The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-04-07
From tho New York Herald.
The Maroiioness of lie Valatte,

Ihe Maroiloness OF lie Valette.
Few OF the rising generation won!d
suspect TINT the lady who has borne for
some twcn'y-seven years tho sounding
t,'le OF marchioness, and who has fig.
nrcd brilliantly as an ambassador at va
rions courts Of Europe, an6 who has
died Mt last at The brad OF the pslalial
residence of the Minister of Foreign
A tfalrs OF France. was once n simple
village maiden Of ,h" unpretendine State
OF Rhode Island OF the name OF Fowle.
Such, however, was the fact; but it
was her fortunate destiny to rise. like
the first Catherine OF Russia. nr nbov,.
the career she was apparently born TO
fill. At an early age she went over to
London to reside WI Ii an rl,ipr sister
who was married To M nnalrnt Amerl.
can banker, Tim"rhv Virgins, who's.
house was Afterwards involved N the.
financial disasters Of 1897. Willie sill
in he' t"rhs the beauty. intelligence and
accomplishments of Miss Fowlr attract
ed the admiration OF Mr.. Samuel Wrlcs.
then the sol" a Am"rican banker in Par.
is, who subsequently married her. For
some ten years she presided with infinite
grace, Tact nnh dignity over rhe elegant
mansion OF MIR. Wellrs in the Place St
George, and her dinners and balls were
the cnvicd resort no! only OF the fash
ionable Americans residing in Paris at
that epoch. hut equally 80 Of Mi that
were most distinguished in the socntv
literature and art Of the French capital.
In the cnlamitous year OF 1887 the
banking house OF her husband was So
riouslv compromised and his failure was
daily expected. Mr. Wrllts made drs-
ncratc cf,rls to resist the pressure, but
in vain, and his fortune and position
were trembling on The brink of utter
ruin. At this crisis hts wife, with M
energy characteristic rfher motherland,
drove to the bark e France, obtained
an interview with Count d'Argout. The
Governor, submitted to him tie ample,
though depressed securities nf her hns-
bands portefeui2e, and BY her forcihle
and moving statements Effected a loan
OF several millions Of francs, which t,ied
the house OF Wrllcs & CO. over the
yawning gulf Of bankruptcy. III lS4l
Mr. Welles died at an advanced ngr,
leaving his large fortune 10 his w,d,w
and their only son, then quite youth.
AZ the close OF the following year Nine.
Wellcs, then in The meridian OF life, n
handsome and dishingue woman nf The
world, married The Marquis de Ia Va
leue, already rising men hrr OF the
diplomatic corps. In making this mattel,
Nine. Wclles displayed her usual dis
crrnmNnt, for while others brhr'd in he
Marquis only brilliant maj, Of ia .hinn,
she recognized those commanding traits
which have raised ham suc.rssiv,ly to
the highest posts in ll.D S;alr and srcur
ed for him the nnbonndrl curli.ln"c nf
his imperial master. who fnallv, las
bestowed on h'm 'he crowning guerdon
"i his satisfaction hv exaling HIM TO the
Premiership Of France. From this
lofty position which her rnre esprit and
varied experience en,nehrlv filt.d her
70 a''orn, bn, which her declining heal,l,
disabled her I" enjoy, the Marchioness
de la Nnlctte d"scrnds, Inll Of hnnors,
to the grave. In the height Of her pros
pcri'y and surrounded by the glitter
and pomp ofpowrr she wns always gra-
clons and hospilahlr to her coun,rvmen,
and never inditf rent to the welfare of
her native land. Tier son aud heir, the
Count Wellrs de In Vnle to, married
two years since a daughter Of NJ. Ron.
her, the \chill"s Of the French Cabinet
and The most gifted orator of the en-
pire.