Silver Queen: The Fabulous Story of Baby Doe TaborBancroft, Caroline
History
Silver Queen: The Fabulous Story of Baby Doe Tabor
Bancroft, Caroline
Baby Doe, -1935
_Box A was empty on the opening night because Augusta was not invited
by her husband. Tongues wagged freely about a Dresden figure, heavily
veiled, at the rear. After Baby Doe married Tabor, the box was always
decorated with white lilies when she was to be present. The box also
bore a large silver plaque, inscribed with the name TABOR._]
[Illustration: GLAMOROUS WEDDING
_When Baby Doe married Tabor, March, 1883, no expense was spared to
make the occasion memorable. A room of the Willard Hotel in
Washington, D. C., was decorated for supper. The centerpiece was six
feet high—a wedding bell of white roses, surmounted by a heart of red
roses and pierced by an arrow of violets, shot from a Cupid’s bow of
heliotrope. Other elaborate decorations garlanded the rest of the
room. The bride wore a $7,000 outfit of real lace lingerie, and a
brocaded satin gown, trimmed in marabou. President Arthur, senators
and congressmen attended the ceremony but their wives did not,
refusing to forgive the illicit affair and banning the Tabors from
society. The gown is now in the State Museum._]
[Illustration: THE BRIDE’S BEAUTY WAS CELEBRATED AFAR
_Her reddish gold hair, of which she had masses, was worn in a large
chignon at the nape of her neck until about a year before she married
Tabor. She frizzed the front hair for a fluffy effect; but later she
wore the back hair high and had the whole elaborately curled. Many men
succumbed to her charm and looks; among them, Carl Nollenberger,
popular Leadville saloon keeper, who had a beer tray made, portraying
her dainty profile. Her earlier photos have naturally arching
eyebrows; but later she pencilled these blacker and straighter. She
preferred color; the black is mourning for her father who died May,
1883. By then, she had also had her ears pierced._]
[Illustration: Another portrait.]
[Illustration: The wedding dress.]
[Illustration: Another portrait.]
[Illustration: Another portrait.]
[Illustration: BABY DOE TABOR’S DREAM HOUSES
_The second house that Tabor bought was on the south side of 13th and
ran from Grant to Sherman. Shown are Tabor with his favorite horse and
Baby Doe beside a disputed statue. Three of the scandalous nude
figures can be seen, too, at the left by the spruce tree and in the
center of the pool. The interior shows a playing fountain, crystal
chandelier, heavy walnut furniture, oriental rugs and hangings, oil
paintings, mirrors, a loaded buffet, silver pitcher and every sort of
bric-a-brac, dear to those of the Victorian era._]
[Illustration: Interior view.]
[Illustration: THE FIRST BORN
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account