Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-25
A MEMPHIS IDYL.
A Tale Of Three Cites, Memphis,
Paris and Dundee.
Fanny wright (D'ArusmcnD. the
UtOpIan and Bpicurean-GilDert
Mother marquis dc Lafayestel-
A Curious Tale of philanthropy
Mystery and Law.

fiction, an idea often well founded. as
the following strange tale will develop.
Away back in the year 1873 Fanny
Wright % Arusmont), social reformer,
was born in Dundee, Scotland. She
was left an orphan at an early age, and
was indoctrinated by her guardian with
ideas founded on the philosophy OF the
French Materialists, On becoming OF
age she travelled in the United States
from 1918 to 1920. Soon afterward she
published her Views on Society and
Manners in America and Few Days
in Athens" which latter work was a de-
Tense of Epicureanism. In 1924 she re-
turned to America in company with her
sister Camilla and others, who accom-
panied the Marquis de Lafayette on his
visit of triumph. In 1925 she came to
Memphis and purchased or obtained a
grant Of 24OO acres Of land, known as
the Neshoba tract, near Germantown,
some fourteen miles from this city.
Upon this tract she established col
ony of emancipated slaves, and endeav-
ored to elevate their social condition
and solve the great problem of the
equality of races. Becoming soon after
wards public lecturer, she established
Fanny Wright Societies. with view
70 the destruction Of slavery and the
reformation of society on free love
basis. The Neshoba tract Miss Wright
conveyed to Marquis de Lafayette in
trust for the purpose Of erecting Hcme
for the free children Of color. This was
impracticable under the laws Of Tennes-
see, and the Marquis re-conveyed the
property to Miss Wright, who sent the
negroes to Hayti. In 1929 she and her
sister Camilla went to Europe, and in
1881 were the guests of Lafayette at
Paris, by whom they were regarded as
almost members of his family. Camilla
died, and in 1888 Fanny married Count
D'Arusmont, whose ideas of philosophy
resembled her own. Both came to
America, and visited the Neshoba tract
often. The moral philosophers quar-
relied and separated, and she filed bill
for divorce at Raleigh, the old county
seat of Shelby county. The divorce
case was afterwards transferred to the
Cincinnati courts, and divorce was
finally granted.
Fanny Wright at this time was nearly
six feet in hight, and robust hair dark
auburn, worn in ringlets; generally wore
a mans hat, and when talking with
stranger usually drew out a note book
and scrubbed away as to the customs
and manners of the country. She re
sided at Cincinnati until the time OF hei
death in 1852. When she and Darius
mont came to Memphis they had with
them little girl named Francis Sylvt
Phycapel DArusmont, of whose birth
and parentage but little is known. Pre-
vious to her death Fanny Wright willed
the Neshoba tract to NJ lie Frances Sylve
Phycapel D'Arusmont. In 1860, DR..
Eugene D'Laqutry came to Covingtonr
KY, from France, accompanied by his
wife and three children, Juliet, Clotilde
and Marguerite. DR.. D'Laqutry pur-
chased the Neshoba tract from Mile
D'Arusmont for thirty thousand dol
lars, as expressed on the face of the
deed, which was absolute. The Doc
tor found on the tract valuable mineral
springs, and employed one Charles Pat
ton to come from Cincinnati and take
charge of the estate. The Doctor was
to improve the property, build hotel
and convert the springs into fashion
able summer resort He projected a
branch railroad from the springs to the
Memphis and Charleston road and had
the timber cut out along the proposed
line. Patton was to receive a certain
sum per anpum and other remuneration
for his supervision of the property. DR..
D'Laqutry had also large estate near
Covington, Ky, valued at $4,000.
Soon after the projection of the springs
the Doctor sent his wife and two chill
dren, Juliet and Clotilde, back to France
on a visit, promising to soon rejoin
them at Paris. with the remaining and
youngest child, Marguerite, whom he re-
tanned at Covington. From that day to
this Madame D'Laqutry has never heard
of her husband or child, Marguerite, al
though she has repeatedly written to all
parts of the United States and Europe
for information; and stranger still, the
Doctor was never heard of after that at
Covington or at Memphis, he having left
Covington with the child in 1861, and
about the some time Mile Frances Sylve
Phycapel DArusmout also disappeared
from the history. In 1865 Mr.. Charles
Patton, who remained on the Neshoba