St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-10
The Girls of the Wilbur Opera
Company Behind
Scenes.
They Tell How They Came to
Go Into I" the Bust
ness"
The Most of Them We're Well
Raised and Finely
Educated.
A Susceptible ReporterGushes
Volubly About the
Girls.

A GLOBE reporter had pleasant chat
with the young ladies of the Wilbur
Opera company on the stage of the Har-
ris Hepnepin Avenue theater last even
ing. He found them posing between
the acts in every nook and corner, on
every available bench and chair, and
elevated to the top of dozen or more
steps leading to their dressing rooms.
Some were sewing and crocheting,
others chewing gum and eating fruit,
while score or more were reading and
chatting as if in the coy and cOmfOrta-
BILE realms of their own sweet homes.
Miss Kirwin was busy i'll her bewilder-
ing 'star' room. arranging the toilets
of a few who required assistance, and
who were the last of about thirty that
passed inspection before their man.
ageress previous to the rising of the
curtain on the next act.
AS for Miss KirWin, those who affect,
OF perhaps do adore Patti. may not see
genius in Mr.. Wilbur's prima donna,
but she Is brilliant vocalist, possess
ing clear voice of good compass, which
as far as her acting is concerned, she is
an artist in the truest sense. "Of
course, l was originally chorus girl.
One night the leading lady took sick
and had to jump in and take her part,
and ever since then | have been star
ring My home is in Philadelphia, and
= generally spen my summers in At
lantic City," Among the pretty girls of
the company is Miss Alice Verona. The
resemblance she bears to Parepa Rosa
in appearance, voice and method is
striking indeed. Her hair and eyes are
black and her figure charming. She is
from the Blue Grass regions of Ken
lucky, where she occupies an enviable
social position. She has made rapid
strides. professionally.
She is thoroughly-schooled actress,
Miss Belle Hamilton, with her black,
expressive and bewitching eyes, said:
II cannot remember the time did not
dream of and love the stage. am sure
/ was born stagestruck. l remember,
however, playing my first part when l
was four years of age. Yes, can recOl-
lect it perfectly the music, the lights,
fairy-like forms that waited before my
delighted vision. Well. have been on
the stage ever since, and, unless l get
married soon, shall always expect to
sing in OPERA" Miss Hamilton is from
Detroit, and is said to be a perfect
athlete, and has had a thorough train
ing in the pugilistic art.
9 Miss Hattie Richardson is the daugh-
ter of wealthy Cincinnatian. She is
handsome and a model girl, tits said.
Miss Fanny Lyons said she went on the
cfo vx,nn chn ahi1d on6
remembers how they nursed her while
playing baby" parts in cradle. She
is as pretty as picture, has black hair,
black eyes. dainty little feet, and is the
very personificatiOn of modesty and
meekness. Her home is Cincinnati.
Miss Mary Arkason is a graduate of
Vassar college, and one of the brightest
girls in the company. Her mobile face
is full of expression, and she is noted
for her fine figure. s'From the amateur
societies in the past, the operate stage
has largely drawn recruits" said Miss
Arkason. "My home is Philadelphia,
and l went on the stage to become
famous. and that will if my energy
holds out" And during all this con-
versation with the reporter Miss Arka-
son was munching away at some ham
sandwiches.
Miss COrlnne Burton is nicknamed
s.Baby" on account of her size and age.
She was raised on farm in California
just sixteen years ago, and tells of her
life as follows: II am native of Cali
fornia, where about sixteen years ago.
in a tent in the gold fields somewhere,
was born. am told it was then one of
the largest mining camps in old Cali
fornia, where theatrical performances
were given in the open air. OF course,
as the only 'baby" of the camp, I was
the pet of the place, and, you see, played
important parts from my early days on"
Miss Burton is darling little creature,
and lives on ice cream principally. She
has good voice, and will be heard from
some day.
scent.and was born and raised in Toledo.
She takes small parts in the various
operas. Miss OSterman looks like sew
enteen, but may be twenty.
Miss Emma Johnson. of Dayton, o.,
is tall brunette, with all imposing
presence. She is mistress of her voice
and can vocalize at will. Quiet, modest
and of the most gentle demeanOr, she
captivates more admirers than many of
the others of the company combined.
Miss Jennie Pettis is one of the beau
ties of the organization. She comes
from Syracuse, where she left the posi-
ton of school preceptreSs for the stage.
Her eyes are sky blue, lovely blonde
hair, and she possesses a fine figure.
''Let me think. ! went on the stage
when was ten years old, and it would
require a book to tell you what
1 could recall of my early struggles.
KY. A tall. graceful and bewitching
mir of oINO11t ninnfnnn SGTho
only objection have to the stage is the
wearing of tights, and l can't express
to you my sensations on the first nights
made my appearance attired in this
fashion. / am always in mortal terror
lest even thread should give way, for
you know if even single thread breaks
in pair of silk tights the defect flashes
along the line"
Miss Martha Atkins comes from the
Quaker City. She has dark hair and
dangerous-looking grey eyes, but she is
handsome and has most cOngenial
face. IT'S said, next to Miss AinScOe,
she has the prettiest limbs in the COM
pany and wears the lOveliest of hose.
"Yes," neat stockings contribute to the
graceful outline of the limb, fthe out
ings because they make the limb so
prominently portion of your figure
when you are on the STAGE"
Miss Nina AinscOl, of Baltimore, is
of pure Southern origin, and comes
from the blue blod stock of ''Ould Eng
land" She is Queenly little body, has
rare gifts and captivates by the delicacy
of her art. Off the stage, it is said, she
fascinates by her artlessness, and her
favorite pastime is to chew tolu.
Miss Annie Gilbert is Lowell. Mass,
girl, one of the most retiring of the
many Wilbur maidens. She, too, IS
good looking, and makes fine appear
ance on the stage.
Mice Tillie Reeves is Of Philadelnhia.