Washington telegraph., 1852-05-05
Lola MOnteZ.

Lola MOnteZ.
The following letter of Lola Montez we transfer
to our columns in order that our readers may see
what the Countess has to say for herself. The
letter was brought out by some animadversions Of
the Boston Transcript on the visit OF Lola to the
public schools of that city:
To the Editor of the Boston Transcript:
S1R-In your edition of Saturday you saw fit to
take exceptions to visit paid by me to several OF
your public schools, in company with two OF our
respectable fellow-citizens. This exception was
based on reports spread to my detriment by my
Jesuitic enemies and as to the truth or falsehood
of which YOU assert you know nothing. Now per-
NIT me to ask you where is the most harm, IN
visit by stranger to the most wonderful and IN
terestng of all your institutions, in the base,
false, dishonest, ungentlemanly, uncharltable con-
struction you have put upon 1T DO you tnink,
sir. that one of those children would have had an
impure or improper thought connected with my
visit if it had not been put into their heads by
yourself! Believe me- sir, there Is often more I'M
purity in the mind of the critic than IN the object
of his criticism. There are men who would stand
before the Venus of Medici and the Apollo OF Bel
videre and see nothing in them but their nudity.
There are men living, like Paul the IVth, who
would object to the painting of the Last Judgment,
and throw a bronze drapery over the statue OF
Prudence. and like Michael Angelo to the Pope,
might reply to you sir, Reform the world and
these aspersions will reform themselves"
You think it improper, sir, for ddnsense to
visit one of your public Institutions Did your
fellow citizens think it improper to accept the
can-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument from
Fanny Ellsler? Did you think it improper for
YOUR public institutions daily to receive contribu-
tions from the hard-earned salary of artists? Ii
Won do. YOU might make it the subject OF your
next poem for | am informed that you are, or
have been poet, though | never should have sus-
pected it from so illiberal, ungentlemanly and I'M
moral constructions. Ii you do not, pray do not
open your mouth again on the SUBJECT OF the Visit
of an artist to public institution.
With regard to my talent it would be unbe
coming in me to speak, or quote but to say that L
have ever passed myself in this country in any
other quality than that of artist Is false IN the
throat of whoever may say 1t.
| had the offer made to me when IN Europe
of entering America triumphantly. Triumphant
arches were offered to be erected for me on the
pier garlands to be hung across my way, flowers
spread over my track, and my carriage drawn to
nv hotel by human hands, amidst showers OF bo-
ouets and vivas. All this | declined. If there is
ANYTHING that [ thoroughly detest it is humbug.
l even declined, on arriving, the free use OF the
telegraph. which was courteously rendered me by
the gentlemany proprietors, and in no case have l
made interest to buy the good opinion OF journals.
1t had cost me to return to the stage scaldIng
tears but was determined If | succeeded at all, 1t
should be legtimately in the pursuit OF my protes-
sion as an artist, though was as well satisfied as
the man who made me the offer, that In refusing
it | was sacrificing great many dollars 10 my
principle | had too much amour propre, SIT, to be
Shown up Ike woody horse white negro,
but if is satisfaction to know that 1t Is | who
have suffered by it, it is the pubic which has
gained and that instead OF paying from three dol
lars up to fabulous price for tickets, all who have
desired it, have had the satisfaction OF seeing me
for a much smaller sum.
l was counselled by several of my friends in
New York to purchase the esteem OF those whose
minds had been influenced by the Jestical stories
in circulation with regard to me, by giving the re-
ceipts of my first night to public charities. The
idea was repugnant to me- and refused doing SO
till the eve of the close of my engagements, when
/ have invariably given them beneflt, when
could obtain permission OF the directors OF the
theatre.
| speak of Jesuitical lies. mentioned to few
friends in Paris, my intention of coming to Amerl-
ca OH an artistic tour Immediately all the jour
nails from Canada to Mexico were flooded with
communications, heaping upon me all the eplthets
in the vocabulary Backyard 1t was said also
that tanned wild horses, horsewhlpped ge,idgrnes,
knocked flies with pistol ball off the bald heads
of aldermen, fought duels, threw people overheard
for the sake of saving them from drowning, and a
multitude of other similar feats. Now SIT, do you
see the sIy Jesuitica infamous design of all this
1t was simply to unsex me. 10 deprive me OF
that high, noble and chivalrous protection which
is so universally accorded to woman in this coun-
try by generous men.
Very we'll sir did they succeed? l have been
now four months in this country, and my success
instead of diminishing, has increased from the hrst
moment up to the present time. Amercans are
no fools, sir, and believe me, though they may be
imposed upon at first they soon come again to
their senses.
finally arrived here in your tri-mountain city,
pleasantly associated by me with my own adopt
ed name, and which l had more curiosity to see
than | ever had for the far famed city OF the
seUen The latter was the heather mystic num-
ber but the former was that of the christian trini
ty, and was connected in my mind with those
noble, self-sacrifcing devoted men, who were
ever the objects of my admiration. | had twice
been placed under the protection of its citizens
once by my parents in India on voyage to Eng
land, and once on my pilgrimage to this country,
and in neither had | cause to regret the
choice that had been made for me.
/ say my pilgrimage to America, for it was in
deed a pilgrimage. Not such as was made by
those gallant, noblemen who steered their bark to
Plymouth rock-but more like that lover would
make to the mistress of his heart, disciple to his
long dreamed of Mecca, Catholic deUote to the
adored and worshipped shrine of his saint And
as lover at the feet of his adored mistress, Ma
homedan before the self-suspended coffin of the
prophet travel worn pellegrino PROSTATE before
the baldacckion of st. Peter at Rome, SO have |
bowed, silent, content and happy before the only
successful realization of a principle to which
have devoted my life.
And now, when ], as stranger, wish to pay
visit to those nurseries of your noble statesmen
your Websters, your Calhouns, your Clays-you
cry out against me intruder! Fie on you,
sir! For an ill-bred, snarling cur, unworthy to
stand at the portal Of public opinion.