Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-18
BRIEF HISTORY OF LOLA MoNTEz,


Public opinion is often very wrong re-
specting the character of individuals
Whether it is so in the case Of Lola Mon
.ez we must leave the reader TO judge for
himself, II he hnds anything to judge by
IN the following brief account of her, ta-
ken from the Albany Express -
Lola Montez IS certainly wonderful
personage-a most extraordinary and
remarkable woman. Her, whole life has
been one of peculiar interest and strange
romance. The name of Lola Montez--
more notorious than that of any of her
sex, living or dead--has been heard in
every land where civilization has foot
hold--at the remotest parts of the globe,
and frequently has created wild furor,
unparalleled in history.
Rossnna Gilbert-Lola's true maiden
nsme--was the daughter of poor, OBJ
scure shop-keeper, a resident of one of
the British Islands. Her father, desirous
of affording his daughter the advantage
of liberal education, sent her TO school
of high repute, where she progressed so
rapidly that, at the end of the first year
she conyersed with great fuency, in the
Italian and French languages.
At the age of fifteen she was pronoun-
ced as beautiful as Canova's most exqui.
site model, and her train of followers and
admirers were Plmost numberless-ma-
NY of them noble and wealthy. In July,
1899, she was married at Meath, Ireland,
to Lieut.. James of the British East In
dia Company's service. having taken n
fancy to that gentlemen, with the prospect
of roaming through the world. and graft.
flying predominant propensity for gaiety
and variety. -....
Her great vivacity and uncomfortable
desires for scenes of mirth and excite.
ment, eventually induced her husband
to request discontinuance of her great
est pleasures, which, being disregarded,
was followed by command. She DISC
beyed, and her society was more courted
than ever. Hundreds of admirers and
followers were added to her lists, and af-
ter nine months of the marriage life pas.
sed away, she separated from her husband
and returned to England. Calumny had
proceeded her, and when she arrived, she
found her name in everybody's mouth,
and her character undergoing complete
dissection. She replied to the charges
piNerred against her, denouncing them as
base and cowardly fabrications, and with
out the shadow of truth or justice. The
scales were so turned, and she became
the universal favorite.
Without any visible means of support,
she determined upon assuming the pro-
fession of an actress, and made her FIRST
appearance under the name of James, on
the boards of theatre in one Of the pro
vincial towns of Spain. Her reception
was flattering in the extreme. Before
her second appearance, she discarded her
name assumed by marriage, and took
that of Lola Montez. Friends now sprung
up on all sides. particularly among the
nobility and aristocracy. Lord Brougham
became enlisted in her case, and intro
duced bill for her divorce from Lieut..
James, in the House of Lords. He sue
ceeded, however, only so far as obtaining
their separation as husband and wife,
neither to marry during the lifetime of
the other.
In December, 1949, the name of Lola
Montez could kindle fame in the hearts
of thousands, anxious to gain her smiles,
Her great personal attractions, and the
mystic poetry of romantic vision, en-
twined about her name and history, were
far more powerful than her requirements
as an actress, Az the age Of twenty .one
she is described as being aperfect Venus;
in stature about the middle height, but at
that period slender and extremely grace
full. Her cheeks were slightly tinged, her
silken eye lashes sentinels to clear and
piercing blue eye, her lips ever wreathed
with a smile, and a fine and delicately
moulded chin, might well create an mex
Pressible feeling in the heart OF any hu-
man being.
Then followed-whatis is charged against
her by many who pronounce her unfit to
be recognized by respectable society
which, however, she Stoutly denies, and
brands with the name Of calumny and
falsehood. She was persOnated in a
comedy; in rejoinder she wrote coun.
ter comedy, and appeared in it herself
In this she was seen by the King Of Bra
varia, who, greatly enamOured Of her
charms, made immediate offers to her TO
become his mistress. She declined them
until, as the story goes, she had secured
a pension Of $4,000 per year, and the
title of countess Of Landsfelt. She quit
ted the stage and retired TO beautiful
villa on the banks of Lake Geneva. For
some time she lived retired and seclu.
ded life-disLributing thousands Of dol.
lars in acts Of charity and benevolence.
Weary Of her reIiracy. in May, or there
abouts, 1949, she again visited England,
and being introduced to q young Lieuten-
ant in her Maiesty's Life Guards, he be.
came smitten with her charms, proposed
marriage, and she married him with q
fortune of $4,000. She was subse.
ouentIy arrested on q charge Of bigamy,
on the complaint Of IAgt. James. gave
bail in the sum Of Slo. 600. and with her