davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

and make a great place for herself in the
world.
Then. with that bewildering and tragic caprice
which, all her life, seemed to sway her acts,
Dolores flung herself hcadlong into a foolish.
almost incredible marriage. I have often Won
dered why pretty and sensible girls accept the
men some of them marry.
Here was this lovely girl. a lin9uiSt, a poet.
with talent that promised much, who suddenly
married a poor little music teacher-an ex-
cellent man but utterly incapable of UNDER
standing this bird of paradise he had shared.
Apparently she folded away all her am
billions. never expecting to look at them again,
to be the wife of Alexander Isaac Menken. For
hin she changed her name to Adah Isaacs
Menken. adopted the Jewish faith. in which she
thereafter remained an enthusiastic devotee.
and settled down to keep house, scrub floors and
raise babies.
But the babies did not come and the drudgery
drove her mad! In his divorce papers. Menken
even accused Adah of smoking cigarettes in his
house. Enthusiastically disgraceful charge against
an American girl in 1858.
From Menken and all his stern poverty. Adah
fled to her mothers home in New Orleans.
Now she resolved to become an actress. She
had never spoken on the stage, but her beauty
and sincerity so impressed the manager Of the
Varieties Theater that he gave her q chance
in a leading part, and her success was in
Simultaneous.
A LII New Orleans wen. to see this young,
vital and beautiful girl in such famous
plays as "Fazio,' Rob Roy" and Robert
Macaire." After that she toured in support of
such great stars as James Murdoch and Edwin
Booth.
But soon her wild and rebelliouS spirit tore
her away into a different path. During a per-
Torrance of Macbeth" in Nashville. she quar-
relied with Murdoch and ran away-to write
poetry, practice with pistols and foilS and study
sculpture with the artist w. D. Jones, in Co
lumbuS, Ohio.
She was supporting herself by occasional ap-
pearances and evenings of dramatic readings,
and exhibitions of riding. In Dayton, Ohio. the
militia made her an officer of the horse guards
for her surprising drillwork and all-around
horSemanShip.
Suddenly tired of the Middle West, she en-
tered New York, full of hope and penniless.
No theatrical manager seemed willing to en-
gage her, and the only friend she found was
J. C. Keenan,. known as The Benicia Boy"
the heavyweight champion of America. Again
sheer madness! Adah Menken, recently di-
vorced. with beautiful poetic dreams in her
head, took the kiss Of this Goliath, this man
mauler, and one dark night they were married.
1t was just at the time when Heenan was
preparing to fight the English champion SayerS
for the prize-ring title of the world, and not
long after the marriage, Hcenan sailed for
London, leaving Adah alone in New York.
In the midst OF an engagement at the historic
Old Bowery Theater, which burned q few
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

months ago, Adah made a thrilling discovery.
She who had been divorced by Menken largely
because she had brought him no children, was
now to have a child whose father was Heenan,
the priZe-fighter. At once she left the stage
and gave herself up to beautiful dreams OF
approaching motherhood.
No sooner was she off the stage than an
extraordinary opportunity was offered I'd her
the star part in a revival of a sensational
melodrama, made from Lord ByronS poem
called "Mazeppa."
The thrilling feature of this play is it's climax
when the hero is dashed to the back of a wild
horse and set loose on the open plains to die.
A dummy, of course, was tied to the animals
back, but the new producers had a sensational
idea. Adah had ridden a horse in the circus.
Would she permit herself really to be tied
to the wild horse, and by this startling piece
of realism stampede the country with melo-
drama. and make her name and fortune?
Adah loftily refused. It was not art; it
WIS vulgar melodrama. She would play only
Shakespeare. Besides, she was through with
the stage.
hot q year later, her baby was dead. her
heart was broken and in tragic despair, she
left Heenan and begged only for the part of
"Mazeppa" in which every night she must
toy with death.
CHE appeared in f~ieshings. and her hair was
cut in a boyiSh bob. the first ever seen
in the United States. At every performance
she was dashed 10 the back Of the horse in
the climax Of the play and carried on a UNI
way. only 10 inches wide, back and forth.
and ever up, higher and still higher, above the
proscenium arch until dizzily lost to view in
the vaulted heights above the stage.
Soon she was the most feted woman in
New York. ~reigning as queen over tables where
Walt Whitman and Fitzjames O'Brien and
Orpheus c. Kerr, the humorist, and Others of
that brilliant group wined and dined.
Here a new romance sprang up. when Kerr,
whose real name was r. II. Newell, began
to publish Adah's poems in his weekly literary
paper, the New York Mercury. Soon Menken
became Mrs. Kerr, and promised her third
husband to leave the stage. Vain promised
The road beckoned, and all the United States
eagerly beheld her in "Mazeppa.'
In one city her horse went wild and nearly
killed her, but she laughed and nearly killed
the horse, her little white hands ~cutching it's
windpipe while 1t reared and plunged and
tried to leap into the audience.
Fortunes came and went through her care
less hands. At her first performance in San
Francisco they took in 81 ,640-two nights later
she won $25, 900 at faro. When she and Kerr
finally set sail from the Golden Gate for
England she had managed to save $50, 0O0-in
those days a fortune on which she could have
lived comfortably thereafter.
Their ship stopped at Panama and there
Continued on Twentieth Page
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25
P0et S~winbnme Fnmed Amerrnn Sweethenrt

Here Is the Romantic Biography of the
Forgotten Circus Rider Who, Afw Her
Fourth Husband Had Shot Himself,
Inspired nghand?S Most Seusu0w Genius,
Became the Friend of Marx 7zvain,
Charles Dickens, WaH Whitman,
Akexandre Dumas and Many Other
CeLebyiffes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25

BY FULTON OURSLER.

O :: :: g: 3; !: =: : :; :: e: !; ; :: :: :: :; !; ! : :: : +: ': 8: !: =: g: ::
Eorel, The Worlds Delight" was
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
Opposing the Public VIII

Texas is a democratic state, and the fundamental
precept Of democracy is majority rule. That this pre-
cept has not been impressed upon various members
of the house of representatives was demonstrated
Monday when a small minority succeeded in defeat
ing submission of the proposed constitutional amend
ment which would be the basis upon which the state
could issue bonds for highway Improvement.
The vote stood 81 to %, three short Of the required
two-thirds majority Of the entire vote OF the mousse
Those 28 legislators succeeded in defeating a pro-
poSal which had the endorsement of practically eV-
cry community in the state. Unless action is taken
during the last days of the session, which now ap-
pears hopeless, Texas must wait two years before en-
barking upon construction of a connected system Of
state highways. and the loss that will accrue to the
state will affect every individual and industry.
WHY those % members should refuse to permit the
proposed amendment to the constitution 70 go pc
fore the voters is one of the enigmas Of the session
It is true that most Of them are ardent eXponents OF
the "pay-as-you-go" plan of highway financing, but
inasmuch as the taxpayers of the state are the ones
who are footing the bill, they might at least have
condescended to give the taxpayers a voice IN the
matter. If the people Of Texas were not Statistic
with the constitutional amendment as proposed they
would have had the opportunity, had it been submit
ted. to so express themselves at the polls.
Had the legislature submitted the amendment, OPP
ponents Of the bond plan for financing the state
highway system would have been at liberty to take
their cause to the voters. If the plan lacks merit
they could have pointed this out. Apparently, they
are obsessed with the idea that the voters of Texas
are not competent to look after their own welfare
and that it is their duty to assume the position OF
guardians.
Regardless of what action the legislature may
take, the highway bond proposal Will be an issue III
the next campaign, and some Of those legislators VINO
have adrogated to themselves the power of guardian
ship for the voters Of Texas may feel the sting Of
wll-merited rebuke.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
Teeth in the Federal Law

The Jones bill, recently passed by congress ana
popularly known as the dry penalty bill, has put real
teeth in the prohibition law, was the verdict OF New
York attorneys who met last week to discuss its pro-
visions.
Their verdict, like that of prohibition officials and
the assistant attorney general, was that the law ap-
piled with equal vigor to the pocket flask carrier
home brew manufacturer, ~speakeasy proprietor ana
wholesale bootlegger.
The measure. which was one of the last signed by
former President Coolidge, makes no dlStlnctlon De-
tween the citizen who carries a pint OF Whlskey IN a
pocket flask from the s~peakeasy to his nome ana 1re
manufacturer who sells liquor in carload lots the
new law makes it mandatory that any person &C
cused of cardying liquor, regardless Of the amount,
must face a felony charge and be liable to a maxi
mum sentence Of five years in prison and a $1,000
fine.
The Jones act has but one loophole, was the YER
dict of the New York attorneys. That is possession.
Manufacture, sale, transportation. Importation ana
expectation of any alcoholic beverage is a felony but
possession remains a misdemeanor, the maximum
fine for which is $500. Lawyers were OF the opinion
that this would impair the effectiveness Of the law
in some cases.
The effect of the drastic provisions of the law
will be felt from homes to the roots OF the bootleg
ging business, was the claim OF one attorney. he
asserted that he had talked with ten bootleggers con-
corning the new law, and that all of them were either
planning to go out of business temporarily, OF 10
change their manner of operation. He added that
the moral effect of the law was exertlng a marked
Influence among proprietors Of speakeasies and night
clubs and that liquor prices would s~kyrocket for a
time.
If the law proves as effective as the New York
attorneys predict it will be of great value in cleaning
up such conditions as exist in New York City, Chica-
so, Philadelphia and other large centers OF popula-
ton where bootlegging heretofore has been carried on
almost openly. Application of the federal law in
those cities has proved unavaling so far as stopping
distribution is concerned the bootlegger, if captured,
paving a small fine, which he charged to general ex-
penses. Under the new law he not only will run the
risk Of a lengthy prison sentence. but also may re-
ceive a fine which would cut OF a large portion of his
profits, this fine to be graded at the discretion of the
court.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
The World and All
AN IDEA FOR TOWN PLANNERS
By Charles p. Driscon

Radburn is a new town, just coming into being in
New Jersey, within the metropolitan committing zone
Of New York City. 1t is only a dozen miles by motor
from the Jersey end of the new Hudson river bridge,
now building.
Radburn will be almost perfect as a modern town.
What it lacks of perfection will be due to the crowd
ed conditions Of metropolitan population that sur
round its site. In Des Moines or Kansas City or
Minneapolis or st. Paul or Milwaukee, where these
crowded conditions do not exist to any such extent,
the Radburn idea could be worked out to perfection
for a suburban residence section.
Radburn is being built upon a plant radically diff
fering from that Of any city in the wodld. 1t will
contain at least twenty five thousand inhabitants al
most as soon as the building is finished. Thanks to
the pressure Of population in the big city, there will
be no lack Of occupants for the cozy homes Of Rad
burn.
Houses do not face the streets in long rows, with
the backs of the houses looking upon alleys or into a
scanty hollow square.
The houses front upon large front yards. Each
house fronts upon two front yards, in fact. for, in
stead Of having back yards, up against one another,
there are no back yards, and the front yards face one
another across a walkway.
"
There are six hundred houses to a block. In the
center Of each Of these blocks is ample park space.
tennis courts, Fairgrounds, and shaded walks. No
streets within the block
The six hundred houses, well built of brick, are
grouped in sixteen little strings, each string having
its paved driveway, with dead end, for delivery serv-
ice and other essential traffic pertaining to the fam
lilies living in those groups.
The backs of the houses look upon these private
~driveWays.
On the whole, Radburn ought to be an attractive
little town. 1t would be ideal If it were farther away
from a big city. and not surrounded by less desirable
towns. I'd like to see the Radburn block plan tried
in a big way as a western city suburb.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13

insurance office. AS usual, it told
applicants to call at nine o'clock.
At the office it was evident they
we're experienced employers. AS soon
as she enteerd she was handed a
blank to fill out. 1t seemed to COW
er everything but its wording did
not make it necessary for her to tell
that she had been a dancer. She
filled it out, signed it, attached her
letter of recommendation, and took
a seat with a dozen other girls.
On two occasions a young lady
clerk came to ask for one of the ap-
plicants by name, telling them that
they need not wait. They would be
sent for if needed. Another girl a.
called to come into an inner office;
a few minutes later Betty followed
by request.
She was given dictation and a
tipping speed test. At its conclusion
she was told that she was satisfac-
tory. She was asked if she could
go to work at once and assented.
The girl who had her in charge
took her to the stenographic depart
ment and introduced her to its
head. Miss Atkins, who was brisk,
curt and businesslike. Forty typists
worked in this room, a supervisor
passing constantly up and down be-
tween theSl. She looked w the
typists' shoulders, and from time to
time gathered up their work and in
spected it. Betty was hardly seated
when she came to say: Go to Mr..
Montgomery's office for dictation.
I will show you the way"
She led her to another office.
Betty seated herself beside a man
who began to dictate letters without
looking at her. She took four, and
as she passed out was directed to
another office, where she took two
more from an equally absorbed and
indifferent man.
Back at her desk she transcribed
as fast as she could. The last letter
was hardly finished until she was
sent to another man, who dictated
to her for an hour; legal matter and
difficult. When the luncheon hour
came the girl at the next desk told
her to come to the cafeteria con-
Quoted by the office, where lunch
was supplied by the company at
cost.
She asked this girl about the work.
| Only the president of the company
had a secretary. When other Of
| ficers wanted a stenographer they
pushed a button and one was sent
into them. The same girl was not
likely to take dictation from the
same man once a week Everything
| was 50 systematized that stenog-
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
ONLY ELEVEN QUIT
dallas News).

tDHll1S NEWS.
Dartmouth announces that only II freshmen mad
quit at the end Of the first semester on account OF
failure to pass examinations. This is the lowest rec
ord in nine years. Dartmouth picks its freshmen
now. Applicants are chosen on the basis OF their
likelihood to make good students. The authorities
feel that they have reason for the new policy.
1t is not unusual for several hundred first-year
students in Texas colleges and universities to fall by
the wayside. Some of these schools are more SOFT
hearted than others about allowing the lame ducks
to linger on, but the casualties postponed are usually
casualties none the less as the months go by.
There may be some advantages in exposing
young people to education, whether they show any
aptitude for it or not. But unsupported institutions
are scarcely legitimate places for this expensive prac-
tice. Dartmouth feels that the privately maintained
college is not the place for il, either Both the schooi
and the student suffer by it to some extent. waste
usually imposes a greater penalty than Is directly in
volved. Especially is that true of wasted time and
opportunity.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
1Mashington
DaVhOOk

minute may make him the most i'm
portant one in the country.
This assuredly is the feeling that
the senate itself has toward its pre-
siding officer.
The supposition was that Senator
Curtis, in running for the vice presi-
dency, was virtually retiring-that
he planned to drop out of active
public life and yet had a fancy for
remaining in his old friends COM
pany as a kind of an emeritus. 1t
was taken for granted that victory
would please him. much in the way
that he would prize a loving cup or
some such pieve Of bric-a-brac, in
token Of remembrance-but to have
him accept it as genuinely valuable
the Hill half smiles and is half
touched by it.
Vice President Dawes unquestion-
ably supposed he was stepping into
a highly significant post when he
dealt the desk before him its init&E
smash four years ago, and that
viewed as unqualifiedly fun pc
cause Dawes did not realA now
badly mistaken he was.
Vive President Curtis, however,
knows the senate gavel for exactly
what it is worth, and his satisfaction
in coming into possession of it has
an element Of the naive about it.
suggestive of the thought that any,
one SO easily gratified ought to be
encouraged to get all the enjoyment
he can out Of his plaything.
So. if the new vice president
chooses to feel that he has been pro-
NOTED. there will be none to say
him nay in the United States senate
to call him Charley" either, as
soon as they all can get out Of the
way of it.
Vice President Curtis cannot pos
sibly be anything else than a good
natured presiding officer.
At the same time, he obviously Is
going to stand no nonsense.
There will be discipline. in the
senate while he occupies the ros-
: trum.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
Am. ~ About -NEaoa
AlfkIA TIIhS r.e ~
Nl llka4A New York Nl

Der, whose wife is Jane Cowl, the
star.
The day after his appointment
Woollcott grumbled to well wish
ers: I'm 3 little disappointed" he
said. Il accepted under a mis-
apprehension. I thought Miss
Cowl went with the job"
A HOOTERS "REMINISCENCES
o. M. SamuelS, tle>New Orleans
representative and critic for Va
riety, who gives actors the mis-
cries. He is a prosperous house
Wrecker there, but reviews theatre
Gals for diversion. He hasn't &C
cepted a wage in Is years.
The molar whitening used by
actors whose teeth are not SO hot.
The Winnipeg managers wife
who also heads the local Gerry
Society and ~prosecutes parents
who have children in their act.
Irene Martin. who was Gus Ed
wards best locker in 1910. George
Jessel, then IL, awakened her ev-
cry morn and ran her errands.
She married Skeets Gallagher a
few years later, and Jessel tainted
at the news.
The photo Of Marilyn Miller at
the age Of four, which hangs in
the green room in the cellar at the
Bijou, Lansing, Mich.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13
"Let's play hockey, then"

rapnerS came and went every day:
there was little, if any. prospect Of
advancement.
Betty finished out the afternoon
in the office. When she went back
to the restaurant for her dinner she
asked George to wait a bit with her
after dinner.
He came to her desk and sat down
on one of the stools when the rush
was over. Betty again had occasion
to smile at the spiteful way in which
the head waitress slammed the door
as she went out. George did not
seem to notice it, however, so Betty
said nothing.
She explained conditions in the
insurance office and asked Georges
advice about staying.
Il don't believe I would stay" he
said. after weighing the matter. Il
can see their reasons for arranging
their work in that way, but it elm
mates all possibility of any stenog-
| rapher making a name for herself
or getting any promotions. Report
for duty in the morning and explain
your reasons for not staying"
His advice was in line with Bettys
own feelings, so she followed it. The
efficient Miss Atkins told her she
was sorry. Her work Of the day be-
fore had been satisfactory. Finding
Betty's mind was made up, she told
her to come back on the first of the
month and get her one days pay.
Betty was again part Of the vast
army of unemployed. and so much
discouraged she did not try any
more that day. She was again I'm
decided if it was worth while to 60
on. She "a inclined to 60 back to
the restaurant. take UP her position
as cashier, and await the inevitable.
AS she strolled down the street,
however, she met Jimmy Smith, her
late employer. He insisted on TAX
ing her to a soda fountain with him.
When they had ordered. seated at
one of the small tables. he told her
how sorry he was about the occur
renee in his office.
But I am married to her, you
know" he ended, pathetically.
II understand perfectly" soothed
Betty. Il blame no one but myself
Have you another position?" he
asked.
She explained to him why she left
the position in the insurance office
He thought she was right about it
and said he would keep his ewes open
and see if he couldn't find her q
place.
Il wish I could see you now and
then" he sighed, "but, of course, J
can't. People misunderstood sc cas-.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13

lily. 1t seems impossible for a mar
rted man to have even a perfectly
innocent friendship with a girl. !
sure do miss you in the office,
Betty"
mot half as much as I miss the
office, Jimmy" She felt better
about using his first name, now that
he al no longer her employer. 4
have never been as happy anywhere
as I was in your office"
"You weren't happy before you
came there?" he asked, in surprise.
mo, nor now! I am getting des-
perate. I guess I'll have to get mar
ried!" She laughed to take the con-
versation out of its serious veoin.
"Oh, my gosh! Don't do that!
No matter how desperate your
straits, da.l't do that"
They lrlghed, and at her sugges-
ton he lett the place alone. lest they
meet his wife and get him into more
trouble.
(TO BE CONTINUED
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-13

yet he had a small brain. It's total weight was found
to be only So ounces, which is, as Sir Arthur Keith
said, az ounces short of the allowance usually given
to a farm laborer."
There could hardly be a sharper reminder that
quality counts here, too, as well as quantity. The
lecturer went on to say that the common notion Is
that a large brain has been given to man in order
that he might pass examinations or become an expert
of one sort or another. But perhaps the true theory
is that it was designed to yield enjoyment OF life. BY
that test perhaps many obscure farmers got more
satisfaction out Of their brains than did Anatole
France.