North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-17
CLEAN in her eyes to the end.

After this, out of sight out of mind she
passed wholly, till heard of her sudden
illness-that cruel stroke that left her help
less and so pitiable, blighted and aged be-
fore time-a fate most terrible for IN Or
ganization like hers, all nerves and fire and
action. Then followed the long dim twi-
light of that life of Gtfnl and lurid brilliance,
misty and chill, and ushering in night
that seemed quite dreary and starless, But
the poor soul thought she saw amid the
mists of the gloom the steady shining of the
Star of Stars, gracious and pitiful-the Star
that shone over the Manger of Bethlehem
and came out above the Cross Of Calvary !;
and on this side she fixed, to the last, those
great dark eyes through which had blazed
every wild hnman passion and sinful be-
guilemeut, but which had sometimes sof-
tened. with human pity and overflowed
with penitent tears. So who would dare
deny to them the right to look toward
those divine beckoning rays ofpeace and
pardoning grace?
| have heard from lady who knew the
kind Samaritans who nursed poor Lola
Montez in her last sickness, that her CRATE
ful gentieness and humility were very pa
thetic. That fierce, rebelious nature seem
ed utte,ly tanned She crept to the foot
of the Cross and crouehed there weeping,
till she seemed to hear the gracious words
-"Tby sins are forgiven thee" ri - -
In the summer of 1868 | visited Mum
lch. While driving about that 6ne capital
| which, from It's aspect of newness, seems
more like an American than a European
city. the beautiful residence allotted by the
late King to Madame Lola Montez was
pointed out to US by our 0alet de palace.
"Was she very unpopular in Munich p
| asked. ..
"Yes, madame, with our most respecta-
BILE citizens, and latterly with the students
but she was good to the poor-they
missed her." s
In the Art Gallery of the new palace,
King Ludwig, who was great connoisseur
of beauty, had set apart hall for the por-
traits of living European beauties, and at
the head of all these we found portrait
of Lola Montez decidedly the loveliest pic
ture there Even the reigning Queen, q
young aud pretty women, was given less
honorable position in the gallery. We
were told that the old King exacted of his
successor promise that this picture should
remain in its place, at least while lie lived.
Insthe rose-embowered studio of Ksul-
bach we found another portrait of--as the
painter named her" the Countess of
Landerfldt. 1t was full length, in an
antique Spanish dress. superb and stately
picture, after the style of Vandyke
One bright afternoon in this winter of
1867, was wandering through Greenwood
Cemetery, and suddenly came upon an
humble grave, in small three cornered
lot, quite unadorned, and only marked by
plain white stone, bearing simply this in-
scri ption:
Mrs. Eliza Gilbert. Died February
18th, 1s66--aged AZ"
1t was the grave of Lola Montez!
| could scarcely realize that after such a
free, wild swing at life, from continent to
continent, she had been limited to such a
narrow domain. How that little triangu-
lar hedge seemed to imprison that wilful
untamable creature, that rebel against So
ciety, that Zingara of the world J How
heavily the earth seemed to rest on that
strange, wild heart, passionate as fire. in
consistent as water. How still she lay.
who had seemed like some cleaning tropi-
cal bird, gay and fierce and restless.
Kind people provided this place of re-
pose for her poor, weary, faded body, but
it is hardly likely that they often visit the
spot. There are here no floral tokens of
lovely remembrance. Doubtless, many
an unmarked grave in the Potter's Field,
on the hillside, is more frequently visited.
But as stood over that mound, felt only
womanly pity and regret, and gladly would
| have laid thereon an offering of flowers,
to fade on the brown turf as her beauty had
faded from the world; not sumptuous ro-
ses, typical of her in her lovely prime,
when the great German painted her-no
lilies, which might seem to reproach her
memory--but bunch of purple Hearts
Lase, breathing reconcilement and peace.
--Philadslphia H5me Weekly.