Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04

Lotta's early days in California, and the
scenes look as real as though they were
painted out of doors. In portraits, also, she
is doing very we'll, and I took sketch of q
picture of little negro model who stood for
her as Topsy. Lotta's painted Topsy is as
black as ebony, and she has as bright, dane
ing, mischievous eyes as those possessed by
the character made famous in Uncle Toms
Cabin" The figure has real life, and it
glows upon the canvass with all the viyacity
of Lolita upon the stage.
RICHEST ACTRESS IN AMERICA.
Lotta had expected to have rested this
winter and to have gone much into WASH
ington society. She is one of the few
actresses who can afford to take vacations,
and she is by all odds the richest actress in
America. She is said to be worth at least
81, 900, 900, and her mother is one of the
shrewdest fnanciers, and Lotta says one of
the best managers in America. It was
through her that the Park Theater in Bos-
ton was bought and the International Hotel
in connection with it. For this Lotta paid
$3.50, 900 in cash, and she paid $50, 900 adj
ditional for the furniture which it con-
tanned. She has investments scattered all
over the United States, and she told me that
she and her mother had lately planted some
money in Kansas City, which she hoped
would grow a good harvest. She has in
vestments in California, is said to have
$1OO, 900 in New York property and she has
S400, 900 il United States bonds laid aside
in case of a panic. Her mother manages all
money matters for her, and she defers to her
in everything. She is here with her this
winter, and she has taken such good care of
her that Lolita will be able to return to the
stage next fall.
When called upon Lotta at her home,
on Fourteenth street, above Newspaper
Row in Washington, 1 found that she had
discarded her crutches. Her eyes were as
bright as they have ever been upon the
stage, her skin was as fresh and clear as that
of baby's and her plump round form ac-
corded with the statement that she made to
me that she was in perfect health and that
she weighed 125 pounds. Strange enough
the conversation first turned to money
making and acting and asked Lotta the
secret of her financial success. She re-
piled:
OWES MUCH TO HER MOTHER.
II owe nearly everything to my mother,
and I really know very little about our
money matters, but think one reason for
our prosperity has been in the fact that we
have not been e1travagant. We do not care
to pay anything Tor pure show, and when we
best rooms on the ground floor of every hotel
we stop at, ride out in a coach-and-four, nor
give great dinners. do not wish to make
splurge, and prefer quiet rooms higher up
where we do not attract so much attention
and have more rest. Besides the profits of
my acting have been well invested, and my
mother is a shrewd business woman. The
trouble with many actresses is that they al
ways spend as much as they make, and
never learn the philosophy OF interest and
accumulation. People on the stage receive
very good salaries. The public has been
very kind to me, and I have been very sue
cessful in pleasing them through a long
series of years."
"You began to act almost a. baby"
sai6 I.
YES" replied Lotta, "my first acting |
was so long ago that 1 can hardly remenl-
ber it. My father was, you know, book |
seller in New York, and he had store on |
Nassau street when gold was discovered in |
California. After lew years he got the |
fever and went West, and three years later |
my mother and I went out to him. We
lived in a little log cabin at the mining set
tlement Of Laporte, but times were not very |
good and my father, though he got some |
gold, never struck it rich,' as they say. |
When was about years old dancing |
school was opened in the camp and there
took nv 1rst lessons in dancing. learned |
the steps easily, and, they tell me, developed |
at once some musical talent.
HER FIRST SHOWER OF SILVER.
"At the close of tie term a performance
was gotten up at little theater OF the town,
and after much urging my mother allowed |
Inc to take part. / both sang and danced |
and l was great success. The miners, you
know, were especially fond of children and |
they went wild over me. When came out |
on the stage at the close of the performance |
was received with q shower of silver hall |
dollars and dollars, which the audience |
threw at me. Our funds were rather low at |
that time and this ovation was quite accept |
able.
''That night decided my career as an |
actress, and shortly after this I started out |
with my mother and travelled over Caliior-
mia a. star. I was known ~ L. Petite