New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-15
A REMINIsCENCE OF NAXIMlLlAN's
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? Vrrg Kansas City Times
In the City of Mexico there was an Amerl-
can woman who had married Prussian
prince. and who was known as the Princess
Salm Salm. Once when she was younger,
che had ridden in circus, several OF them,
and az Miss Agnes LeCierc was noted for
her accomplished equestrianism, her mag
niiicent ply sique.a beauty that was DARK
and over bold, devil msy-care abandon
which won well with those who sat low by
the foot lights and felt the glamour OF the
whirling music and the red flames that
flashed on golden and gaudy trappings OF
acrobat or actor.
Miss LeClerc had met the Prsssian in
Mobile after the American war was over
The prince had been a federal General OF
brigade, whose reputation was none OF the
best for sOldierly deeds. although it is not
recorded that he either stunned or shirked
fight. Still. he was not what these par
peaM Americans of ours think prince
should be: he did not clothe himself in sill
yer or gold or purple or fine linen, and con-
uuer armies as Rarey might have con-
Uuered horse. There were some stories
told, too, of unneces sary cruelty to prison
ers whom the fortunes of war cast upon his
hands helpless. but these did not follow
him into Mexico with his American wife,
who had married him in Mobile, and who
had got this far on her way in search OF a
cOronet.
The Prince Salm Salm was OF duty with
brigade at Apam in the mountains to-
wards Tampico. Guerillas had been at
work there lately, little more savage
than usual, and Bazaine sent forward Salm
Salm to shoot such as he could lay hands
upon and disperse those that could not be
caught. He acted with but little energy,
and with scarcely anything of ambition.
lie was recalled finally, but not until his
wife had been grossly lnsUlted and Con-
federate had avenged her.
One day. in cafe, several groups OF
Belgian officers were at the tables slipping
their wine, and jesting and talking OF
much that was bad and useless. At other
places there were Austrians and French.
and few Spaliards. who even there were
beginning to avoid the foreigners. and
single American who was sitting alone and
at his leisure.
Dr. Hazel, a young physician from South
Carolina, who had gone through the siege
of Sumter with devotion and a constancy
that had found their way into general or
ders, and that had returned in the shape of
rain more precious to a soldier than sun
light tiOwers-the rain OF official recOgri-
ton. In addition to the compliments re-
ceiyed he was promoted As he slipped his
claret several ladies entered, some attended
and some unattended. French custom
makes cafe as cosmopolitan as the street.
All sexes cOngregate there, and all stratas
of society; custom simply insists that the
common laws OF society shall be O5eyed-
that those Of the demi mende shall not
advertise their profession, that the gambler
shall not display his cards, the guerilla I'M
coil his IassO, the grand dame her prudery,
the detective his insincerity. and the priest
his protests and his confessional Appetite
admits of no divided sovereignty, and
hence, at meal time, the French recognize
only one class in society, that of the super
lative hungry.
The Princess Salm Salm returned the
salutatlon of several French officers as she
entered, an6 bowed several times in &C
acknowledgements Of salutes rendered by
Austrians OF her husbands brigade. Be-
yond these she seemed to prefer isolation
and privacy. Among the Belgians there
was q major who had a huge yellow beard.
great coarse voice, depth Of chest like
an OK, sw0rd-belt whose extent would
girth hogshead. In French cafes gentle
men very rarely speak above the low con-
vsrsational tone of the drawing-roo To
be boisterous is to be either drunk or
blackguard. This Belgian, Major Medo-
mark, Of the Foreign Legion, did not seem
to be drunk, and yet as he looked at the
Princess Salm Salm his voice would change
its intonation and deepen harshlv and graf
ingly. If he meant to be offensive he sue
ceeded first rate.
The Princess pushed back her plate and
arose as one who felt that she was the SUBJ
ject OF conversation without understanding
door, Medomark. boisterously and in great
glee, called out slang term of the circus,
AID shouted:
Hoop la y
The Agnes LeClerc, that was of the saw
dust and tights. the Princess Salm SalIn,
that is now Of the titles and diamonds.
heard the brutal cry and felt to her heart
the studied Insult. Turning instantly, she
came again halt into the catcher eyes full
and discolOred with passion. and her face
SO white that 1t appeared as if the woman
was in mortal pain. She could not speak
though she tried hard, poor thing. but she
looked once at MedOnark as if to crush
him where he sat. and once to Haxel, who
understood it all now, and arose as she
again retired.
He went straight to his countrywoman
At the cowardly inference Of the Bel gian
the French officers had laughed and the
Austrians had applauded. Even those of
her husbands own brigade had not uttered
protest or demanded apology. Hazel found
her in tears.
"You have been insulted.' he said. IL
know it, or rather, may say, l saw it. Not
understanding German, ii, indeed, the Bel
gians speak German, / have to rely for my
opinion more upon the manner than the
matter Of the insult. Your husband is
away, you are an American lady, you are
countrywoman OF mine. you are in trouble
and you need protector. VIII you trust
your honor in my hands,
This actress was brave, proud woman,
1,nr 10
force of her will as the bizarre style Of her
beauty and her physical Development. She
took Hazers hand and thanked him, and
babe him chastise the inso!ent bully. She
knew very well what chastisement meant
in the language Of a soldier, and she was a
soldiers wife. She never referred to the
future however. She did not even evinee
interest enough to be curious. Perhaps her
passion kept her from this; at least her
champion bowed low to her as he entered,
thinking her the coolest woman man ever
put his life in jeopardy for. Cold she was
not. She simply considered what was done
for her as being done because Of her in
alienable right TO have it done. She was
not familiar, she only tolerated.
Hazel. in stature, was very slight. As he
stood up before Medomark the huge Bel
gian glowered upon him as Goiiah of Gath
might have done upon David.
'.Do you speak English! he asked the
major
"A little
Enough to understand the truth when
l tell it to you!'
perhaps. il il is not so plain that for the
telling l will have to break every bone in
your body
Medomarl's voice was one of that IN
kind that runs away with Sub
ject in spite OF itself. He meant to be quiet
SO as not 70 attract attention but he was
SO rude that many of the spectators quit
eating to look OF.
tina: lady" Hazel continued. q" who has
] us: gone out is countrywoman Of mine.