Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-21
NEWS AND MISCELLANY
The Menken-HOw She Enthralied Old
Dumas.

The Menken-FEOw She Enthralied Old
Dumas.
From New York Letter.l
A Kentucky gentleman, recently ar
rived from Paris, gives me the particu-
lars of the late remarkable infatuation
of Alexander Dumas pere for the gor-
geously-legged Menken. The old mu-
lattO was first struck 10y her appearance
at the theater, and soon afterward ac-
companied his son to recherche de-
| ieuner in one of the semi-aristocratic
QUARTERS. at which the Menken, in
luscious decollete costume, shone as the
| bright particular star. The glossy
ringleted equestrienne has a mind fair
ly tinged with literary proclivities of
the sensual Sue type, and she spread
her net forthwith for the veteran feuil-
letonist. So glibly did she use her
tongue, so charming did she paint her
American experiences, so naively did
she fatter the old negro on the strength
and depth of his facile pen. and so
voluptuously did she carry her really
superb figure, that the fabby drama
list at last found himself fairly encir-
cled in cloud of literary perfume, and
| lost his head in the web of cOquettish
/
parted, the old man accompanied her to
the carriage, gave her six hundred
| franc ring as a souvenir, and asked her
permission to personally wait upon her,
which was gracefully granted. Dumas
was so completely infatuated that he
went home without his chapeau, and,
in fit of delightful reveries, tossed
his gold headed cane out of the cabrio-
| let.
On the following morning, his card
was presented to the ebon-eyed Adah.
Rendezvous after rendezvous were app
pointed, and the appointments were
scrupulously fulfilled. The old man
| lost his appetite and filed his burly
frame with the distilled vapOr of love,
cast of his slouchy attire and swelled
ont TO the fastidiousness of a French
fox, and appeared with his lovely siren
| in the Bots de Bolougne, on several oc-
casions, even driving through that arts
tocratic holy of holies, the Faubourg
st. GeTmaine. He violated contracts
with his publishers, cast his pen aside
| in fit of youthful wild-catishness, and
was fast going to the devil, despite the
protestations of his son and the entreat-
les of his friends. Tie bled freely, TALL
old men do, and the fair Jewess ope-
rated upon him as If she had discovered
a second cave of Monte Christie. IL is
SAID that her net earnings exceeded so,
600 francs. have seen a lace handker
chief which she sent to female drtiste
In this city, with a note stating that 1t
was one of a whole box presented her
| by the author of "The Three Guards
men," It would retail at Stewards for
| $3.50 But the thing could not last.
Dumas was playing his sons Camille"
with vengeance, and his silly love
fever grew mOnotOnous. Besides,
there were other fish in the sea, and
the piquapt BOwery- flower is not
always so constant as she was III the
case of Keenan,. The appearance of
| the photograph card on the public
streets, accurately transferring a love
scene between this literary Othello and
has black eyed DesdemOna was the last
feather on the cameIs back. Menken's
completely was more than suspected.
The old man turned his back on her in
a rage, and the next month she left to
| fulfil a model artistic engagement at vi
emma. She returned in two months,
Did Brussels and there unexpectedly
again met Dumas.
The poor dog was away from his
kenuel on visit, and second time
fell victim to the arts of the prurlent
American Gree. This time sheappears
to have woven herself into his affections
through every art of ingenuity, until
the old boys mind figuratively repre-
scented Yankee rag carpet. She clings
to him like misteltOe to an old oak,
shriveling his green leaves, whitening
his tendrils and drawing sustenance
| from his decaying branches. The fussy,
pursy, aged mutton-head actually
thinks himself in Paradise, and unwit
| tingly lends his name to all sorts of lit
erary phantoms. AT Menken's sugges.
ton, he is now engaged on a drama
basing its foundations and scenery |
on the American civil war. The |
most of the details and incl |
dents are remarkably inSOucidat and |
Black CroOkish, being furnished from |
the private diary of the exquisite but |
frail Adah herself. This diary is said |
to be replete with scenes of dreamy |
passion, interspersed with piquant in
terlndes, all woven from actual life ex-
periences, which Alexander is working |
up in his own peculiar and incompar-
able manner. Should the Menken
prove faithful for one month longer.
Paris Will experience a sensation only |
rivaied by that caused by Cora Pearl,
or the sweet-lipped Lais, languishing |
In the palace of Prince Demidoff.
AprOpos of Menken, the nail key
legged Miss Leo Hudson, whose style
of dress outstrips Adah, if possible,
has accepted a star engagement at st.
Petersburg this winter, and reckons on
doing a rushin' business. Rather
cold climate for a Mazeppian, we
should Judge. Leo created slight |
sensation in this city some weeks since /
by squirting a jet black horse over the
Fulton street bridge in genuine Dick
Turpin style. Her acting, however, is
''fearful to behold" She has some
pride of ancestry about her, and claims
TO be lineal descendant of Sir Hen
drick Hudson. Her massive proper
tioDs certainly bear out the claim.