The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-26
Mr.. BENEFITS LETTERS FROM EUROPE
PARIS, 2ith March, lSi7.
The Spanish Danseuse Lola Monies, and the
King OF Bavaria.

The Spanish Danseuse Lola Monies, and the
King OF Bavaria.
Mdlle or Donna Lola Monies, has been not
only creating great sensation in Bavaria, but
the newspapers of London and Paris are full of
her movements, her letters, and her history
Hitherto she had confined her influence and
tavors to the theatres and the press; but since
her appearance in Munich, she has thrown some
new light on the morals of royalty, and the pro-
gress of constitutional liberty, as it is called.
She has acquired so much notoriety of late, that
many may want to know her history. 1t may
be curious to learn how woman of her cha
racter could have raised such a noise in Europe.
Well, it seems that although Donna Lola
Monies bears Spanish name, sho is neither a
Spaniard, nor a Spanish danseuse. She is an
Irish woman by birth. She born in Erin,
ii is said, about twenty-eight or thirty years
ago. Her father an lrishman of rather qucs-
tionable reputation and employment, and her
mother Spanish woman, connected, II Is said,
with good family, and also with the theatres.
Her name, instead of Lola Monies, was, in her
girhood, simply Betty Watson. She was rather
good looking, and commenced life by marrying,
on the left side gentleman who was going
out to India. Another account states that she
married Spaniard young, but soon eloped with
an Irishman. The gentleman with whom she
went to India, who was in some civil or mill
tary capacity, died in Bombay or Calcutta, very
soon after his arrival. Betty Watson, his nomi-
nal wife, returned to London; and, it is said,
that during the long voyage from India, she
conducted herself in very free and liberal man
ner towards the officers and passengers on board.
IN her return to London, she was not long with
ont some occupation She travelled to Spain in
the capacity of femme de chambre to an old rouk,
WHO wanted to get rid of the moral and physical
atmospheric of England. In Spain, the good
LOOKING Betty Watson adopted the name of Lola
Monies, from famous bul-fghter there, who
became enamored of her, and then ran away
with her from the old English rouE, who, ac-
cordingly, cut his throat and thus fulfilled the
principles of strict poetical Justice. In COM
pany with the bull-fghter she wandered over
Spain, perfected her knowledge of her mother
tongue, picked up the elements of the fandango,
and other Spanish dances; and afterwards, found
her way through Italy and France to Boulogne
She now set up for an original Spanish danseuse
compelled by the misfortunes of her family
which, of course, was noble, Lola de Monies
to turn her many accomplishments to account.
and to seek for some new outlet for fame in the
great English metropolis.
Rp this time she spok @ English, French, Span
ish, and other languages, with perfect ease and
elegance She had also some talent and intelli-
gence, which she made available in her inter-
course with the world.
At Boulogne, she embarked for England
During this voyage she attracted, by her ac-
compllshments, her distingue air, and her easy
impudence, the attention of an English earl, who
was returning home with his family from a short
European tour. She made their acquaintance
She astonished and interested them with her
knowledge of foreign lands and languages-her
grace and vivacity of manner-her perfect pro-
priety of demeanor-her misfortunes, and her
loss Of property and position by the naughty re-
volutions in Spain. Soon after her arrival in
London, she actually graced the private carriage
of tho peer in the circle of Hyde Park. But
something must be done. BY his influence and
sympathy, the unfortunate young Spanish
grandee, Of the feminine gender, procured an
gagement at the Queens Opera, in order to intro
duce the real Spanish dances on these celebrated
boards. Great preparation and expectation pre-
coded the appearance ofMdlle. Lola Monies, the
unfortunate Spanish princess, whose fate had been
thus thrown upon the boards, by the naughty re-
volutions of Spain, and the failure of the insur-
her appearance there-and for the first and last
time. Some of the old frcquenters of the ballet
had filled the stage box, usually called the omni-
bus-others were in the stalls. These cunning,
knowing fellows, who are equally acquainted
with horse and woman, cannot be deceived in
either. AS soon as she made her appearance at
the foot lights, several Of them recognised her at
once, and roared out "Betty Watsonr' Z" Betty
al,
row, was the consequence. Her friends being
few, good, green, and simple, were completely
overwhelmed by the hurras and ridicule of
The old play-goers, who never could BE deceiv-
ed in woman or in horse flesh" as they said.
Betty Watson I" "Betty Watson :" they roared.
In addition to this untoward discovery, it turn
ed out that she was no danseuse of any remarka-
BILE power, grace, or skill. She reached nothing
beyond the rank Of an ordinary ballet dancer.
She was accordingly driven from the London
stage, amidst shouts of laughter and ridcule.
This <meute, of course, finished her career in
London She soon disappeared from that city;
and her next appearance in the affairs and amuse-
ments Of Europe, was somewhere on the borders
Vt Poland or Germany, where she had fight
18th the police, and horscwhipped some gems d.
% mes. and then made her escape to Paris.
q, Paris she began fresh career. She first
ug nc acquaintance of several of the journal
oi nat capital, by free and liberal use Of
..cr charms and accomplishments by this means
she procured an engagement as danseuss in one
Of the minor theatres. Her first appearance was
preceded by number of notices, prai.ing her
talents, and giving sketches of the surprising and
curiou. adventures she had passed through in
Germany and Russia Her early adventures in
England, India, and Spain, were carefully veiled
from the gulliblc parsians. She now passed for
regular Spanish donseuse, the famous Mdlle
Lola Monies, who was TO take rank by the side
Of Fanny Elsslcr and Taglioni. She made her
first appearance, and kicked her garter from the
tip OF her great toe half way over the pit The
French audience was at first astonishod at the