The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16
me heroine in the eyes of my little play
10. for oEo

me heroine in the eyes of my little play
mates for weeks.
Here in Portland / first saw ]. T. Trow-
bridge, who because of the pen name Paul
Creyton, under which he began his fortu-
nate literary career, was known to his
especial friends as paul" Mr.. Trow-
bridge seemed to me grave, quiet sort OF
a man, and regarded him from a dis
tance with silent admiration.
On one occasion l did summon up cour.
age enough to tell him that had read his
| "Martin Merrivale'' and liked it very
much, and 1 was overwhelmed with BASH
full Joy when he courteously thanked me
for my good opinion and expressed the
hope that he would, before he died, write
many books far more worthy OF my praise.
Fred Douglass was also visitor to thi.
hospitable mansion, but although he,
being extremely fond of children, tried to
make a pet of me, was always shy ol
him. His dark. strongly marked face and
bushy, "kinky" hair made me trifie
afraid of him, and l avoided him as much
as possible at all times.
was, however, consumed by burning
curiosity as to the manner in which he
managed to keep his luxurlant, but to me
most unpleasing, chevelure in order,
since I was quite positive that no comb
could by any possibility penetrate lis
wooIly depths; and l covered myself with
disgrace and the household with con-
fusion by asking him about the matter
one time when he had conquered my
prejudices and timidity sufficiently to
persuade me to sit upon his knee for a few
moments.
Karl Formes, the famous basso, l met
during this same happy time, and his
wonderful voice and leonine personality
made a singularly deep impression upon
me. l we'll remember how at the close
of one of his concerts, which l had been
allowed to attend under, the escort of a
maid, I managed to slip away from the
| ng-suffering young woman and find my
way to the singers dressng-ro where,
auivering and speechless, quite choked by
overwhelming emotions, Twas welcomed
by him with truly fatherly kindness.
His artistic soul comprehended the tu-
multi in my childish breast and its cause,
and he did not torture me with question
or comment He simply took me up in
his strong arms and soothed and COM
forted me, as only one of his deep and
tender nature could do, and then restored
me to my much perturbed guardian, max
ing me supremely happy by kiss at
parting.
Years after, shortly before his death, I
met the grand old singer in San Fran
cisco and recalled to his mind the little
incident thus earning for myself an in
slant and glad recognition and welcome,
which form one of my happiest memories.
Anna Dickinson, also, l saw in this
same New England city when she was a
very attractive, dark-haired, self-reliant
young woman with an earnest manner
and "something to say" which she said
well. She was extremely popular in those
days, and her wonderful personal magnet
ism gave her a command over her audi
ences which was something almost in
credible TO those who were never brought
under the influence of her peculiar gift.
She seemed to take an especial fancy to
me. and was greatly pleased with my
avowed determination to "be a lecturer.
too" when grew up.
In after years / saw her during her i'll
advised and brief theatrical career, but
the fascina alton which was hers as lec-
turer was almost entirely lacking in her
as an actress, and the failure that she