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28 Mar 2012The Great Lafayette in the 1911 census
Calling all family history super sleuths! Can anybody tell us what is recorded in the infirmity column of this 1911 census return?
The Great Lafayette and Beauty in the 1911 census - please click to enlarge
It was completed by famous illusionist The Great Lafayette and also records his beloved pet dog, Beauty. Beauty was listed as being his 16-year-old daughter and was of independent means – a reflection of her life with the performer. She was given to The Great Lafayette by Harry Houdini and had her own suite of rooms, was served five-course meals and wore a diamond collar.
Now that the final column of the 1911 census is available at findmypast.co.uk, we can see that The Great Lafayette recorded something against his own name – but what was it? We think it looks like ‘too good’ – what do you think?
could it be Feo. Quod (Fee Due) ?
Mark
The Great Lafayette lied about his age (he was 40) and his place of birth (Munich not Los Angeles). Maybe that’s why a fee was due
Mark.
I think it says “too good”!
Too quick?? – the o’s in Too are not the same as those in “good” and the g looks more like a q to me
May be “looks good” but the g looks like a q to me
losaugeles celf
Los Angelis Calf
losaugeles celf
Los Angelis Calf sorry read it wrong
I agree, too good, maybe he thought he was!
too good would fit his ego but I don’t think the second word is good as the letters are not really quite right.
This is a bit of a sad story. His beloved Beauty died about three weeks after he filled this census form and a freak stage accident claimed his own life the week after that.
I agree with Marian. The second word certainly appears to begin with a “q”, and “too quick” would befit an egotistical illusionist.However the letters do seem to fit the word “quod” more closely. But it is the same handwriting as the other major items in the entry, presumably Lafayette himself, so why would he be writing, on his own behalf, that a fee is due?
Red line obscures the c in quick I believe, which would be appropriate or his sleight of hand tricks.
To me it says “too good” and Beauty was not apparently not his daughter but a dog.
I think it says “Toe gout”.