Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-09-15
Biographical.
From the london Observer.


The Helen of the age is most assuredly
Lola Montes aliaS Betsey James, aliqs the
Grafinn Won Landsfelt, alias Mrs. Head.
As far as can be gathered from her dark
history, her first public act was alleged
adultery, as her last is alleged bigamy. In
the interim, what variety of phases did
she not witness in life. Lola Monies was
perfect beauty some six or seven years
since; indeed when she came out at her
Majesty's Theatre, in lS42, her loveliness
was surprising but this is to anticipate
her history. At the present moment she
may be some thirty years old, or there
abouts; and as regards her personal ap-
pearance, though she is still handsome, she
can no longer lay claim to the title of
lovely.
The career of Lola Montes, or rather
Mrs. James or Mrs. Head, has been roman
tic and extraordinary. In all human pro-
babiity, she is an lrishwoman. She was
married in Ireland to an Irishman: and
statements have been at various times made,
to the effect that she Is native of the sis
ter country. The family of James is re-
spectacle one in the county of Meath: and
it seems that in July, 1887, she was mar
ried to Lieutenant James, of the East India
Company's service, one of that family
Her maiden name was Rose Anna Gilbert,
and the marriage took place at Meath, in
Ireland. She accompanied her husband to
India, and returned to Ireland in lS41 or
1912. From thence she came to this coun-
try, and legal separation took place be-
tween her and her husband. The cause of
that separation was an allegation of adul-
terry with Captain Lenox, member of a
Devonshre family. Judgment went against
her in the Consistory Court, by default
She did not appear in person, or by proc
tor, to the suit instituted by her husband,
and the judgment was divorce mensa ct
Moro, which was prayed on the part of the
plaintiff. Shortly after this, she appeared
at her Majesty's Theatre, under the name of
Lola Montes-a Spanish balayrina. Her
incompetency as public dancer, however,
was evident on her first appearance; but
added to this, she was recognized as the no
torious Mrs. James by prince of the blood,
and his companions of the omnibus box
The result was, that her beauty could not
save her from insult. .
To avenge themselves of the director,
Mr.. Lumley, for some ,pique conceived
against him, these chivalrous Englishmen of
the higher classes hooted a women from
the stage. Lola Monies appeared only once;
after that she never came on the mimic
scene again. From England, where she
tangled the virtuous Earl of Malmesbury in
a delicate kind of newspaper correspon-
dence-an assertion having been made in
public that she visited that pious nobleman
at his own house-from England she pro-
ceeded to Paris, where her beauty and her
daring soon introduced her TO a circle more
distinguished for its intellectual power
than for its self-denial or integrity, viz
the journalists in the pay of the late mon
archy in that country-the Girardins, the
Beauvallons, the Alexandra Dumas's, the
Michael Crevaliers, ct hoe genus omne.-
With one of these individuals she formed
close connection, which was severed by his
death in duel. Dujardin, il recollection
serves Alright, was his name, and that of his
slayer is Beauvallon. The trial that ensu-
ed, upon which that ''black fellow" Dumas
was examined, disclosed tissue of inhmies
as surprising as It was horrible 10 conterl-
plate. The man was actually nveigled
into this encounter Tor the purpose of being
murdered; and murdered he was accord
ingly. Lola Monies inherited all his pro-
perty, including a chief share in Paris
newspaper, which he edited himself She
was present as witness at the trial in ques-
ton, which took place at Rouen; but moth
ing transpired to implicate her mediately
or Immediately in the cause of his DEATH
II is presumed that she parted with hel
shares Of the Paris journal, for she soon al:
forwards quilted Paris, and the next place
in which she was heard OF was at Berlin
Here she came in contact with the police
in characteristic manner. ....t
At military review near Potsdam, she
attempted to break the line Of gendarme
who kept off the crowd of spectators from
the king doubtless she had design or