Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-16
CIRCUS QUEENS SAD DEATH '

 Elizabeth Howard. who forty years ago
 divided honors with Dan Rice. In the
 old days Miss Howard was easily the
 most popular female performer in the
 sawdust ring, but the last twenty years of her life were spent selling
 newspapers in the streets of the south-
 erfl city.
 l. Time was when Elizabett Howard received $15O for forty minutes work each night. And the success of the entire performance depended upon her whim as much as the singing of
 grand opera does upon the humor of prima donna. &
 During her Life in New Orleans "Olu Miss Howard,' as she was known to the newsboys and street urchins, earn ed about 60 cents day, and to do this yEhe was forced to rise at o'clock in the morning, summer and winter, and be at Newspaper row at 3 o'clock. when the morning papers sent out their city editions
 1t is said that Miss Howard arrived in New Orleans about twenty years ago. One cold winters morning a sweet-faced. whfte-haired old woman was seen selling papers at the intersec- tior of CustdTnhouse and Royal
 streets. She had rude little table
 with uncertain legs. When it was | time to close her sshop' she asked per mission of a nearby store keeper to al 1 low her table to remain overnight in his establishment. Then she trudged 1 home to a bare, cheerless little room l somewhere downtown in the French l quarter.
 I After a while she returned, passing | the corner on her way to the Ievee for l a walk. She was followed by six dogs, her friends and companions. This l was the history of each of the last days of the old woYnans life She never selected any other corner, and 1 she was never, absent from her little l stand She always went for her walk accompanied by a half dozen dogs. 1 Sometimes a change was noticed in 1 the personnel of her canine body yguard. ] some of them failing victims to age, accident or the dog catcher. But l there were always six of them. There are times when the most
 cheerful and willing of souls will rebel | at the idea of going out into the dark ness of bleak morning and standing | in the face Of d stiff, icy wind that l blows straight from the gulf, but Miss Howard was always patient and gen l tie. While she rarely smiled. she l brayely faced Life and the changes it
 had for her, and when her work was l done she folded her arms and went
 away.
 Miss Howard is held by many to have
 been the most dashing, the most dar- ing circus woman the world ever knew. She was the first person, man or woman to tumble through paper hoops while her horse was going at l a mad gallop. She could perform on the horizontal bars, too, and as a dam cer she riyaIled Carfnencita. She had
 a voice of richness and power.
 Miss Howard deserted the circus for
 a single season, when she starred iil l comedy of the sort in which Lotta was successful She achieved a triumph, l her singing Of Long, Long Ago. being l still fresh ifl the memory of many an ! old man. But the stage was not to
 her liking and she soon returned to her I old love. the night oIl which she re-
 appeared under the big tent being an event to amusement seekers. It was in Pittsburg, and admirers from Gin. l cinnati and Detroit made pilgrfnages
 to the Pennsylvania city to give her q
 welcome
 q Before the grand entry'' there was
 an accident in one of the dressing rooms. A candle was overturned and some f1in1sy gowns were soon ablaze
 Dan Rice's little niece was sleeping or
 8 pile of canvas trunks. and the flames
 had reached the child when Miss How ard went to the resuee. The queens
 I.G4 n, s5 tzsaA tz ' little one was unlharmed.
 I Miss Howard bowed to the big audi
 ence that night. but she could not ride Il her horse or leap iii fnidair. She sang Long, Long Ago.''
 s'Iet me forget that 50 long have yor roved, 4 Let me believe that you love as yot
 loved.
 Long. long ago.''
 Miss Howard was oflce,a society gif of Montgomery, Alabama, and jus
 before the civil war she visited Rich .mond. where she led the cotillon a the seasons most notable affair. [ , was during tThis visit to Richmond tha; ' she met circus clown to whom sht lost her heart There is no record oi her marriage to him, but at any rati
 the members of her family, one of tn, T oldest in Alabama. were shocked tn, I following year to learn that she had
 signed d contract with circus mana
 ger and had begun what was to be ]
 most notable career. She was forbid den ever to enter her home again. Miss Howard sold papers the day sh,
 died The last morning she spent o1 earth was bright ard warm. She lef off selling papers about 10 o'clock ant went to Newspaper row to settle he weekly bills Then home, dinner fo the dogs. two-11our map and he daily walk. AS she was returnfnj 2 home she had coughing spell ani swooned. A fleraorrha ge followed ant she was taken into dwelling at 73, Orleans street, where she died a fev !. minutes later.
 Miss Howard had been a member o 5 a cooperative benevolent association which assured it's members Christian N. ~