Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-17

SEN as he called her, Intimately, and
who believed her endowed with the divine
| gift of genius.
Dolores Ardios Fuertes was born in
New Orleans, June 10, 1885. Her mother
was n beautiful, gifted Frenchwoman, a
native of Bordeaux, who had won some
success on the stage in her own country
and in Spanish America. Senior Fuertes.
Adams father, was a Spanish Jew
The family of Fucrtes was always in
Strengthened circumstances, SO that he did
not hesitate to use tho earning powers of
his pretty little daughter at an age when
she should have been absorbed In picture
books and dolls.
Adah was not yet when her father be
| gan her instruction. for it was the dream
of his life to make her as great as that
actress of his race. Rachel, whose dramatic
genius had placed her ut the head of the
European stage.
Adah had an older sister. Josephine. OF
whom we know but little, for, though
gifted rs dancer. she was not cursed
with beauty. When Josephine was and
Adah Z, they appeared as dancers in q
pantomine ut the old Charles Street thea
ter, New Orleans. The beauty. grace. in
telligence and rare art of the younger SIS
ter made her an immediate success. and
the clated father saw within his rasp the
fortune for which he had SO long been
striving.
At the ago Of 10 Adams father took her
to Havana, where she danced herself into
immediate success and was known by the
| gay Rallants as Queen of the Plaza
Spanish grandees and wealthy planters
offered her marriage, but her father guard
| ed her carefully, determined not to part
with so productive a property. Fuertes
| took his beautiful daughter to Texas and
| Mexico. where her success was unboundod.
| Apart from her wonderful dancing" said
| man who met her at Vera Cruz in 1852
sit was worth the whole price of admis-
| sion just to look at the graceful form and
| exquisitely beautiful and brilliant face as
| she walked across the stage. At this time
she was the cause Of many n heartache,
| and moro than one duel was fought ON her
| account"
| On their return to New Orleans Adah s
father felt that he could afford to rest, and
| that her appearance on the stage was no
longer necessary for the family support.
The girl used her leisure and showed her
natural bent by writing and publishing a
book of poems entitled Memories under
tho nom de plume ''Indigena.
In 1856 she was induced to dance at Gal
weston, and here she met musician.
Alexander Isaacs Menken, of her father s
race, whose skill won her heart and a
few weeks after their first meeting they
| were married After this she became
! known by her husbands name, to which
she prefixed for stage purposes that OF
Adah.
Menken was no sentimental lover. He
saw fortune in his wifes beauty and tai
ents, and Inc decided to get all that could
be made out of both After living with
MenEen for two years. during which time
she appeared successfully in nearly every
state, she was divorced from him on hes
own application at Nashville in 1858.
Free from Mcnken. she went to New
Orleans. where her family were again In
need, and she at once accepted an engage
ment as dancer and singer on the variety
stage She made brilliant and profitable
trip through the south. taking time from
sleep to prepare herself for work OF high
er class
After six months of variety starring
Adah returned to New Orleans and ap
peared in the drama of "Fazio." As hel
training for legitimate stage work hac
been limited her talents could not com
pensate for her want Of experience. yet hel
appearance. though disappointing to her
SELF. was not only not q failure, but com
petent critics said il was full of promise
While playing in Cincinnati in 1859 she
undertook the study Of sculpture and sur
prised her instructors. In New York sht
met John c. Heenan, and. though mental
~ so unlike. 1t was. on her part at least.
case OF love at first sight.
John G. Heenan, or 'the Benicia Boy.
rs he was then called. was at this time I
strikingly handsome man under 80 year
Of age and the idol OF the American sport
ing world. A blacksmith in California
Heepau won such fame on that coast tina
he was matched to fight the renowned
English boxer Tom Sayers. HeeDan wen
to England. and although the English
, mans supporters stopped the fight it va
generally conceded that 1.-THE American
, champion won" Bot be that 'as it may
John c. Hecnan found himself . characte
|, Of national importance on his return. ant
the gifted and beautiful actress became
! Worshiper.
! Outside " physical sndowmsnts .