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

Lotta, and nv name was the bigge.t one on
the billheads. This was in the days Of
mining excitement and mining profits, and
our troupe made money. The miners were
very liberal, and this custom of throwing
presents to the successful actress was in
vogue. received all kinds OF things, from
500 gold pieces and ruby rings to sets of
jewels and diamond-backed watches. re-
member two elegant diamond-studded
watches that were given me in San Fran
cisco. and was everywhere received very
kindly"
''But was not the society and the life
rough one?" asked.
Gas to the Ii e." replied Lotta with a
smile, "there were few hardships. We
had no modern conveniences In the shape OF
railroads, gas and theater arrangements.
There were no roads and we had often to
travel from mining camp to mining camp by
BRIDLE PATHS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
81 had suit of boys clothes made tor
me and 1 used these on these trips. AS to
the society, ladies were as well treated by
the miners as they are treated in anv of the
drawing rooms of the world-I might say
even better-and among the miners were as
well-bred men and as well-read men as you
will find in any of our cities. The gold e1-
citement drew all classes to the West and
of Mayfower blood in his veins might be
the driver of your mule team or the supe at
the theater. Mother travelled with me and
she was very careful of both my manners
and morals. was more polite then than
am now. 1 remember it was custom at
Laporte for the children to go about on
Christmas to the stores and ask for Christ
mas presents. I was never allowed to do
this and the merchants evidently appre-
ciated the fact, for they sent me presents of
their own accord and one Christmas / re-
member received seven new dresses"
"Do you ever get any such presents now?"
asked.
Not in the way of having them thrown
upon the stage" replied LotIa. ''That has
gone out of fashion, and the best we get are
flowers. You may remember an incident
which occurred while was playing Musette
at Philadelphia a few years ago. A lady
sitting in box was so delighted with the
acting that she threw me a most beauti ul
ring. 1t contained two large diamonds and
ten smaller ones and these were set about
two rubIes and two sapphires. noticed the
lady in the box while was sitting on the
stump chatting with Billy Bradshaw.
A RING WITH A STRING TO 1T.
"She was pointing her finger at the stage
and thrusting it out again and again in
way which 1 feared would attract the atten-
tion of the audience. I wondered what she
wanted and was considerably annoyed.
told Billy to look at the woman. He did
SO and his eyes followed her finger and saw
this ring lying on the stage. He handed it
to me, and was. of course, delighted to re-
ceive such beautiful souvenir. Billy re-
mained some time sitting on the stump
and asked him why he did so. He
said he was waiting to see her throw him a
ring. Alter the play was over the lady
came behind the scenes and 1 had a very
pleasant talk with her. This, however. was
not the end of the story. About two years
after this received a letter from the family
of the lady asking for the return of the ring.
At the same time the lady wrote me that
she had given the ring out of pure admira-
tion for me and she did not want it returned.
I could not keep it when I knew that her
family did not like it. and I sent it back to
her,"
The conversation here turned to Philadel- |
phia and New York, and Lotta told me the |
story of her first success in the East. Said |
she: 81 was playing in New York when 1 |
was IA years old and my great hit there was
The Marchioness,' which was written for
me by John Brougham. and from the acting
OF which he dubbed me the Dramatic
Cocktail of America The play was great
success, and I have been playing it for