as German, but afterwards proved to be of
Italian birth.

Entering a field of endeavor which had
heretofore been exclusively occupied by the sterner
sex, this lady displayed a taste for hot meals
that would seem to recommend her as a matrimonial
venture. Like all the earlier exploiters
of the devouring element, she was proclaimed
as ``The Great Phenomena of Nature''--why
the plural form was used does not appear--
and, doubtless, her feminine instincts led her
to impart a daintiness to her performance
which must have appealed to the better class
of audience in that day.

The portrait that adorned her first English
handbill, which I produce from the Picture
Magazine, was engraved by Page and published
by Smeeton, St. Martins Lane, London.
It is said to be a faithful representation of
her stage costume and setting.

Richardson, of Bartholomew Fair fame,
who was responsible for the introduction of
many novelties, first presented Girardelli to
an English audience at Portsmouth, where her
success was so pronounced that a London
appearance was arranged for the same year; and
at Mr. Laston's rooms, 23 New Bond Street,