The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
A CIRCUS W0MAN's CAREER.
Once Noted I'm Her Line, She In
Buried i'm n Pauper's Grave.

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
woman 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 the singing of a grand
opera does upon the humor OF a prlma
donna. During her life i'm New ORLEANS
''Old Miss Howard" as she was known to
the newsboys and street urchins earned
about GO cents day, and TO do this she
was forced TO rise at O'Clock in the MORN
ing, summer and winter, and be at News
paper row at o'clock. when the morning
papers sent out their city editions
1t is said that Miss Howard arrived I'm
New Orleans about twenty years ago. One
cold winter s morning a sweet-faced, white
haired old woman was seen selling papers
at the intersection of Custom-house and
Royal streets She had a rude little table
with uncertain legs When il was time TO
close her shop" she asked permission OF
nearby storekeeper 10 allow her table to
remain over night in his establishment.
I0tn she lTuuSeQ nome 10 a bare. Cneer-
less little room somewhere down town in
the French quarter. After a while she re-
turned, 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 womans life. She never Sc
lected any other corner, and she was never
absent from her little stand. She always
went for her walks 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 re-
bel at the idea of going out into the dark
ness of bleak morning and standing i'm
the face of a stiff, icy wind that blows
straight from the gulf, but Miss Howard
rarely smiled. she bravely faced life
and the changes il 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 DASH
ing, the most daring circus woman the
world ever knew. She was the first per-
SON man or woman. to tumble through
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 a
single season, when she starred in a COM
edy of the sort in which Dotta was sue
ctSSlul. ole dC0leNeo a triumph, her sing
ing 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 an event TO amusement seekers. IL
was in Pittsburg, and admirers from Gin
cinnau and Detroit made pilgrimages to
the Pennsylvania city to give her a well
come. Before the grand entry there was
accident i'm of the dressing rooms
candle was overturned and some fimsy
gowns were soon ablaze. Dan Rice's little
niece was sleeping on a pile OF canvas
trunks, and the names had reached the
child when Miss Howard went TO the res
cue; The "aueen.sp left hand was badly
Miss Howard bowed TO the big audience
that night, but she could not rice her
horse or leap in midair. She sang long,
Long Ago"
Miss Howard was once a society girl OF
Montgomery, Ala, and INST before the
civil war she visited Richnnond. where she
led the cOtilion at the seasons most nota-
BILE affair. Ii was during this visit TO Rich
mond that she met a circlus clown, TO
whom she lost her heart. There is no rec
ord of her marriage to him, but at any
rate the members of her family, one OF the
oldest in Alabama were shocked the fol-
lowing year TO learn that Dhe had signed
contract with circus .lanager and had
begun what was TO be a most notable
reer. She was forbidden ever to enter her
home again. Miss Howard sold papers the
day she died. The last morning she spent
on earth was bright and warm She left
off selling papers about 10 O'Clock and
went to Newspaper row TO settle her week
ly bills. Then home, dinner for the dogs,
a two-hour nap" and her daily walk AS
she was returning home she had a coughing
spell and swoOned. A hemorrhage followed
and she was taken into a dwelling at 30
Orleans street, where she died q few min
utes later. Miss Howard had been a MEM
Der of a cooperative benevolent associa-
ton which assured it's members a Chris
tian burial upon payment of 10 cents a
week during life. She had neglected to
pay the current weeks dues, and so the
queen of the circus was laid to rest in
pOtter's field