The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-03
That Singular Couple, the Cataca
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washington Correspondence Louisville
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[Washington Correspondence Louisville
Courier-Journal
Cigarettes were smoked by Madame
de Catacazy, as we'll as the gentlemen,
between coffee and that remarkable
beverage called tea. Mr.. Catacazy
was great epicure and bon r1rdnf.
His cook was the finest in Washington
Ia Frcnchman, of course. Mr.. de
Catacazy personally overlooked his
cuisine. 1t was matter of the great
est Importance to him. His wife knew
nothing about her home below the par
Tors.
Mr.. de Catacazy was a short man
with keen, black eyes that twinkled
with mischief. He wore his iron-gray
hair cropped so close to his head that
it gave him an odd and rather unpre-
sentable appearance. Phrenologists
could take in all the bumps at a glance.
He was as supple and agile as cat, and
as full of mimicry as boy. His din
ner parties were never stiff, for he could
start a conversation in which he would
draw every one, and intersperse it with
anecdotes and witticisms until you for
got yourself and became as unreserved
as he was. There was not as much dig
nifty in the man as his position demand
ed, but his wife never lost hers. She
was stately and elegant always. She
spoke the Languages fiuently, and with
great tact would exchange remarks and
compliments adapted to the several ma
tionalities that were participating in her
hospitality. Before marriage Madame
de Catacazy was Baroness Fitz James
de Berwick. Charles II conferred the
title of Fitz James de Berwick upon the
son of his favorite, Mrs. Churchill. The
family has been distinguished one in
France ever since that time. | am sor-
ry that cannot remember the name Of
Madame's first husband Her son, who
resides in Italy, of course bears his faith
ers name and title. Although | never
held any conversation with Madame de
Catacazy about her son, yet | was told
that tender correspondence was car
ried on between mother and son.
MADAME DE CATACAzY's PROSECUTORS.
| have never known more unhappy
woman than the one Of whom am writ
ing. She was too loyal wife ever to
complain of her husband, and yet she
had cause and knew it. She knew she
was under the surveillance of her own
maid and the Secretary of Legation, a
horrid man named Dantzos. | think
that those two really prosecuted her,
and perhaps wrote, or caused to be
written, some of the insults that APP
peared in the newspapers. If Mr.. de
Catecazy knew Of the suffering of his
wife during his absence, and permitted
it, then he deserved to be kicked out of
the country. Outwardly, he appeared
to be fond husband, and adoring
lover. have seen him gracefully drop
upon his knee and kiss the hand of his
wife when he left her presence. On
the morning of her birthday he had a
band of music stationed in her dress
ing-room, that she might be awakened
from her slumbers at A. NJ, in this po-
etc way. Noiselessly he prepared
flowers in her room, tray Of dainties,
and some costly presents. For all that,
l. lulHh llc WAS uuIlDuS, ailu Sllc hleW
it. While she was reserved and digni-
fed, she was not hypocritical.
She affected nothing she did not
feel. She was exceedingly re.
fined and delicate. l find that
women of that type soon understand
each other, no matter from what part
of the world they come. To many
Madame de Catacazy, with superb
beauty, and su.nptously furnished
house. fine carriage and bloodcd horses
from Kentucky, servants in glittering
livery, and her own rich and costly
garments, was an object of envy, wher
in reality she would have exchanged
places with any happy woman Of he,
acquaintance, no matter how humble
After the war upon her commenced shs
manifested great spirit and talked free
ly on the subject. She bought larg,
blank book, and carefully preserved
every newspaper notice that was sen
to her. She kept it in the form of ,
ledger with debit and credit side
When she showed it to me she explain
ed by saying, lone side compliments
one side insults" Even obscene titera
ture was sent her by unknown persons
l have seen upon her table papers o
that class whose names | had neve
heard mentioned. And yet she wa
not vindictive.