Year: 1876

| vVesFWtntlOn tO Wtss Wary AuuersOU


The occasion OF Miss Anderson s


benefit last night was n most beautiful
tribute to that fair young debutante,
whose wondrous genius has go entbused
and delighted our people who have seen


her during her stay in this city. An i'm
mense and critical audience dt was It
crowded house and standing-room was
scarce) assembled to see how her young
genius would interpret that most trying
and difficult role, Meg MerTiles. in the
play "Guy Mannering." Many. even
among her warm friends and admirers.
were in fear lest she had made too bold
and rash q choosing to take this role
| (Which she had not only never played
herself but which she had not even
seen played for her benefit tonight
| But there yet were those who felt she
could not fail. and these last were not
added to the laurels with which her ge-
MUS had already crowned her. and loud
and repeated applause testified to the
delighted surprise of her audience.


As we mentioned in Yesterdays DEM
oCRAT, this occasion had been chosen as
an oportunity by Miss Anderson 8 ad-
mirers here to present her with n tes-
timonial of their high appreciation. As
soon as the play was ended the curtain
again rose and Miss Anderson appeared
upon the stage, led by Mr.. Mordant.
when from the stage box upon the right
of the stage n beautiful floral tribute
from the Shakespeare Club. was handed to
the fair young actress by Col. w i,
Vaudry.


Another floral tribute was next hand
ed Miss Anderson from the stockholders
chairs Of the Varieties Club. and still
another came until it seemed as though
the fair young girl would be smothered
to death with roses.


But now appeared upon the stage.
emerging from the left hand box. two
well-known and popular young mon OF
this city (Messrs. Frellson and james,
bearing the one basket Of flowers. the
other "a badge of the famed Washington
Artillery Battalion. prepared expressly
for Miss Anderson. and rendered in be
half Of the members Of the Battalion
by Mr. James, who spoke as follows;


speech of \. q. james.


Miss dnderSon We beg of You to &C
cept these tokens of our admiration and
respect In the brilliant debut of n ca
reer that opens so smilingly before you.
you have our heartiest good wishes,
and when kind fortune will have crowned
Your efforts and the stage will claim you
4 e, nh ,,f
who did all they could to encourage you
and who SO auxiously desired your
success.


And now she who but just before had,
in her rare genius. held spell bound the
immense audience whicn filled the
house, could. from tho fullness of an
overfowing heart. scarce find the words
to give expression to the deep feelings Of
her soul. Words cannot paint the
scene. Miss Anderson's reply was. in
effect. as follows;


Miss AndersOn's Reply.


Gentlemen Accept my sincere thanks |
for your kind wishes and this pretty /
Be assured, whichever way
the wheel Of fortune may turn. ! shall
never forget the Crescent City and the |
welcome extended to me


The badge is very beautiful fac |
simile OF the old war badge of the bat
talon a bolt Of gold, in blue enamel.
encircling two crossed cannon. Upon I
the belt the name Of the battalion and |
it's motto. "Try us" The vent Of each |
cannon is diamond. Beneath and at |
tached by n golden ring to the badge is
a tigers head in gold. the eyes being |
diamonds and the tongue protruding |
from the open mouth and teeth being |
n ruby. The whole is most artistically |
and beautifully gotten up and worthy |
alike of the donors and the fair recipi |
ent.


Beyond and after this there was given
to Miss Anderson n testimonial from |
others among the warm friends and ad-
mrers whom she has attached to her |
during her short stay In our city, OF
which we will say no more than that it
to her another assurance OF
the high esteem and regard in which she
Is held in tho hearts Of those who do
warmly esteem and admire Miss Mary |
Anderson s genius and herself


lie OttaSlpn WIS tIlt lilit W VI iV'S
live dear in the memories of those who
were present. Tho Crescent City hon
ored itself in the overtlowing tribute
of its appreciation, which it laid at the
feet Of this fair genius. And she, no
matter where she may go, no matter
whatever of brilliant triumphs near
future will assuredly bring to her, aye,
when all that Fame can give has been
piled upon her fair young head, she never
can forget the warm welcome, the over
flowing tribute which was bestowed
upon her here. Nol but in her heart OF
hearts, even in the hour OF her su-
premest triumph, she will love with a
particular fondness to turn in memory
TO her greeting here and dwell upon it.


THE CLEWS STORY.