journal.
 Pufr Father.