P.S.—­Private.

MY DEAR PIX:  If you don’t feel inclined to pony up that little sum you are out on the bay gelding, drop down to my place when I get back and I’ll give you another chance for your life at the pasteboards.  Constitution going through.

Yours, TITE.

PART FOURTH: 

DOCUMENT NO. 24.

Extract from the New Centreville [late Dead Horse] “Gazette and Courier of Civilization,” December 20th, 1878:

“Miss Nina Saville appeared last night at the Mendocino Grand Opera House, in her unrivalled specialty of Winona the Child of the Prairies; supported by Tompkins and Frobisher’s Grand Stellar Constellation.  Although Miss Saville has long been known as one of the most promising of California’s younger tragediennes, we feel safe in saying that the impression she produced upon the large and cultured audience gathered to greet her last night stamped her as one of the greatest and most phenomenal geniuses of our own or other times.  Her marvellous beauty of form and feature, added to her wonderful artistic power, and her perfect mastery of the difficult science of clog-dancing, won her an immediate place in the hearts of our citizens, and confirmed the belief that California need no longer look to Europe or Chicago for dramatic talent of the highest order.  The sylph-like beauty, the harmonious and ever-varying grace, the vivacity and the power of the young artist who made her maiden effort among us last night, prove conclusively that the virgin soil of California teems with yet undiscovered fires of genius.  The drama of Winona, the Child of the Prairies, is a pure, refined, and thoroughly absorbing entertainment, and has been pronounced by the entire press of the country equal to if not superior to the fascinating Lady of Lyons.  It introduces all the favorites of the company in new and original characters, and with its original music, which is a prominent feature, has already received over 200 representations in the principal cities in the country.  It abounds in effective situations, striking tableaux, and a most quaint and original concert entitled ‘The Mule Fling,’ which alone is worth the price of admission.  As this is its first presentation in this city, the theatre will no doubt be crowded, and seats should be secured early in the day.  The drama will be preceded by that prince of humorists, Mr. Billy Barker, in his humorous sketches and pictures from life.”

We quote the above from our esteemed contemporary, the Mendocino Gazette, at the request of Mr. Zeke Kilburn, Miss Saville’s advance agent, who has still further appealed to us, not only on the ground of our common humanity, but as the only appreciative and thoroughly informed critics on the Pacific Slope to “endorse” this rather vivid expression of opinion.  Nothing will give us greater pleasure.