On return North the stage was held up by a gang of robbers. In all,
$3,000 dollars was taken from the male passengers. Mrs. Taylor had $800
concealed in the folds of her gown, on the robbers pressing a loaded
pistol to her temple and demanding the money she had, said, “Blow
away, I would as soon be without brains as without money.” They spared
her life. This occurred between San Antonio and Austin, in a forest.
After a year’s course in New York City, under the best instructors in
dancing and physical culture, Mrs. Taylor went to Asheville, N. C., and
immediately engaged in teaching those branches.
Just previous to that time she was in Chattanooga, Tenn., where I
loaned $1,700 and it was lost in the boom in progress at that time,
she was also burned out, losing all her household goods, holding no
insurance.
Returning from Asheville, she spent a winter teaching in Washington, D.
C. Returning to Auburn she spent the summer and autumn, and then went
to Indianapolis. She taught dancing in La Fayette, Ind., in a young
ladies’ school.