The Grange advance., 1874-12-29
The LAST SCANDAL,
The Actress Nelson the Subject of
Foul Rumor--H4er Denial.
(St. Louis Letter Chicago Inter Ocean.
Dec 1877

doubtless remember the story that was
first published in the Brooklyn Suuduv
Sun several weeks ago. and purported
to contain the recital of domestic
drama in Manchester, England, wherein
Miss Nelson was made to play the part
of a paramour to a gentleman whose
guest she was, and whose wife subse-
quently obtained
A DIVORCE ON ACCOUNT OF SUCH CRIMINAL
RELATIONS.
In substance. the charge was that
Mrs. Eleanor Birch obtained a divorce
from her husband, Mr.. Thomas Birch,
wealth cotton-splnner of Manchester,
England, on the ground Of his adultery
with Mrs. Neilson-Lee, fact which was
said to have been clearly proven at the
trial. 1t was claimed that while Mrs.
Neilson-Lee and her husband were on a
visit to the Birch mansion, Mrs. Birch
was called away and remained for sew.
eral days, and that during the period of
her absence Mrs. Neilson.Lee ssat least
on two occasions left her husband to
sleep alone on sofa in a lower room,
while she repaired up stairs to the bed
of Mr.. Birch, and there remained"
The publication was made while she
was playing to New York and 1rooklyn
houses, and of course it fell like bolt
upon those communities, and especially
in those families who had opened their
houses to her, ard received and honored
her. Naturally some fell away, but
the most of those who had met the
winning woman found themselves un-
able to credit the narrative, and con-
tinued their social recognition. Since
the appearance of the dark story Miss
Nelson's mouth has been sealed, no
utterance from her on the subject has
been published, though many of her
best friends thought propriety, and in
terest as well, required formal and
explicit denial. The lady probably
kept in her mind the sage advice of good
Ben johnson, that
"When it concerns himself,
Who is angry at slander makes it true"
and thus wisely avoids the aggravation
of a great and impious wrong. On her
last visit to St. Louis she was regally
entertained by our citizens, fattered,
honored, and petted by our best society.
and going, left behind a memory that
was ''bosom.spring OF joy," and the
recollection of a beautiful face and
sweet voice that haunted the mind
''like some wild melody Your cor
respondent was, therefore, curious to
see how she would be received here
again. Out Of respect for her, most of
the city papers had abstained from
publishing
rHE VILE SCANDAL,
though rumor had successfully carried
it to every ear.
The immense, crowded and brilliant
audience which greeted her on the first
night of her appearance-in her imper-
sonation of Juliet-was sufficient to al.
lay all anxiety on that point. She was
received with an enthusiasm which was
only to be compared to the splendid
triumphs of her first visit. DeBar's
Opera House has been unable to seat
the vast numbers who have applied a.
the ticket Office.
This much in defense of a woman in
whom the writer has no more interest
than that which every gentleman should
feel in the fair name Of DETAINED lady.
Approaching the fact that inter. Ocean,
readers would like to see positive de.
NAL of the unchaste charges, directly
from her, your correspondent called at
the Southern Hotel in this city to OBJ
tain from her, if possible, such denial.
No one can stand before Miss
Nelson without being profoundly
convinced that he is before a
woman of surprising loveliness, and one
against whose beauty and charms faith
melteth into blood. Such wealth of
personal beauty, combining both a su-
perb cast of features and form of rare
perfection, is of that quality which is
seen but once in lifetime. Her luxu-
rious, rich brown hair, thrown back
over a forehead Of marvellous intellectu-
al shape, and delicately arched eye
brow shading the soft light of her full
dark eyes, she presented, indeed. pic
ture fit for pencil or brush of artist or
painter.
Miss Nelson's conversational powers
are as brilliant and vivacious as her
personal attractions are remarkable.
YOUR CORRESPONDENT WAS corRrEovsLY
GREETED,
and made to feel at perfect ease. The
subject upon which he was intent was
one Of great delicacy, and could onlv
be approached at an extremely oppor-
tune moment.
OF course the first thing desired to
be known in connection Herewith was
whether any denial Of the charges
against her good name had been made.
"No, there has never been q public
denial. Even under ordinary circum.
stances denial would, perhaps, have
only made the matter worse; but aside