Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-16
WAGES OF SIN.
An American Adventures i'm
Europe.

The Woman for whom Russian
Grande Duke Stole his Mothers Dfa.
mOnds-Her History i'm Philadelphia
and New York.
Philadelphia (June l2) Correspondence of the
New York Herald.
The female who, it is alleged, left
Russia with the precious stones, has
figured in so many cities, under the
guise of such multiplicity of names,
that am somewhat at loss by which
one of them / can best denote her.
This being the case, will begin with
her family name, and will, as accurate
ly as possible, state the circumstances
by means of which she gained for her.
self the soubriqnets which are so
numerous andpuzzling to her biograph-
ers.
HER EARLY HISTORY.
Her maiden name was Lizzie Ely,
and she is the daughter of a prominent
clergyman of the Presbyterian Church,
and one of the company of Northern
ers who many years ago migrated to
Missouri. He there founded Marion
College, about which has been subse-
quently built a very prosperous and
thriving town. When Miss Lizzie had
attained the age of fifteen she was sent
by her parents to a boarding
school in West Virginia where
she remained quietly for about one
year. She was there considered a re-
markably intelligent creature, possess
ing a slight and delicately moulded
figure, but at the same time superb
health, while her disposition, tastes,
and general accomplishments gained
for her favor and admiration. In the
routine duties attendant upon her edu-
cational culture she displayed remarka-
bic talent, acquiring as if by intuition
what to all others came only after the
severest application and toll. Her lit
erary compositions were models of origi-
nality and skill, and in a word her pro-
ficiency gained her the highest grade
upon the roll. 1t was here that she
first displayed those marvellous facul-
ties which have ever since distinguished
her, and which have recently proven
themselves to be sufficiently subtle to
load astray the Grand Duke Nicholas.
ELoPEMENT AND CLANDEsTINE MAR
RAGE.
1t was here, also, that she took the
first step in her bold, adventurous ca
reer, that In a moment divorced her
from her dearest friends and severed
her from her parents. While at the
above-named school she formed the ac-
quaintance of young man named
Blackford, and resorted to the most
stragetic measures In order to enjoy his
society. The affair came under the no.
tice of the head of the school, and ex-
traordinary means were taken to keep
them from meeting. 1t is stated that
a quarrel ensued between Miss Lizzie
and her preceptress, at the climax of
which the young girl dashed from the
room, vacated the premises, and met
her lover a short distance beyond. She
eloped with and was married to him.
But the honeymoon had barely passed
when the two discovered that they had
made a mistake. Quarrels were fire.
quent, and subsequently, when a sepa-
ration was imminent, Blackford was
found one fine morning IN his bed cold
and dead. Leaving at once every asso-
citation which this infelicitous marriage
had created for her, she fed the South,
came North, and under the name of
Lizzie Blackford, lookup her residence
in Philadelphia.
THE AMBITION OF A BOLD, BAD
WOMAN.
The great curse of this woman's life,
if the statements made by allw know
her are worthy of credence, was her
constant and habitual dissipation; and
yet neither domestic trial or indulgence
upon her part seemed to affect her
graceful figure, or mar the attractions
Of her face. The summit of her ambi-
ton was to appear constantly in public
places, and hence there was no social
event of the year to which, In some
way, she did not find access, nor an &C.
casion favorable for promenading when
she did not appear in the fashion
able thoroughfares. The young
widow Lizzie Blackford," was known |
everywhere, and everywhere was she |
courted by certain beaux of society. |
Young, gay, accomplished, the mask |
she wore for long, long time was tax |
en- for her true face, and the dangerous |
and wicked elements of her character |
were completely yelled and obscured by |
the pure, tender, and innocent light of |
her countenance. 1t was only after her |
admirers had placed themselves in her
power that they discerned her IN her |
role, and discovered also how base and |
merciless she was. The example of |
one man wrecked by her failed as a
for others because society, as
usual, took the wOman's part.
THE ADVENTURES UNMAsKED.
There was a Ger tain well-connected |
young gentleman of this city who met |
and ''loved her at first sight" At last
ne proposed to her, and was accepted.
Before the day appointed for the mar
rage arrived, however, an ugly rumOr
reached his ears, and he refused, ac-
,ordingly, to fulfill his obligations.
The woman, determined not to be baf-
fed, promptly instituted a suit against
him for breach of promise. A compro-
mise was proposed, and she resigned
the case upon the condition of the pay
nent of large sum of money. A |
short time after this bad rumor was \
set afoat concerning her and promi-
1ent lawyer, and the wife of this gen.
-leman happening upon one occasion to
ind her husband in the woman's COM
Dany, assaulted Lizzie BlackfOrd, and |
knocked her parasol across her face.
She kept up against several parties a
regular system of blackmail, and ex-
-orted from one well-known individual
the sum of S50,C.0.
HER INTRIGUES IN NEW YORK AND
PARIS.
All at once she left Philadelphia and
to New York. So great was
nor fascinat in0 Influence and On mar