The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-16
HERE'S A SENSATION
Wichita Girl Submits to an
Astounding Experiment
TO MAKE HER BEAUTIFUL
Gives the Name of Amanda
Parks, Probably Fictitious
TO MAKE HER BEAUTIFUL

Who is Amanda Parks? Wichita
woman undoubtedly. but who knows her?
Whoever she is, she has engaged the
interest and aid Of Harriet Hubbard Aver
and the New York World in one of the
most astounding experiments ever attempt
ed. They are TO make her beautiful in a
few weeks.
Mrs. Harriet Hubbard Aver, a multi
millionaire, for pastime, answers occasional
questions from correspondents in the New
York World. Recently Amenda Parks Of
Wichita, wrote Mrs. Aver telling her or
her elocuuonary powers, but of her poor
personal appearance, and praying help.
Mrs. Aver wrote Amanda a letter Of the
regulation sympathetic kind, and the cor
respondence ended. But last week Mrs
Aver had a caller, who proved to be
Amanda Parks Of Wichita girl possessed
Of such wonderful voice that Mrs. Aver
at onoe proposed to her that If she would
permit publicity she would start in to
beauufy Amanda and through the World
newspaper let the people know from week
to week the progress Of the experiment,
Mrs. Aver undertaking to get the girl
position on the stage.
ter from Wichita and Harriet Hubbard's
story Of the appearance Of the girl. and
with this, three photographs Of Amanda
Parks Of Wichita.
Now these three pictures are undoubt-
edly familiar TO everybody IN Wichita.
Last night an Eagle reporter showed them
to several citizens and they all recognized
the face as one familiar. 1t is not
pretty face.
The city directory does not record an
Amanda Parks. Mrs. Harriet Hubbard
Aver would not lend herself to a palpable
fake.
The chances are that some Wichita
young lady has assumed the name Amanda
Parks and has gone to New York Who
Is she?
Amanda's dolefuI letter to Mrs. Aver and
Mrs. Ayers signed comment upon it are
as follows:
Wichita, Kan, Nov. q.
Mrs. Harriet Hubbard Aver
Dear Madam: I appeal 10 you as the
friend OF women, because [ am in de-
spair and If you cannot help me I do not
know what I shall really do. 1 was born
in this state, Kansas. and have lived
here all my life. I am an orphan. and
am living with a relative, who doesn't
know that I am writing TO you. Ever
since I was little girl I have dreamed
Of becoming an actress, and at fourteen
I was the best eIocutionist in our town.
I have been giving Rotations more or
less ever since, and I have always been
able to attract a good crowd. I suppose
you will think Z am conceited, but
honestly believe I have talent and
could become a successful actress. The
only thing that really stands in my way
IS my looks. Every time I see myself
in a glass it makes me sick. It seems
10 me that every other girl in the world
is more attractive and better looking
than am. I have heard so much about
you, and I have wanted to write to you
for two yeans, but I have always been
ashamed. But now I have made up my
mind to ask you if you think there IS
any chance for me. I viii tell you just
the way look to myself, and I viii try
to be honest. Please don't throw this
letter away now, but do he kind enough
TO read on. Oh, If you only knew how
poor girl away out here in Kansas will
watch for your answer! And how much
VIII depend upon tt Il viii just mean
my happiness or my misery. am twenty
four years old, 5 feet inches tall but
I stoop dreadfully, and I don't seem to
be able TO straighten myself out. al
though I have tried practicing move
ments I have seen illustrated IN the
papers. I have black hair that looks like
an Indians; my eyes are my best point.
but they have lines under them, and my
eyebrows are simply horrid. They are
black and all in one piece They seem
to meet right at my nose. Ny complex
ion IS not good. I am freckled and have
some terrible bIackheads that are SO dis
gusting, I ought TO have very good
teeth. but have lost two on the rlght