Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-02-13
p.r,.,on su,c,de--The Loss of Beauty.

l. i
chronicles The first noticeable suicide OF the season
A gay lorette, known TO all the -Loveiaces y !:
the clubs, died by charcoal, within lew days. IL
her own apartment, aud surrounded by an tue 10
! fined luxury which only Partisan women success
fully attempt. She commenced life as demoi,
sele in milliner's establishment But, as al
ways happens here, she was soon discovered by
prowling Giovanni, or ferretted out, il may be, by
one of the ''femae brokers of tenderness" which
the city furnishes, ,-and transferred to an elegant
apartment as the mistress of some rich count, Ia
ron, or ambassador. Adapting herself at once to
the habits of the sphere in which she found her,
self, her beauty, her wit and elegance soon gained
her position in the derni-mode A career OF pros
perity soon enabled her to crafty her newly ac
quired tastes, &c., of which she became possessof
were the envy of the frail ones who crowded tt
her soirees and enjoyed her hospitality, All iht
rich n,ouards of Paris became successfully hel
Bol1s an,s, ,and fortunes sacrificed to her,gift
were showered upon her, and she became la mode
while her beauty was paramount. While at he
apogee, she received" once week ,and she con
tracted the habit Of lying in bed the entire day
previous to her receptions, in order to possess tht
languor, the repose, which are SO fascinating u
pretty women.
But previous to her last soiree she had writer
letters while reposing in her luxurious Ted, ant
the flame of the candle used in sealing, communl
Gated to the curtains, the lace pillow cases, and IL
an instant all was in flames. She ,shrieked TO
help, but before she could be torn from the fata
couch her injuries were severe. The flames luck
| lily had spared her face, save one apparent tingt
over one eye brow She was quickly cared fo
by the most skillful physicians in Paris. In reply
to her repeated inquiries concerning her beauty
she was assured it would remain unharmed /; tht
slight wound on the face was evidently doing
well. Relieved by this assurance, she composed
herself to recover as soon as possible AT the ent
of three weeks she was quite restored. Durins
this time she had refrained from regarding hersel
in the mirror apprehensive of a lingering trace o
the accident on her countenance, whose lovellnes:
it was SO essential to her happiness to preserve.
Repeatedly she had questioned the sOubrette II
attendance concerning her fears, but she had beef
quieted by the assurance that everything would
remain unharmed. What was her horror upor
viewing herself for the first time after convale
scence, to discover long hideous scar upon The
forehead, extending some way down upon hel
cheek, and presenting fghtful contrast to the
whiteness of her skin and beauty which she hac
previously to her disaster so frequently heard adu
lated. A nervous Crisis seized upon her, and sh'
was insensible for hours. Upon her recovery sh'
was calm and resigned, but she wept bitterl,
while writing some letters. which were subsequent
ly discovered 10 be farewell addresses to member
of her family. ..,-
The moment, however, the maid quilted her 70
the night she rolled little portable calorifier int
her chamber, filled with charcoal, and carefully
securing the doors and windows to prevent tn
admission of exterior air. she lighted it. She the
pdt on all her diamonds and most beautiful jewels
clothed herself in her richest robe, and placing
herself placidIy upon her bed, waited for the Ell
fects of the homicidal gas, whose fumes wer
bnsily diffusing themselves in the apartment Il
the morning she was found cold, stiff, and dead
Her body, clothed in superb attire, gittering wit
diamonds, the expired brazer, and the SUMPTION
appointments of the room, must have presented
terrible scene-also occasioned by the loss of a
eyebrow. brought about by that horrible association
of material particles-bed curtains and lighte
candles.