The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-11-19
POOR ELIZABETH HOWARD
Old-Time Circus Queen Died
a Pauper in New Orleans.
"LONG, LONG AGO. y
Once a Society Girl Of Montgomery,
Aa.-Met Circus Clown, to
Whom She Lost Her Heart Saved
Dan Rice's Little Niece from a
Death by Fire.

Whom She Lost Her Heart Saved
Dan Rice's Little Niece from a
Death by Fire.
The death occurred recently in New
Orleans of the old-time queen of the
circus" Elizabeth Howard, who forty
years ago divided honors with Dan
Rice. In the old days Miss Howard
vas easily the most popular woman
oerformer in the sawdust ring, but the
fast twenty years Of her life were
spent selling newspapers In the streets
Of the southern city. says the Chicago
Tribune. Time was when Elizabeth
Howard received $3.50 for forty min
utes' work each night And the sue
cess of the entire performance de-
pended upon her whim as much as the
singing OF grand opera does upon
the humor OF a prima donna During
her life in New Orleans "Old Miss
Howard" as she was known to the
newsboys and street urchins, earned
about 60 cents a day, and to do this
she was forced to rise at o'clock in
che morning summer and winter, and
be at newspaper row at o'clock. when
the morning papers sent out their city
editions.
II is said that Miss Howard arrived
IN New Orleans about twenty years
ago. One cold winters morning a
sweet-faced white-haired old woman
was seen selling papers at the inter
section OF Customhouse and Royal
streets. she had rude little table
with uncertain legs. When 1t was
time to close her "shop" she asked
permission of a nearby storekeeper TO
allow her table to remain over night
In his establishment. Then she trudged
home to a bare, cheerless little room
somewhere in the French quarter.
After a while she returned, passing
the corner on her way to the levee for
walk. She was followed by six dogs
her friends and companions. This was
the history of each of the last days of
The old woman's life. She never Sc
lected any other corner, and she was
never absent from her little stand.
She always went for her walk accom-
panied by a half-dozen dogs.
Sometimes a change was noticed In
the personnel of her canine body
guard. some of them falling victims to
age, accident. or the dog-catcher. But
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 darkness of a
bleak morning. and standing In the
face of stiff, icy wind that blows
straight from the gulf. but Miss How
ard was always patient and gentle.
While she rarely smiled, she gravely
faced life and the change II had for
her. and when her work was done she
folded her arms and went away.
Miss Howard Is held by many to
have been the most dashing, the most
daring 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 a
mad gallop. She could perform on
the horizontal bars, too, and as a
dancer she rivaled Carmencita. She
had a voice of richness and power.
Miss Howard deserted the circus for
single season, when she started in a
comedy of the sort in which Lolita was
successful. She achieved triumph,
her singing of Long, Long Ago be-
ing still fresh In the memory OF many
an old man. But the stage was not 10
her liking, and she soon returned to
her old love, the night on which she
reappeared under the big tent being
an event to amusement seekers. 1t
was in Pittsburg, and admirers from
Cincinnati and Detroit made pilgrim
ages to the Pennsylvania city to give
her a welcome. Before the grand en-
try" there was an accident in one Of
the dressing rooms. A candle was
overturned, and some fiimsy gowns
were soon ablaze. Dan Rice's little
niece was sleeping on n pile of canvas
trunks, and the flames had reached
the child when Miss Howard went
TO the rescue. The queens" left hand
was badly burned, but the little one
was unharmed.
Miss Howard bowed to the big audi
ence thai night. but she could not ride
her horse or leap in midair She sang
"Long, Long Ago"
Miss Howard was once society girl
Of Montgomery, Ala. and just before
the civil war she visited Richmond
where she led the cotillon at the sea
sons most notable affair. 1t was dur.
Ing this visit to Richmond that she
met circus clown to whom she lost
her heart Thpra Is no record of haT
marriage to him, but at any rate the
members of her family, one of the old
est in Alabama. were shocked the fol
lowing year to learn that she had gone
INTO the circus business.
I.s..Ii.....4 A. nIaia craaILix..