New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-07
NOT A "BLAMELEsS BLONDE.
Letter from Miss Pauline Markham DENY.
ing the Authenticity of Her Published
BiOgrapby.

ing the Authenticity of Her Published
Biography.
| To tue Edter Of the World:
SIR am very unwilling to trouble Won
or the public with my private affairs, but
the long article you published yesterday
upon the so-called Life of Pauline Marx
ham, write by herself,r must be nv ex-
cuse, for did not write one word of that
life" so-called, and the greater part Oft
all that you comment on SO severely, and /
must confess, so justly, was published with
| out my knowledge.
| did not see it. either in writing or in
type, before it was published, and the second
part have never read to this day; the rea
son being that was so surprised and dis
gusted on reading the first that l shrank
from recalling the second.
1t happened in this way: l was asked to
have my "life" published, giving the facts,
TO be written out. | said no at first, be-
cause don't like publicity to my personal
affairs; and also, because, as told the gen.
tleman who asked me, there is nothing In
s nsy lie OF any interest to any one but ny
But at last consented, it being understood
that what was written should be submitted
to me before it was published
l did tell the writer something about nav
school days and my early life before went
upon the stage, and this is all for which I
am responsible in this "life," which pro-
fesses to have been written by myself.
This part of it was shown to me, and
objected to the manner in which it was
dressed up, and to many fanciful additions
to it, / mean all that stuff about lovers,
secret marriages and Suicides, which is az
untrue as it Seems to me to be stupid. Nv
remonstrances were not needed, and the
frst'part was published while was confined
to my bed and suffering greatly from the
consequences of severe accident.
was asked then for something more and
''livelier." said plainly that there was Meth
ing more and liyelier to tell; in fact, nothing
at all.
But the writer said there must be some
thing said about my life in this country, and
that as he had began he would go and do il
III proper and correct way.
Suffering too much to dispute with him l
consented weakly confess, and this is the
only error | have committed. What was
published afterward and taken into the
little book, and part of which you reprint,
and mich of which am told refers to indi-
vlduais, friends, and acquaintance of mine
personal and professional, was written not
only not by me and without my consent, but
without my knowledge did not see it, or
hear it, or know anything about it, and even
now | only know of it by what | have been
told and read in the newspapers
| am made to appear as having written
something unpleasant about Miss lydia
Thompson and Mr.. Henderson, in whose
company played for nearly two years.
was never more surprised and ANNOYED in
my life than when | was told this, which L
regret almost as much as if | had been
really guilty of it, / wrote, and would
write, nothing of the kind. And as to other
personal illusions, made on hearsay or half
knowledge, l believe that any one who
knows me knows that / would not mix up
any OF my friends and acquaintance with
my affairs in this public way.
You may think that should at once have
denied writing this thing. But | dislike
disputes and squabbles of all things, and
even explanations. / thought in the words
Of our hemely English adage, 1.-THE least
said the soonest mended," and / was in
hopes that if let alone, the thing might die
out of itself. But am disappointed, and
rs tins spurious thing has come to be the
subject OF two column reviews, personal of
course, to me, am compelled to this public
wish to say, too. that | have received no
money for this ''life," and shall receive
none; and, besides, offered to pay the pub
Usher all he expended on it if he would
all copies from sale. This he con-
'ented to do, and on learning the whole
tate of the case, he kindly refused to ae-
'ept any reimbursement
Thus will pass away, IAope, another of
ne many annoyances to which have been
by public curiosity as to my pr
'ate affairs in this country. | have been
ontinually misrepresented by people whom
did not know, never saw, and who knew
lothing about me. have seen myself an
lounced III print as being here, there, and
Use where, when have never been at those
'iaces at all, and my name has been con-
eeted with persons whom did not know,
r with whom [ had only the slightest pos
IDLE acquaintance
You. too, sir, call me, with an irony can
ot fail to understand and feel, a "blameless
londe"
Now, do not pretend to have lived
iameless life. Do you. sir ? If you have,
here is good authority for your throwing the
rst stone at Yours, obediently.
PAULINE MARKHAM,
10. 2O2 East Fifteenth street, April 80, 1871.