The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-02
zELLA IN K. 6.
Kansas City Thinks the NicOlaus
Woman "Beaut."
She Has Tawny. Wildcat Eyes
and Yellow Hair
AND STUNNING GOWNS.
The Reporter Says She is ''Chic"
and 'Distingue"
And Other Words Out of the
Scrap Pile.
AND STUNNING GOWNS.

KANSAS CITY, Jan. 2.-Zslla Nicol-
aus is here. The fair female who is said
to have ''done" George Gould to the
tune of $4,000, arrived in Kansas City
yesterday morning aud Immediately re-
paired to the Midland, where she regis
tered under the above name. She came
in from St Louis, where she has been for
several days
A report er for local paper writes:
leila IS a bundle of contradictions
She says she will be 81 next May-and
she looks it-with interest. She is
very pronounced blonde, with the eyes
novelists so delight in describing as
"tawny"-eyes as fascinating as a wild
cats, big, dewy, and appealing, looking
out at one from under their long lashes
in a most fetching way. Her hair
ia pure blonde, soft, ripping and
silky, and her lips are as red as roses
and of a decidedly sensuOus cas-, and her
teeth are beautifully white and regular
She has rosy cheeks, apparently, and her
whole face is very attractive, at first
sight. She has childish air about her,
which is intended to captivate the I'M
wary at once. and generally does, as his
tory bears out She is not really beauti-
full, few such women are-but she is
one who would instantly be picked out of
"A crowd, because she would attract and
hold attention instinctively. She is about
the medium height, with a pretty, lis
some figure, large hands and feet which
she keeps out of sight. Yesterday,
when seen by a Times reporter, she was
at rehearsal. at the Ninth Street theater
and were street costume, which was
'stunner." She had on sailor hat of
white and blue, ornamented with two i'm.
mense punches of violets, heavy dotted
veil, velvet, fur trina med cape, with it's
collar turned up beneath her dimpled
chin. and a gown of walking length
which fitted her faultlessly, the big and
haring skirt of which was beautifully
and stylishly trimmed Altogether her
appearance was decidedly chic" Yet
she apologized to the reporter for look
ing SO badly,
~ have been travelling all night" she
said. ''and only got a little rest since
came IN this morning. I am very nerv-
GUS and was completely Frustrated in
81. Lonis. tits so hard to take care of
ones self, you know" and tear drop
trent ted In the big 'tawny' eyes, ''there |
Is SO much responsibility. 1 had several
offers from different managers, but NJ
Cazmans was the most accep table. so / |
took it Yes, 1 am to receieve $500 per
week, and will play pnrt in piece
written for ne by N. Cazmau, entitled
a Terrible Night 1t is a society sketch
and will play The Sleeping Beauty l
do not think l Will go on tonight am |
SO nervous" with very fetching sigh.
sand fear my efforts would be fail !
ure if l taxed myself too much. have
been on the stage before. played two
weeks in New York and one in PhiIa- |
delphia last August. suffer terribly I
from stage fright, out l am trying hard !
to overcome that. 1 want to succeed ca
tirely upon my merits, not because of |
any notoriety have uuwittingly achiev-
ed, nor by means of my face or figure. |
1 nope later to get into some good melo.
drama"
Miss Nicolaus refused absolutely to
talk about the Gould incident That is
past" she said, sand I do not care TO re-
vive 1t until l write my book. Let it re.
main buried until then. I am anxious
now to be an actress. l love the stage
and believe have talents in that line"
she stated in reply to question that Mr..
Ruhman had left her In ST. Lous, and
that she did not know of his whereabo
at present.
Ed Cooke. theatrical agent. who
'chaperoned" the fair Zella on her trim
from St. Louis, was much amused at sew.
eral incidents on the journey. "When
we met at the Union station" he said,
I'VE promenaded up and down the plat
form together waiting for the train BIZ
some means the attaches of the depot
GOT onto who my companion was. and
they turned out en- masse, lined up alor o
the platform and watched u.s. 1t beat a
cake walk all hollow! And when they
started Her Golden Hair Was Hangit g
Down Her Back l couldn't stand 1t AM
longer actually blushed, Pretty thing
for theatrical man, but it's sop
Altogether leila Nicolaus is a contra
dictory creature. She is soaking noto-
rlety by her appearance before the foot.
lights, yet she will not talk about the
most sensational incident in her varied
career. She talks about her poor. ner-
vous, woe be- gone self, yet she made
George Gould pony up" without
Iremor. She claims she must earn her
llVing, yet she wears the finest clothes
10 De bought for money. She is known
The country over as one of the shrewiest
women who ever fooled a man. vet her
BABY face and hair-trigger tear apparA-
Ius would fool roue. She is an
enigma.
Won GONTARn,S ESCApE