The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-31
The Career and Death of the Queen of
the Demi. Monde of London.

We have previously announced the
| death of Mable Gray the famous queen
of the demi-monde of London, but
some facts connected with her eXtraor-
binary career may not be uninteresting.
She was once Il poor sewing girl. The
most notorious and conspicuous of those
who supported her in luxury and splen'
dor according TO all accOunts-for it is Il
notorious scandal in England-has been
the Prince of Wales. AT one time she
was engaged to be married to the heir to
one of the oldest English dukedoms !;
but, by strenuous interference of his
friends, and the granting for life to her
of liberal provision, what would have
been gross mcSaihiance was fortunately
prevented. Many stories are told of her
dashing extravaganza. Her name and
conduct were the theme of gossip in the
clubs. She was the original of Bouci-
cault's Formosa" She it was who gave
its name to the Mable Waltz" COM
posed by Godfrey, the leader of the
band in the Guards. She caused the
ruin Of Captain Milbanke, of the Guards.
Her portrait was Haunted in every shop
window in London where portraits of
Nilsson, Patti, the Queen and the Prin.
cess appeared. She was seen, like Gan
onyma," that other famous "queen of
the demi-monde," at the opera, the
Chiswick flower show, at Kensington
Gardens, and riding blooded horse on
the fashionable park drive called "Rot.
ten Row." always mingling at such times
with the noblest ladies of the land. Once
Anonyma' had the audacity, in riding
on the Row, to compel the Princess of
Wales to turn out and give her the road,
by giving the Princess horse smart
blow with her whip. The atfront was
never made the subject of any action.
The Prince who seems to have inherit
ed all the vices az well as stupidity of
his royal ancestors, the Georges, is open
ly talked about as having squandered
vast sums on "Mable Gray" On one
occasion, at the Ascot races, this wanton
made this weak Prince bet 100000 on
a particular horse, and he lost. The
power Of his infatuation with the crea-
tu for whom he had thus proved UNI
true TO his worthy wife, the young Prin-
cess Alexandra, of Denmark. may be
inferred from the fact that while paying
out such lavish sums to crafty her
whims, he was to all others-if we are
to credit epOrts-eXtremely penurious,
not to say misery. Mable Gray had a
sumptuous villa at st. Johns Wood,
Brompton-a part Of LondOn-where
she dwelt in splendor as few women
have commanded since Cleopatra. In
her stables there were always dozen or
fifteen costly blooded horses, than which
no finer could be found in England.
These were for the saddle and driving,
and they were the gifts Of her numer-
Gus aristocratic admirers. She dined off
dishes of silver and gold. Her apart
ments were furnished with regalrichness.
The saloon was sixty feet long by thirty
in width, AM the frescoed ceiling was
from fifteen to eighteen feet above the
costly velvet carpet-the latter piece OF
Gobelin work, which displayed view of
the port Of Marseilles, and which cost
$4,000. Velvet hangings, like those of
some of the rich old French chateauX,
were in keeping with the carpet and
style of sofas, lounges and countless ar
ticles of costly furniture in the room.
A published account gave description
of the room. There was an immense
and very costly mirror, framed in gold,
and showing an inside frame of crimson
velvet. The tables, ottomans and furni-
ture generally, were rich and expensive
to the last degree. Statues, bronzes and
shells-painting by Messoniers and
other masters-splendor and luxury in
everything struck the eye of the visitor.
! The young woman herself has been
known by photographs not only all over
England, but 10y many in this country.