Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-18
A CHICAGO BELLE IN TIGHTS.
Tremendous Success of "a Bold. Rich, Fair
aud Fashionable Girl.

| Tremendous Success of Bold. Rich. Fair
and Fashionable Girl.
Chicago Herald.
Miss Gertrude Potter staIked the stage
at Hooleys yesterday afternoon III
doublet and hose. Mics Potter Ia the
daughter Of O. w. Potter. She IL an
heiress. She IN belle. A thousand
| persons prominent in society and finance
applauded her. Big bouquets with long
| tails Of writhing ribbons rolled at her
feet. Sho dotted her plumed chapeau
and smiled and bowed while tho curtain
sank. But tho crowd was not appeased.
The big canvas with tho clean peasants
dancing on il was hoistcd again. And
then the applause rolled up and beat
about her, aud cracked long after tho
curtain had descended and ceased 10
flutter.
Three pieces were presented by socie-
" people for the sake OF sweet charity.
The proceeds Of the performance 60 10
the hospital for women and children out
on Adams and Paulina streets. Tho
| tickets were 81 each, and the boxes sold
for large sums IL WAS what the Four
Hundred call an "eyent. According
10 society's latest slang the whole affair
was very "toppy."
Miss Potter did not appear in her
striking costume until tho second piece
was put or. Ii was poetical comedy
in one act, and was called "Cupld's
Messenger, laid in the time OF Queen
Elizabeth OF England. The costuming
that the English gentry wore In tho time
of the virgin queen gave Miss Potter the
opportunity Of displaying her charms IN
doublet and hose. Anon Miss Potter
entered.
Society drew its breath. She wore q
doublet Of garnet velvet. Hose Of tho
same material, laced like leggins up tho
side with gold cords, bound her shapely
limbs. A little cape with golden fringe
swept her shoulders. Gold braid
cleaned brightly all over her doublet.
On her curls knightly cap sat Iauntily,
with dashing plume nodding over 1t.
And sword in scarlet scabbard clanked
ut her left hip. Auayed thus, one OF
| Chicagos social queens strobe across tho
stage. The spectators quiyered, but
after the first wave OF applause curled
over the costly bonnets modest b.
lence was maintained.
Miss Potter WIS impersonatiRg the
part of o courier Of nobleman, and she
was playing il exceedingly well. The
part fitted her. There wss dssh OF
comedy in it, which, with the costume,
made it delicious 10 the Fonr Hundred.
The plot was soob unrayellod. Miss
Potter told her brother, Sir Philip, that
she had letter from her--or bis-lord-
ship containing proposal Of marriage
TO the gentle Miss Walsnghsm. lmme-
diately Sir Philip got angry and found
that he loved her. He and the boy
were about 10 fight with swords when
Miss Walsingham entered.
Sir Philip, after curing himself for
his own backwardness, Immediately pro-
posed TO Miss wslsingham. the conspi-
racy was revealed, aud the curtain
clesyed its way through q red cloud OF
bouquets, while society clapped Its
gloyed hands. The curtain Was hoisted
again and again, while Miss Potter. In
the garnet costume men wore in tho six.
teenth century, smiled aud bowed. and
bowed and smiled over and over. Her
debut as an amateur actress had been .
pronounced and artistic saccesA