Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-04-08
AUTOBIOGRAPHY or LOLA MoNTEz.

Several leading Journals had, she said, called
for lecture on Lola Montez 1t might be suppo-
sed that she was well enough acquainted with
thatpersonage to undertake the task. 1t was not
pleasant to hold up to the world mirror of
ones self and though newspapers had some
times styled her impudent, yet it was with
more than difidence she undertook the subject.
As Burns says, 1--WE were girls together-(ap-
plause}-and have been So closely connected
that to speak of that lady is very much like
speaking of myself" A woman, like man,
disIikeS to hold the mirror up to nature and few
summon the courage to stand face to face
with themselves. TITS only those women who
have met the difficulties and hraved the dangers
that are commonly the lot of men, that dare do
it. Those pieces of human waXwork to whom
life means eating, drinking, the Opera and sleep
ing, know none of the rules which apply to
others whose stormy nature forces them into
the battle of every day life. A drawing room
firt knew little of the tidal currents with which
other women have to contend Alas for the
woman forced out into the currents of active
life! Some who had the strength to get there
were powerless to stand the tide. Their great
misfortune was too much energy for wOmRn'S
present sphere and too little for her proper one
y gifted man well said, ''Woman, with wit and
beauty, needed the quills of the porcupiue for
sclfprescrYation.h
Daniel OConnell claimed to have been the
best abused man in the world. She would not
ly she had been abused enough. She had the
honor of having been the subject of more news
paper paragraphs than any living woman. She
was the heroine of twenty three Biographies
Seven cities claimed Homer; seven times sew
en- disputed for the birthplace of Lola MonteZ, if
her biographers are to be believed. Lola was II
myth-Spain, Germany, Cuba, Italy, India and
Turkey were each her birthplace. Lord Byron,
King Louis of Bavaria, and others numerous as
the signs of the Zodiac, We're, in turn her father
and wrctched fugitive from the galows will
have it that she is the issue of a washerwoman
named Molly Watson, Betsy Watson, or Betsy
Reagan. If l were Lola Montez, continued the
lecturer, should doubt if were born ut all
But if ali that is written of her be true, she has
been born again many times Minerva sprang
from the brain of Jupiter, but Lola has been
born of the brain of each one of her biOgraphers.
Lola Montcz was, in truth, born in Limerick, in
1924. Her father was the of Sir Il. Gilbert,
an Englishman, and her mother one of the Oil
vers of Castle Oliver, ireland, who were cOnnec-
tons of the Spanish Montalgos that lost extern
Sive fortunes in the French aud Don Carlos wars.
The MontalgoS are of Moorish descent, and thus
Lola is of English Irish and Moorish blood-a
somewhat c0mbuStible admiXture Her father
WAS made an ensign at seventeen by the Duke
of York, captain and married to a girl of fifteen
ere he was twenty. The second year of this
union Lola ATOntez was born SheswGs baptised
Muria Dalovez Eliza Rosanna Gilbert. Her IA
thcr was ordered to the East Indies soon after
her birth, and there died of the cholera, leaving
her mother, widow ofeightenn, and the young
Lola to the care of Maj Patrick CIagie.
The difficulties of the young widow were
numerous SuitorS surrounded her on every
side, till the air, said the lecturer, trenbled OF
their emotion for miles around. She gave her
hand to- Mai. Craige, then Assistant Ajdutant
General Of the British army in Calcutta. Young
Lola was sent to the care of the Cragies, at
Montross, in Scotland. There the little Indian
Sirl, who spoke hat little 3,ntOis of Spanish
and Hindostanee, was first made lion, and
laid the foundation of her pranks. Thence she
removed to the care of Sir Jasper Nichols who
spent most of his time in Paris; awhile IN n
French convent with the daughter of Sir Jasper;
with her she crossed the channel and FINISHED"
her education at boarding school in Bath
There Loias mother came to sec her Heaps of
dresses were prepared and hosts of ornaments
and when Lola, then but fifteen, inquired
what fUr!" she was tOld ''it was none of her
business" Through the Intervention of Cap
tain Janes-young and hanesome-shc learned
that her mother had pledged her hand TO u
whose attractions were metallic and coined into
rupees. This, said the lecturer, was the first
spark to the magazine. An explosion followed,
and the upshot was that Lola eloped with Cap
tain James to ireland. There no clergyman
would marry girl of fourteen without her
sent was at last given, and Miss Gilbert became
Mrs. James. The Captain proved but the out
side shell ola husband, and Lola drew the witty
inference, which she commended to young Ia
dies, that runaway matches are like runaway
horses and end generally in some smash up
Captain James remained eight months in Ire
land and then was ordered TO the East Indies,
whittier his young wife accompanied him. For
u while she was the belle of Calcutta.
ek'rhe removal of the troops to the interior pro-
du"ed change of scene, and the lecturer, leav-
ing Lola in the interior introduced most inter
esting dissertation on Indian travelling, ustrn,
ting the description with several ludicrous Incl.
dents. She described most graphically Runieet
Singh's reception of the officers of the Bengal
army. After most magnificent feast and en-
tertainmcnt, dancing girls, slaves from Circas-
STA, the loveiest of the harem, were Introduced.
Each woman bore jewels worth fortune, and
was invested with the ownership of twenty vii.
lagos. These, equally in number, the officers
entertained, and were offered as present to the
officers. The peculiar looks of the English
officers, the sad manner in which Lord Auck-
land informed the King that English law did
not permit them to receive such presents, may
well be Imagined But am afraid, said the lee.
tnrer, that the Young officers-Ahi well the
gentlemen present can appreciate the disap-
pointment daughter and applause long con