The New York herald., 1871-11-30
A SDRR0WFUL STORY.
Iarie Rode, French Lady Of Refinement and
Education, Driven by Misery Destroys
Herself to Avoid q Life Of Shame.
THE MYSTERY UNRAvELLED.
A Touching Letter Preparatory to q
Last Leap Into Eternity.

twenty-five years ago strangers in Madrid stroll
ing along the Prado loungng near the Puerta del
soi or,en observed walking TO take the air.
and having with her beautiful child OF nve six
summers whose face was lit up by pair or lu-
minous eyes, black as night, and whose
smile was like CLEAN OF sunshine on snowy
sierra This child was born in the Spanish CAPT.
sal OF French parents who belonged to the
proudest stock in Guienne and had been living in
Madrid for some years. The little girl Marie was
che pet of all who knew her parents and her
winning smile won. it may be, the heart OF many
o astranger who saw her for the first time
i A womans life may be comprised in three stayes:
childhood, grlhood, and that other period when
roses voluntarily fall in her pathway-marriage.
Little is known OF the grlhood of Marie Rode,
whose body was fshed out Of the ICY river on last
Friday by waterman at the Battery; but 1t is be-
heved to have been happy ono SO far as is known,
aor her life TO great extent h involved IN mystery
. mysters-chosen by herself, 1t would seem The
little gr7 OF the Prado and the Puerta del Sol grew
10 be On elegant beautiful and accomplished wo-
man, aud in due course Of time she married man
In her own rank OF life at Borleaux, where her
family went to reside.
1t Is not even known whether the marriage was
fortunate happy one but enough to know that
Madame Rode came to America and has resided In
this country some years, occasionally paying visit
10 Europe at Intervals and returning to the United
States to live. Sometimes she seen in New
Orleans, now at Saratoga then in New York,
always light-hearted, wcll-brcd and refined wo
man, possessed OF all the graces or good society
and bearing character without spot stain.
In any group coterie that she entered she be.
came al once the life and delight OF the company
by her charming conversational powers, her esprit
and her unassumng kindness OF heart was tails
man that gained her many friends. But through
Nil this and even TO those whom she liked best
she always maintained proud reserve in re-
gard 10 her past life. While in New York Madame
Rode, her husbands namc-her maiden name being
nnknown-boarded at the Spngler House, in
Union square, and at the Hotel FINK, Waverley
place, and al the Hotel Esterheimer corner OF
University place and Eighth street Al all these
places she was universally beloved by all who ma de
her acquaintance. Nothing Is known OF her hus.
band, but IL Is believed that he is now living in
France, probably at Bordeaux.
In July OF this year and for some months she lived
In lodgings at No. 62 East Thirteenth street
between Broadway and Fourth avenue, and was In
hotel OF NJ Rene de Sebilic whose place
y at No. 90 Thirteenth street directly oppo-
the top noor OF NJ. sebllies noiei but her stay
summer she was at Saratoga for a few weeks and
then returned to the city. 10 the Hotel sebie
nj.
pIgny, native OF Champagne in France formerly
lieutenant IN the French navy and now the
professor OF the French language In the institute
kept by Nj. Victor Provost, at Fort washington.
and formerly managed by NJ Lespnasse. Nj. de
and nndlng IN Madame Rode tastes corresponding
20 20 ms ana love ior books and music mutual
friendship was founded between them, which con-
hnued up 10 the hour OF her death
Madame Rode always dressed IN the richest yet
si!k, and when sine was found In the sue wore
dress OF nlack SILK. The articles Of lewelry which
bcntung her modest and unassuming lilc The
principal article OF jewelry which she wore ON her
person a very valuable watch, the gift OF one
who mad been dear TO her IN tue napoy days Of her
youih -, , r 80
month or November It was the custom OF Madame
Rode TO visit the botel Sebiiie for the purpose
FOR 70 sRsnas whom she e" mad contracted friendship,
and very olien she would sit down and play
game OF beziaue with tue hdo,fues ol the house,
and here the charm OF her conversational powers
manifested ltscl1 10 all. Being woman of hne fig
nre. above tue medium height. and having wealth
pf jet black hair, with splendid lace and soft.
luslrous eyes, no one could meet her without stop
At the Spingier House she had contracted debt
pf s53 and as il difficult for her to lind money,
although at one Time the possessor OF wealth,
melancholy often ciouded her far lace, and
the knowledge tnat she was In debt prcycd
on her proud aud sensitive mind TO such
an extent that sometimes, when her spirits were at
the highest ebb suddenly she would become ab
stracted and an expression OF sadness would over
cloud ner features. II expression ol hers
that when she lougcr able 10 MAINTAIN her
Helf respectfully she would end her life by commit
ting suicide sooner tnan 10 sell her body for the
Some had wronged this woman grievousy,
II was evident IRON expressions that she used IN
voluntarily at times, aud her last days were very
sad She often visited the battery, and
ay spo,ng pon ber y,s,an 'a wnnS ,ous e
ncross the deep, mysterious ocean that separated
ner from the land o. her birth and childhood AS
frequent visits TO the rlver, and she always re-
turncd moody and dspiritcd TO her hotel.
a
Il disJointcd. on the morning OF Tuesday, Novem-
ber Il, Madame Rode, wearing a black SILK dress
and an Astrakhan mantle lett the Spingler House
and did not return there AGAIN. This was the day
o. the triumpha procession In honor OF the Russian
OF happy faces lined the streets thus poor woman.
who mad been reared in afluence and luxury, stood
In broadway, near Bleecker street, where she was
seen for the last time alive her heart on fire aud her
brain racked with the fever OF n suicidal purpose.
She saw not the crowds, she heard not the nurrahs
tor a Romanon, for The windows oi her soul were
about TO close forever
boatman, was pulling around on his boat the
Battery haf frozen body with long streaming hair
the unknown and took II Into his boat where
by gradual stages u was taken to the
dropping tue once fair until the morning OF
Tues lag, November IS wnen II was recognized by
IN errand boy OF NJ Sebie, the hotel keeper. lt
only short lite Of thirty years OF mingled 10y
ana sorrow, aud however rash the mode ending 1t,
grave to . life Of shame Mr Rinland, OF AZ Vesey
street In this city, wealthy French gentle
man, had at different times held money in trust
for Madame Rode, the last sum IN his hands
amounting 70 $780, which the deceased lad drawn
~ diereut periods, that sum having lasted her for
year. Mr. Rindnd states that he would nave
loaned her money as well as others OF her friends
had they known of her desti ution; but she 90
proud, II seems 10 beg and Madame Rode never
made her circumstances kBowhto any one but her
friend NJ. de Complgny.
Yesterday morning the following note was re-
ceived al tue HERALD o1ice:--
II nTs TIs tnirSr En- on, or THx IrrALn.- n.-,..s,,
a abg Inn