Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-06
HANDSOME YOUNG MAN WINS
MANY HEARTS
RICH eoLDFIELD MINER WANTS
HIM FOR WIFE
Looks Sweet Enough to Eat In
Woman's cIothes--FooIs Many
Who Hear Quartet
Sing \

Standing trifle above the average
height of women the young man, when
dressed in his female finery. is a figure
to attract the eye of all lovers of fair
faces and good forms.
This he has done, as several men have
learned to their embarrassment, and as
a result Blackburn has enjoyed number
Of good dinners at the expense Of local
men who have been smitten by the sup
posed charms of Miss Cushing" the
name he chose.
Fools GoIcifieId Man
One man especially, wealthy and
prominent business man Of Goldfeld, New,
who met Blackburn while the latter was
impersonating a woman and who passed
several hours in the company of the sup
posed woman, still believes that his com
panion of the evening is one of the sweet
est girls in existence, as is shown by
the number of impassioned letters Black
bufn exhibits as evidence Of his conquest.
Three months ago Blackburn, who up
to that time had sung bass in the quar-
tet, was requested to take the place of
the tenor at an evening concert. He
proposed that he go as a woman, and
offered to provide the dresses for the
part.
The suggestion was Immediately taken
up and that night new face and a
new voice appeared in the ranks of the
Maple Leaf quartet. Dressed in modest
gown of white and clasping to his ca
pacious breast bouquet Of beautiful
white roses the young, singer captured
the audience from the moment he stepped
upon the platform, and murmurs of "Oh,
isn't she pretty could be heard from
the men and women who filled the hall.
Next day the offices of the quartet at
553 South Broadway were besieged by
those who had attended the musicale of
the previous night and had heard the
rich, sweet voice of the singer. They
wished to engage Miss Cushing for
parties, private theatricals and, in fact,
for. entertainments of any and all de-
scriptions.
To each the answer was the same:
Miss Cushing only sings with the quar-
tet. She is under contract"
Business Booms
Immediately the business Of the quartet
began to boom, until it was found that
dates for months in advance had been
filled and that more engagements were
being offered than could possibly be filled.
All this time Blackburn continued in
his usual course, travelling as a man by
day and as a sweet-faced, charming girl
by night winning new laurels at each
appearance and daily increasing his num-
ber of admirers.
On nights when the quartet finished
engagements early or did not sing it
has been the custom of the young man
to accept one of the numerous engage
ments offered to attend some pleasure
resort or theater.
1t was in this manner he became so
we'll acquainted with the man from Gold
field. Two months ago this man at
tended a musicale at which Blackburn,
in the guise of Miss Cushing, sang a
difficult part.
'Say, I'm going to meet her. I think
she could make my home happy" he
said to friend, and the following day
was ushered into the rooms occupied by
the quartet and was introduced to the
woman" who had won his heart.
Invited to Dinner
"Come and take dinner with me to-
night he said, and his invitation was
accepted much to his pleasure.
That night miss Cushing and her ad-
mirer passed several hours together in
the dining room of the Alexandria hotel.
chatting gaily and planning little pleas
ure trips to nearby resorts.
At last they parted, much to the sor-
row Of the man from Goldfield only to
meet again the following afternoon, when
another dinner was ordered.
Three days later the Nevada miner
returned to his home town, but not be-
fore he had gained permission to cor
respond with the one who had won his
heart.
'TI be back again soon to see you,
little one," he said to the one he had
learned to love, as lip met lip In a fond
adieu at the station, while the supposed
Miss Cushing clasped her handkerchief
to her eyes as If to wipe away tears,
but in reality to hide the smile which
was breaking.
Yesterday the story of the impersona-
tion leaked out from friend of Black
burn, to whom the young man had whis-
pered it in a confiding moment and who
considered the story too good to keep.
The young man was sought by re-
porter and was found, still dressed In
his female raiment. in the rooms of the
quartet on Broadway.
''Iello, Blackburn said the reporter,
"still doing the woman stunt?"
Sure" said Blackburn in his usual
voice, and then catching himself drew
UP to his full height and started to retire.
Hold on a minute" said the reporter.
sIve been told about your game; now
come through and confirm my story"
confesses All
With a merry laugh the young man
threw h1mSelf INTO cndlr anu Sdiu.
''Well, 1 knew the game couldn't last
always, but I've had lots of fun while 1t
was going on. 1 suppose l will have
to call off my future engagements with
my friend from Goldfeld-that is the man
who wants to marry me-and don't sup
pose he will enjoy the joke. I wonder
what the many people l have sung for
lately will say?
''You see this started as little prac-
teal joke, but so many people-who
thought / was a woman-wanted to en-
gage me that we decided it would be
fine business to keep it up. 1t has proved
good business, all right, but the clothes
have been a trihe uncomfortable once
or twice.
.say, that is one thing which feazes
me. don't understand how women man
age to exist and wear garments of the
nature they do. Honest, l don't believe
it is healthy, and if I was woman
sure would kick
..Look what I've done. I've cramped
my feet, my waist and my ankles, and
I understand some women do that all
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