The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
CIRCUS QUEENS SAD DEATH.
Elizabeth Howard. Once as Famous a. Dan
Rlce. Died . Newswoman.
From lhe ChtcdcO Tri6unl

There recently died in New Orleans the
one-time queen Of the circus" Elizabeth
Howard. who forty years ago divided honors
with Dan Rice In the old days Miss Howard
was easily the most popular female per-
former in the sqwdust ring. but the last twenty
years OF her life were spent selling news
, papers 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 de-
pended upon her whim as much az the sing
ing OF a grand opera does upon the humor OF
prima donna.
During her life In New Orleans odd Miss
Howard as she was known 20 the newsboys
and street urchins. earned about 90 cents
a day, and to do this she was forced 70 rise
at Q o'clock in tho morning. summer and
winter. and be at Newspaper row at o'clock,
when the morning papers sent out their city
editions.
It ID said that Miss Howard arrived in
New Orleans about twenty years ago One
cold winters morning sweet-faced. white
haired old woman was seen selling papers
at the intersection Of Customhouse and Royal
streets She had d rude little table with
uncertain legs. When 1t was time to close
her shop" she asked permission Of a nearby
store keeper to allow her table to remain
overnight in his establishment, Then she
trudged home to a bare. cherries little room
somewhere downtown in the French quarter.
After while she returned. passing the
corner on her way TO the lsvee for walk
sns Rs SIX was he ss o
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
companied by half dozen dogs.
Sometimes change was noticed In the
them falling victims TO age. accident or
the dog catcher. But there were always six
of them.
There are times when. the most cheerful
of going out into the darkness OF bleak
morning and standing In the face Of a stiff.
but Miss Howard was always, patient and
gentle. While she rarely smiled, she bravely
faced life and the changes 1t had for her,
and when her work was done she folded
" Miss Howard Is held BY many TO have been
the most dashing. the most daring circus
first person. man or woman, to tumble through
paper hoops while her horse was going at a
mad gallop. She could perform on the
s"ss sR RSG. 's DE
Miss Howard deserted the CIRCUS for a
Of the sort In which Lolita was successful,
She achieved a triumph, her sin ging Of Long.
Long Ago" being still fresh n the memory
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 amuse-
nent seekers. 1t was In Pittsburg. and ad-
mirers from Cincinnati and Detroit made pill
grimages TO the Pennsylvania city to give her
n welcome.
Before the grand entry" there was an
accident In one Of the dressing roome.
candle was overturned and some fInsy gowns
were soon ablaze. Dan Rice's little niece
LII I,I Inc "a liz nf n Nd
tho flames had reached the child when
Miss TIowa rd went to tho rescue. The queens
left hand was badly burned. but the little
Miss Howard bowed to the big audience
that night, hut she could not ride her horse
or lenp in midair, She snng Long. Long
Ago
Let me ioreet that so long have you rovrd.
Let me believe that you love as you loved.
Long. long ago
Montgomery, Ala, and Just before the civil
war shc visited Richmond. where she led
the cotillon Mt. the seasons most notable
affair II was during this visit to Richmond
that she met circus clown. to whom she
lost her heart. There Ia no record OF her
marriage TO him, but at any rate the mem
hama, were shocked the following year to
learn that she had signed contract with
circus manager and had begun what was
hidden 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 of selling papers
about 10 O'Clock and went TO Newspaper row
70 settle her weekly bills. Then home,
dinner for the dogs, n two-hour map" and
her daily walk A she was returning home
she had u coughing spell and swooned.
hernorrhoge followed and she was taken into
a dwelling at 40 Orleans street. where she
died a few minutes later.
Miss Howard had been n member Of n
cooperative benevolent association which
assured it's members Christian 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 10 rest In Pottsr's Field.