The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18

girls death. the poem appeared in
print for the first time When the
paper containing the poem came out
or Sunday morning, the body Of the
victim had not yet received burial
The attention OF Thomas Buchanan
Read. one of the American poets.
was so taken with the stirring
pathos of the lines, that he imme-
diately followed the corpse TO its
last resting place.
To these facts, generally used in
crediting the poem to Dora Shaw,
the following has been added by a
person signing himself Research,
"a the time OF the marriage Of
F, S. lie Baum and Dora Shaw, the
former was a citizen and possessor
Of considerable property in St Louis.
He took his bride &c his splendid
city home. where she was given
everything that wealth could be-
stow. Still she was not happy. for
the marriage was rather one of her
parents choice than of her own
heart.
About this time De Bars COM
pany was playing at a St Louis
theater. and Dora, unhappy in her
home restraints, sought an introduc-
ton 10 the manager. who saw in the
aspirations OF the lady a chance TO
make a splendid hit He gave her
every encouragement. and offered
her the opportunity OF making her
debut IN the leading role Of Julia
in The Hunchback." She a once
commenced the study OF the play.
and was given ample coaching in the
stage work, all OF which was kept
from her husband.
one morning ST Louis was
thrown into fever by the an
nouneement that Miss Dora Shaw
would appear that night in Sheri-
dan Knowles great play. lie Baum
and his friends were struck as if by
d thunderbolt He first entTeated
then threatened his wife, and next
the manager. but all TO no purpose.
The manager had all this passed
into the street, which. OF course, in
creased the sensation and strength
ened the desire to attend. The con-
sequence was that the theater was
packed TO the doors. The curtain
rose. Dora appeared, walked. STAN
mered, blushed. and repeated her
part mechanically. Still the audi
ence was pleased not by the acting,
but by the novelty of the occasion.
The next, the third. fourth, and NTH
nights were like the frst Finally
the attendance fell of, the manage
ment refused TO offer a permanent
engagement and suggested she best
go 10 another city.
In the meantime lie Baum sued
for divorce. which was readily
granted by the court The next ap-
pearance of Dora was in New Or
leans. where her former social posi-
ton was unknown and where she
was wholly thrown upon her merits
as an actress for success. IL is need
less 10 say that she failed. The rest
OF the story is soon told. Abandon
ed by friend, home, husband, pen
niless. she fell and drifted on until
her life story is finished in the Gin
cinnati Hospital. from which. after
her death. was brought to light her
poem Beautiful Snow"
There is little doubt but that the
incidents related are true, but the
fallen woman had no doubt OBJ
tanned. from some source or an
other, the Watson verses, and as
they had exactly fitted her position.
she had copied them and probably
read and reread them over and over
again when the thoughtful moments
of her ruined life had prompted her
10 do so.
AS TO the Watson claim OF incl
dent for the Inspiration OF the poem.
he is said 10 have found his subject
in thescolumns OF a New York news
paper. which told of how a poor fai-
len woman was found lying dead un-
der the snow In one Of the streets
of that city at the early age OF
two-and twenty. She was the daugh-
ter OF respectable parents. beautiful,
attractive in manners. highly edu-
Gated and accomplished liz an evil
hour she fell. through love OF drink,
into open sin. She abandoned her
husband became an Outcast from
respectable society, and was soon an
inmate Of penitentiary. Her hus-
bands love, however. induced him
10 make another effort to save her.
and. through his influence. she was
released, but only again to desert
her home and meet a tragic death.