New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-07

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A 6ORROWFTL STORY.
Suicide to Avoid Shame.

New York dispatches reported one nigh
last week that the body of lady found IL
North river was that of Madame Rodes
of New Orleans Of this victim of suicide
the New York Herald says:
Twenty five years ago strangers in Madrid
strOlling along the PradO or lOunging neal
the Puerta del Sol often observed nurse
walking to take the air. and having with
whose lace was Lit up by pair of luminous
eyes, black ~ night. and whose smile was
like CLEAN of sunshine on a snowy sierra
This child was born in the Spanish capital
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 the pet OF all who knew her
parents, and her winning smile won, it may
be, the heart of many stranger who saw
her for the first time.
A woman's life may be comprised in three
stages-childhOOd, girlhood and that other
period when roses voluntarily fall in her
pathway-marriage.
Little is known Of the girlhood of Marie
Rode, whose body was fished out of the icy
Battery, but it is believed to have been a
happy one, 80 far as is known, for her life,
to great extent is involved in mystery-a
mystery chosen by herself, it would SEEM
The little girl of the Prado and the Puerta
del Sol grew to be an elegant. beautiful and
accomplished woman, and in due course of
time she married q man in her own rank Of
life at Bordeaux, where her family went to
reside.
It is not even known whether the mar
riage was FORTUNATE or happy one, but it
is enough to know that Madame Rode came
to America, and has resided in this country
some years, occasionally paying visit to
Europe at intervals, and returning to the
United States to live. Sometimes she was
seen in New Orleans, now Ut Saratoga, then
in New YOrk-always light-hearted, we'll
bred and refined woman, possessed Of all
the graces Of good society, and bearing a
character without spot or stain.
In any group or cOterie that she entered
she became at once the life and delight of
the company by her charming cOnversa-
tiOnal powers, her esprit, and her unassum-
ing kindness of heart was a talisnan that
gained her many friends. But through all
this, and even to those whom she liked best,
she always maintained proud reserve in
York Madame Rode, her husbands name
her maiden name being unknown-boarded
at the Spingler House, in Union square, and
at the Hotel Pijux. in Waverly place, and
at the Hotel Esterbimer, corner Of Cniver-
sity place and Eighth street At all these
places she was universally beloved by all
who made her acquaintance. Nothing is
known of her husband. but it is believed
that he is now living in France, probably at
Bordeaux.
In July of this year, and for some months,
che lived in lodgings No. 62 East Thirteenth
street, between Broadway and Fourth
avenue, and was in the habit OF taking her
meals at the restaurant and hotel OF NJ
Rene de Sebille; whose place is at No. 63
Thirteenth street, directly opposite the
lodgings which she occupied: For a short
time she occupied room on the top floor OF
M. Sebille's hotel, but her stay there as a
lOdger WAS but transit0ry. During the
summer she was at Saratoga for a few
weeks and then returned to the city. 10
the Hotel Sebille came occasionally gen
tleman named NJ. de COmpigny, a native Of
Champagne. in France. formerly lieu
tenant in the French navy, aud now the
institute kept by H. Victor Provost, ut
Fort Washington. and formerl managed
by NJ. Lespinasse. N. de Compigny is a
cultivated and amiable gentleman, and
finding in Madame Rode tastes correspond
ing to his, and . love for books and music, |
q mutual friendship was founded between |
them, which continued up to the hour Of |
her death. |
Madame Rode always dressed in the rich. |
est yet simplest manner, her favorite cos.
tune being black silk, and when she WAS !
found in the water she wore q dress OF |
black silk. The articles of jewelry which |
she wore. although costly, were un0sten a.
tious and befitting her modest and unassum-
ing life. The principal article of j-welry
which she wore on hor person was a very
valuable watch, the gift of one who had
youth.
While living at the Spingler House during
the month Of November It was the custom
Of Madame Rode to visit the Hotel Scb,lie
for the purpose Of spending an hour with
Madame Scbille, for whum she had con.
tracted friendship, and very often she
would sit down and play game of beziqur
with the hab:tues Vi the house, and here
the charm Of her conversational powers
manifested itself t" Sll. Being a woman ol
6ne figure, above the medium height. and
having a wealth Of jet black hair. with A
splendid face, and soft. lustrous eles, no
one could meet her without stopping to
Io0k Mt her.
At the Spingler House she had contracted
\ debt If fifty. three dollars and it was dit
icult for her to find money, although at cne
lime the pOssessor If wealth. Melancholy
,ften clOuded her fair face, and the knOWI-
sdge that she was in debt prayed npoa her
proud and sensitive MUD to such an extent |
hat sometimes, when her spirits were at
he highest ebb, suddenly che would be-
ome distracted, and an expression Of
adpess would overcloud her features L.
vas an expression of hers that when she
YES NO longer able 70 maintain herself re-
pee .ably she would end her aife by com-
lifting suicide, sooner than to sell her
ody for the wages Of ain. 1
Some one had wrOnged this woman &
it was evident, from expressions
aat she had used invcluntafily It times,
nd her last days were very sad. She often