Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 27, Number 38, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 March 1897 — Page 6

BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

George L. Fox and the Vokes Family.

POPTJLAE NATIONAL FUHMAEEB8.

a Bomarkftble Oocvmoco at Booth'i Theater—The Grotesque Blowing and DanoIng VoketM-Tbe 6«olu of Fred Tokok

Wonderful Achievements.

[Special Correspondence.)

New York, March 22.—Is there anybody in the United States who has not laughed at the grotesque antics and irresistibly funny facial contortions of George L. Fox, whose fame will always live as Humpty Dumpty in connection with that of his brother, the almost squally celebrated Pantaloon of his production?

In the strictest sense of the word Pox was not really a great pantomimist. Like the lady of whom we have all read or heard, his face was his fortune. He bad greater control over the muscles of ,h»» face than any man or woman I have ever met. He could screw his countenance up into the most ridiculous grimaces, and whenever a performance seemed to be lagging, by reason of either a small or rather cold audience, he would at once begin to "mug," and it was pretty safe to assume that there would be no apathy after that.

The Pantomime Fever.

It may not be known that George did «Kme roally clever work as an actor, and afterward as a clown, before he took to pantomime, but it is the case nevertheless. He was one of the cast in the original production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Purdy's Rational theater on the Bowery, in this oity, playing Simon Legare. He made no very great impression, however, and he was about the last man in the world that I should have picked out to win national repute. Ee drifted' around the oountry, playing all •orts of roles, and then came back to New York, where he in turn managed the Old and New Bowery theaters. He also acted at this time, which was in the sixties, and he soon became a great favorite with the gallery gods and the boys who used to"run widde machine." His popularity waxed apace, and he was getting speedily to be "a man of subatnnce," as wo used to say.

Fox got tho pantomime fover at about this time, and his friends' efforts to dissuade him from embarking upon a venture which they felt sure would result disastrously were really ludicrous in the

Tits Vokes family in

light of :iftor events. George soon gave thorn further shock by announcing that no: only was he going into pantomime, but that he was going over to Broadv iy. Then they knew that he was doomed fo become a pauper in short order. 'J»':vy cited the caso of tho Ravels and argued that his efforts would appear so tame by comparison that ridicule and disaster were inevitable.

Georgo was obdurate, however, and he opened at the Olympio as Humpty Dumpty. Ho scored an instantaneous succosf. and Svithin a week his production and performance wore tho talk ol the town. Sc ats were at a premium, and at the matinees strings of men and women, accompanied by children, could always bo seen crowded about within a block or two of tho theater. The piece beat by four performances, the run of its rival, "TheBlack Crook," though it, of course, did not equal the latter in the natter of monetary returns. Following this phenomenal success. Fox made several tours cf this oountry and always was one of the most potent attractions on the road.

A Pathetic End.

Fox's retirement was pathetic in tho extreme

Ho was

a man of exceptionally

euiok perception, and his infirmity therefore excited more than the usual sympathy. As things turned out and looking backward I can see now that the seeds of insanity must hare begun to sprout Just prior to his last engagement at Booth's theater. Actions which were then inexplioable became perfectly clear in the light of subsequent evente. On the stage at Booth's one night while playing Humpty Dumpty George mystified as all by his strange conduct and finally chased Maffitt, Fraser and other* at the performers all over the place. A little later he jumped into a prirate box and began to bang away with a property loaf of bread at a lady who there. Her terror almost precipitated a

**An of sodden George returned to fee stage, the Hank look teft and he seemed to realise thai doing something wrong. He set to wor* to right matters by making

turd grimaces, and so marvelous was the power of the man in that respect that within a few seconds he had the audience convulsed with laughter by means of something which was really not in the play at all. ,_____

I remember on another occasion finding George made up to go on the stage with one side of his face white and the other coal black. We were genuinely frightened then, as he seemed to think there was nothing wrong or peculiar about bis make up, and his manager,

George

Tyler, went out into the audi­

ence and brought Dr. Hammond -back upon the stage. He introduced him as Mr. Smith. Fox informed the doctor that be was the great Grimaldi, and that he was not a fool, but that he was the only real clown alive. The doctor, after testing him thoroughly, pronounced the trouble softening of the brain, and so, after playing five weeks instead of nine at Booth's theater, George Fox was taken to a private sanitarium near Boston, where he died soon afterward.

Fox's last appearance on the stage took place Nov. 27, 1875, and when his death occurred, not long after, I remember that the newspapers teemed with statements to the effect that the insanity ,of so many pantomimists was due to the white preparation which they use for whitening their faces. As the ordinary circus down does the same thing, I oannot see why the reasoning should not apply also to him. I know, however, that the stuff which Fox used to make up his face was not in the slightest degree dangerous. He had a recipe of his own, as, in fact, does every clown in the business, and he would have been the first to ridicule the idea that it was in any way harmful to him. I knew what its ingredients were, and it was abot* as innocent a mixture as oould well be imagined.

The Vokes Family.

The most remarkable family that the American stage has ever known was the Vokes aggregation. There were five of them, or, to be more accurate, four, for Fawdon WP° not a Vokes, simply taking the name when he became a member of the t~oop. There has been a good deal of di: "ussion as to who was the most talented member of the famous quintet. Most persons seem to incline to the belief that it was Rosina, but without wishing to make any invidious comparisons I do not hesitate to s^y that it was the peculiar Fred who made their phenomenal success a possibility. Perhaps from a strictly histrionic standpoint Rosina was the greatest of the lot. At any rate, Americans are apt to so regard hnr because of the fact that she made several tours of this country as a star and without the assistance of any of the others of her family.

Fred, Victoria, Jessie, Rosina and Fawdon each had his or her own littlt

otrole of admirers who thought that their favorite was the life of the aggregation but, in my opinion, neither was any better than any other. They were liko a well built piece of machinery, where tho smallest part was as essential to the proper working of the whole as the largest

The Vokes family had already established themselves as prime favorites in London when they came to this country in 1869. They made a great success from the start. The novelty of the entertainment which they gave was Vfhat caught the New York public. Think of tho Bame people being pre-eminent in singing, dancing, acting and many forms of grotesquerie! Their plays were all good, too, and it has often been a source of wonder to me how they ever managed to get together so many pieces without striking one or two bad ones.

The Versatile Fred Vokea. Fred was a queer sort of genius. He was the stage manager for the family, and a mighty strict one he was too The only person to whom be was in the least lenient was—Fred. He ordered the talented members of the family about at rehearsal^is though they were under salary to him. He was spare in frame and of exceedingly nervous temperament His curly locks and peculiar expression gave him a rather picturesque appearance. He seemed to be built on wires, so fidgety was he. He was the most awful "kicker" I have ever met, though he was at heart a mighty good fellow. But nothing ever seemed to please him, no matter who might have done it He objected to everything and everybody on principle. He used to excuse this apparent petulance with the statement that if he simply made a suggestion now and again the work of the people "wonk* speedily degenerate into mediocrity.

It is not necessary to elaborate the achievements of this wonderful family. Tbey are familiar to almost every ooa. All of them are dead, I think, except perhaps Victoria and possibly Fawdon, who, as I have already stated, was not a Vokes at all, although well worthy ol w,g one. L. Jon* Vuscwt.

«r po&icri

TBBRB HAUTE SATTJBPAY. JSTENrS G^MAIL, MABCH 27, 1897.

THE COMING STYLES.

•fodel Dericn* In Skirt, atf*Walfta-:Hew

[Special Corr«a»nd«»oe.3 ii

New York, March 22. Though skirts are more often trimmed than pi«dn for this coding season, the waists are about as fancifully decorated as before, and softie of the new ones are ex-

oeedingly lrtjxlsame^ No matter what the skirt trimming may be, it is, after all, the bodioe that gives it its chief beauty and fixes the position of the gown, as a plain or fine one, suitable for more dressy needs. The gathered or French waist for many years has been made only on simple gowns for morning wear, but now some of the richest toilets of the season show gathered waists. The blouse is, in a modified form, seen on many fine dresses, and the surplice waist is also*among the new spring bodices, though neither of them is new, nor, for that matter, is the French waist either, but they are all pretty. For young ladies who can still wear their dresses open in the baok a very pretty design is offered in a waist where there is a rounded yoke, which is covered with "all over" lace or embroidery, according to the material of which the gown is made. Around the edge of this yoke is sewed a narrow lace insertion of such a pattern that rows of very narrow black velvet ribbon can be run in. The design is suitable for poplin, taffeta, gingham or any of the new summer goods. The rest of the waist is gathered to the yoke and again to the belt. It does not hang over like a blouse nor draw tight like the regulation French waist, but preserves a happy medium. The sleeves are snug and straight, being scalloped at the bottom with a row of the insertion and a laoe frill as a finish, while at the top is a heartbroken little puff, bewailing the departed fullness in every dejeoted line. The skirt may be cut in gores if silk, wool or poplin, or it may be cut Btraight and gathered where it is of any of the thin cotton or linen stuffs. A velvet ribbon belt with a fancy bow is always a pretty and a suitable adjunct to this waist, no matter what the material.

For one of the dainty new eprigged challies I saw a novel waist. The figures on the challie represented pusSy willow twigs in the natural greenish gray on a silvery white ground. At the bottom of the skirt there was a full accordion plaiting of plain olive greei china silk. There were draped cuffs and double sleeve caps of the same. The bodioe consisted of a French shaped basque, plaited closely and held in by a pearl gray ribbon. At the square neck, down the front and around the cap? were plaited ruffles of the same silk.

It ia just now that the little hearts of the little maidens are anxiously fluttering, and I fear me that their minds are diverted from the study of their oatechism by the sinful wonderings of what their dresses are to be for their first communion and whether they ought to wear wreaths or oaps with their veils. I came across two outfits today, and, with some trifling changes for different tastes or circumstances, one or the other of these ought to satisfy almost any one. One was made of white cashmere, the skirt severely plain. The waist was in the popular French style, with rows of lace half an inoh wide set at equal distances all down the waist Thd sleeves were close, save at the top, where there were two puffs. The hign stock was of white satin, with a narrow ruffle of lace. There was a sash of white satin ribbon 10 inches wide, fringed deeply at the bottom. A little satin chatelaine bag hung on narrow white ribbons at the left side. The veil was of tulle, unhemmed and held ift place by a wreath of white roses put "on outside the veil. White kid slippers with bows of ribbon completed this pretty communion dress. The other was of white dimity, the skirt gathered, deeply hemmed and tucked. The full waist was shirred to fit around the neck. The sleeves were tight and had gathered caps, and there was a ruffle at the wrists and neck of soft

of»f?5T

mull. The pointed girdle was of white ribbed silk. The vtil was of fine white net hemmed two inches wide all around. There was a close little mull e*P with niching of silk muslin, and this tied •under the gfain. The veil was tacked to the cap. White kid button boots went with this. Any of the white materials is suitable lor these little dresses. Common sense suggests that the gowns should tie soch that tbey oan bo wtxn all summer by the addition of other ribbons and trimming. Good ta^e sag geets that too expensive drosses for suoh «n omudoa would savor of vulgarity.

OUTK HAXPKJL

HARNESS PRAIRIE WINDS.

Western and Farmers Have- a Unique Cheap Method. [Special'OorresDondence.]'

Abilene, Kan., March 23.—Necessity has made of the farmers of the plains of- Kansas and Nebraska inventors in a direction that has not been expected of them. With the lack of water staring them in the face and preventing them from getting crops, it was essential that they should in some way secure the needed moisture. The majority of the farmers had not the money to buy windmills, and for a long time there was a disposition to look upon the case as hopeless. The farmers realized that irrigation was the only way out of the difficulty, but how should they secure the lifting power to bring the water that lay under the surface to the crops that they had sown? The problem has been solved by the erection of the queerest and most hideous contrivances that could well be imagined, but which seem to serve the purpose and are making the settlers happier than they have been in along time. These are the Jumbo windmills. They are constructed by the settlers themselves arid are at once the cheapest and most satisfactory machines for handling the ceaseless prairie winds that have been invented. The settler takes a lot of lumber, a saw and hammer and goes to work on his mill. Two posts are erected about ten feet apart A boxlike structure without top or bottom is then built around them. On the posts is laid the axle of a fan with four wide surfaces to present to ^he wind. The lower half is protected from* the wind by the box, but the upper receives the breezes that are forever blowing. The winds from two directions oan only, of course, be utilized, but it is entirely safe to consider that the winds of the plains will come from the north or south. Very seldom do they come from aiiy other direction.

The farmer "waits the gale" and sees the water lifted to his farm and the garden, and perhaps the crops are made to grow as they could not have been induoed to by any other means at his command. The Jumbo has proved one of the saviors of the plains and is worthy of being commemorated. In the latest report of the state authorities Kansas ie shown to have about 8,000 irrigation plants. Each of these is supporting a family, which means that there are 15,000 people whdtare independent of the rainfall in this state alone. The same proportion may be found in Nebraska, and it means a new era for the plains. The big ditches that were to water miles of plain are not the success that they were expected to be, but there are, on the other hand, enough small plants with their Jumbo mills to make up for the defection. Thousands of claims in western Kansas and Nebraska have been deserted. It is estimated that in one month 18,000 wagons went east over the Jklissouri river bridge, leaving Nebraska. C. M. Haroer.

•Bow the Ancients Prevented Insomnia. From 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 men, in an age far surpassing the present era for health worship and sanitary insight, followed the plan of postponing tho principal meal until the end of the day for more than a thousand years. From 800 B. O. to the third century of our ohronological era the one meal system prevailed all over Europe and the Hcl lenized portions of western Asia, antf that one meal was eaten at the end of the working day, and after the bath and outdoor sports that assembled pleasure seekers in the oool of the evening. Like the dinners of Frederick the Great these symposia were something more than mass meeting lunches the guests took their time, spiced their food with aneodotes, masticated at leisure and sometimes—too often in the luxurious era of the Roman empire—yielded to the temptation of dietetic excesses, but on rising from the banquet went straigJ to their dormitories and oould sleep as only men sleep who have dismissed tht oares of the day.

When the appetite fails there is no use in trying to tempt the palate with delicate food. No matter how good and well-cooked and "appetizing" the food may be, it cannot give any nourishment unless the stomach is able to digeBt it. Nature indicates the state of the constitution by the loss of appetite. This is an unfailing indicator. It shows flint something is fundamentally wrong with the nutritive functions.

The only true natural relief must be as searching and fundamental as the trouble it aims to overcome. It is the thorough deepsearching character of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery, which causes the marvelous efficacy in all bilious and digestive difficulties. It creates that healthful vitalitf of the entire digestive and nutritive organIsm which produces both the natural desire for food and the organic capacity to assimi late and transform it into nourishing, reviv ifying blood and healthy tissue. It gives anoetite, digestion and sound sleep, ana builds np solid muscular strength and vital nerve-energy.

H. H- Thompson, Esq., of P. O. Box 4. Kipple. Blair Co.. Penu'a, writes: I toad been troubled with extreme vomiting In summer ^*aon,

ways

vvt

al­

after eating had to be very careful attimes to «et aaythtag to stay on my stomach at aM had been taking other medicine*, but without effect. I beard a mend speak of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery, and thooaht would ghre ft a trial. I wed about five tomes of it and think ft Is the only medicine that did me any good, I hare a splendid appetite now. and am not using any Btmdat at wand don't think I need any

A man who is suffering from tha evil effects of constipation doesn't feel like work, and can't even enjoy his leisure hours. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are a rare, swift, safe, and permanent core for constipation. They are tiny, sugar-coated nanafe* One little Pellet is a gentle laxative, and two a mild cathartic. Tbey never tripe. Dishonest druggists try to get you to take a substitute for th of the added profit.

A. M. HIGGIXS. Lawyer. -,

relarhoee SB-

Over McKeen's Buk

COULD NOT

BUR HIS WEIGHT

The Strange Affliction of Wilbur Robinson.

Hearing that a child near Iron Station, Lincoln County, had been greatly benefited by the use of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, a representative of the Observer went thither to see and ascertain the extent of the benefit the child had received.

Riding out on December 5, 1895, to a little country cottage in the pine woods, a mile distant from iron Station, the reporter saw a bright-faced, young woman, a pure anglo-bright-faced, young woman, a pu saxon type with light hair and blue eyes plump, behind

standing in the doorway with two roAy-cheeked children half hiding her dress. Mentioning that he was looking for a family of Robinsons, the woman seemed at first a little suspicious. "You're a stranger in my eye," she said.

I am trying to find a child named Wilbur Robinsou, who was greatly benefited by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People."

The young mother smiled and a pleased look came into her eyes as she said "come in," and added, "I guess that's the one," pointing to the younger of the two little boys.

It was an humble home, the family being composed of that sturdy farming class that goes to make tr one of the strongest and truest types of North Carolina's good people. The husband, Robert O. Robinson, runs the form of 200 acres, but was off to the mill at the time.

The mother, Carrie L. Robinson, told a remarkable story of the cure of her little boy from the effects of la grippe. Her aged, white-haired mother, Mrs. Sarah A. Bandy, sat near and emphasized every word of the daughter. The little boy, Wilbur, who owed his recovery to Dr. Williams' effective remedy, played about the house and yard, and was into every conceivable kind of mischief. It really seemed that he must have taken too many of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills so great was the energy with which he prosecuted his pranks. Three times his mother had to stop her conversation and rush out to rescue the reporter's bicycle, which was leaning against the house outside, and with which Wilbur was becoming almost too familiar.

This is the story the mother told: "Wilbur was born August 8, 1893. He was a stout, healthy boy till he was nearly five months old. Between Christmas and New Year's he took the grippe. A physician at Iron Station attended him, and he was supposed to have recovered. But the after effects of the malady lingered with disastrous results. In March, 1894, his parents noticed that he could not stand upon his feet, although before his taking the grippe he could do so easily. He could not bear the weight of his body on his feet his legs were not growing any nor the muscle in them developing. He was not treated, however, till in the fall, about the last of October. When Mr. Robinson took his cotton to Lincolnton, the county seat, he also carried his baby along, and a Lincolnton physician prescribed for nim. recommending a lotion ror rubbing his limbs. This helped the child only temporarily. Twice afterward this physician was consulted, ne told the parents that the child might some day be able to walk and again he might not. They would just have to let him ^'grow along," as the mother expressed it, and see what developed. At this period the child's legs appeared to be shrunken. As his mother says they were "as soft as cotton." Here was a boy fourteen months old, who not only could not walk, but could not bear his weight on his feet.

He Stopped Growing—Limbs Became Useless and He was Unable to Walk-His Cure Brought About in a Singular Manner.

J*rom the Obterver, Charlotte, N.

In some way—they do not know how—a pamphlet found its way to the Robinson family. Old Mrs. Bandy fished it out of a bureau drawer. It had the picture of two dogs peeping over a fence on one cover{ and on the other a herd of «ws drinking in a oool stream near a bridge. Both on the fence and on the bridge, on the respective

men excellent u~u v— for the money. Onr

Little

covers, was this line! "Dr. Williams'

Pink

Pills for Pale People." "When I read that those pills would build up the bone. I felt that they were the things for Wilbur, said his mother.

Old Mrs. Bandy sat up nearly all of on* night reading this punphlet, with all tha tertimonials it contained. A few days after they sent to one of the two village stores and. got two boxes of the pills. This waa about the last of November, 1894. Befora he had finished taking the first box, tha little fellow was able to bear his weight on his feet, and before the second box was all gone, he could hold a chair before him and push it across the floor.

We began by giving him a third of a pill at a time, afterward increasing the dose to a half, so they held out a long time," said his mother. "We commenced the second box in January, this year. We had to send to Lincolnton, eight miles away, to get tha next boxes. After taking the tnird dox, ia March, the child began to go a few steps at a time, but he didn't walk by himself till in September. The fourth box, or part of it» was administered in August."

The testimony of the mother was that tha child's appetite and, indeed, his whole sys» tem was helped by the use of the pills.

Mrs. Bandy, wno had been looking over a sort of diary she keeps, at this point in tha conversation, read this entry: "Sept. the 25th. Wilbur begins to walk alone by himself." "After he once learned to walk," said his mother, "we could hardly keep him in sight of the house, and h« was cured by four boxes, lacking ten pills. Mother says, and always has said, the Lord directed somebody to send us that pamphlet of Dr. Williams."

You really believe the child's cure is due to Dr. Williams' Pills? wns asked. I am really convinced the pills cured him," the mother answered. "I haven't the slightest doubt about it."

And the boy's grandmother chimed in "I'm just as sure of it as I am of living. I'll take an oath on the Bible that that what did it."

The neighbors in all the section around the little village of Iron Station know and talk about the remarkable cure of this baby, who might have been a cripple for life, had he not, even at the age of two years, ona month and seventeen days, been enabled to walk for the first time by the use of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People.

This story may seem to the reader like

"BETTER THAN EVER"

Tha 1897 BEN-HUE BICYCLES ^embodymore new in construction than any other bicycles now before the pulftic. •uch excellent values been offered for the money, ^r new^lme^oras^ng^ eight

icycies now oeiora ...

D«w

a

fabrication, but is told as the child's mother told it to the reporter, in order to show their appreciation, Mrs. Robinson furnished the following testimonial and signed it. (She says she is willing at any time to maka sworn affidavit to her statements):

IRON STATION, LINCOLN Co., N. C., December 5, 1895. My infant son, Wilbur, Lee, rendered unable to learn to walk, by the effects of the grippe. Ivhen he was about five months old, I hereby testify that he was entirely cured, and the muscles in his legs developed bv the use of less than four boxes of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, so that ha is now a hale and hearty child. I am entirely convinced that his cure is due to these pills. I also state that the above statements made to the reporter of the Charlotte Obacr* ver are true. C. L. ROBINSON.

SARAH A. BANDY, R. O. ROBKRTSON, Witnesses. H. A. RANKS, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People are now given to the public as an unfailine blood builder and nerve restorer, curing all forms of weakness arising from a watery condition of the blood or shattered nerves. Tha pills are sold by all dealers, or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price, 50 cents a bor, or six boxes for $2.50 (they are never sold itt bulk or by the 100), by addressing Dr. Wil. liams' Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. X.

bne,

superb models at $60, $75 and $126 for single machines, and $150 for^tantoUL mth thTvarious options offered, is such that the most exacting purchsaer can be entirely

CENTRAL OVOLE MFG. CO..

ra QAHDIH inounapou*. IN* ova SIMS POENA oaratoaua MAILBD SO* TWO a«o««T sra*sa. vv,~-

^eorge Rossell, Agent,

720-722 Wabash Avenue/ V- riRRE HAUTE. IND.

ABTIFIC^Afe

Stone Walks

4

UW

Moudy & Coffin.

Leave order, at 1M7 Poplar Si. 1*41 South Fifth 81, Main St, Tsrre Haute, Ind