Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-12
CIRCUS QUEENS SAD DEATH.
Elizabeth Howard, Once as Famous as
Dan Rice, Died a Newswon,an.


From the Chicago Tribune.
There recently died In New Orleans the
one-time queen of the circus" Elizabeth
Howard. who forty years ago divided hon
ors with Dan Rice In the old days Miss
Howard was easily the most popular re-
male performer In the sawdust ring, but the
last twenty years of her life were spent
selling newspapers in the streets of the
southern city. Time was when Elizabeth
Howard received $50 for forty minutes
work each night And the success of the
entire performance depended upon her
within as much as the singing of grand
opera does upon the humor of a pr1ma
donna. During her life in New Orleans
"Old Miss Howard" she was known TO
the newsboys and street urchins earned
about 90 cents a day, and to do this she
was forced to rise at 2 o'clock in the morn
ing. summer and winter and be at News
paper 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-faccd, white
haired old woman was seen selling papers
at the intersection Of Custom House ana
Royal streets. She had rude little table
with uncertain legs. When 1t was time to
close her shop" she asked permission OF
q nearby storekeeper to allow her table to
remain over night in his establishment.
Then she trudged home to bare. cherries
little room somewhere downtown IN the
French quarter. After while she returned.
passing the corner on her way to the levee
for a 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 selected
any other corner and she was never absent
from her little stand. She always went for
her walk accompanied by half dozen dogs.
Sometimes a change was noticed in the
personnel Of her canine bodyguard. 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 a stin,
icy wind that blows straight from the gulf.
but Miss Howard was always patient and
gentle. While she rarely smiled, she brave
ly faced life and the changes 1t had for her.
and when her work was done she folded
her arms and went away Miss Howard is
ing, 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 mad
galIop. She could perform on the horizon
tai bars, too, and as a dancer she rivaled
Carmencita. She had voice of richness
and power. Miss Howard deserted the cir
comedy of the sort in which Lolita was
successful. She achieved a triumph, her
singing Of Long, Long Ago" being still
fresh in the memory Of many an old man.
But the stage was not to her liking and she
soon returned to her old love. the night on
which she reappeared under the big tent
being event to amusement seekers. 1t
was in Ptttsburg. and admirers from Gin
ctnnau and Detroit made pilgrimageS to the
Pennsylvania city to give her a welcome.