Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-06
ANNA DEsLIONs.
One Of olive LogRn's ReHni niscence
of RaFfh,


From Letter to Wilkes Spirit
The first Of these sales ever attended
was that of woman named Anna Des-
lions, somewhere about the year 1850.
Mr.. John Bigelow, who has since that
time been both Consul and Minister at
Paris, had rooms near by hers. and be
and his wife and went in to see the dis
play. Anna Deslions had been the
chere annie of that regular old Solomon
Iof Prince Napoleon (Jerome) whose
success as fighter is questionable but
whose capacity for having cheres amies
| is equalled by few aud excelled by noiie.
| She hated him, but took his $4,000 a
yeat very kindly and he had the un-
reasonablenesS to suppose that he was
| purchasing the sole monopoly of her
affections for that triaing price.
A tardy entrance with his latch key
one evening, when she thought him off
in Switzerland or Corsica or orsomewhere,
convinced him Of his mistake. 10 use
the traditional figure, the scales dropped
from his eyes; when they had dropped
from his eyes he picked them up again
and weighed his treachery with them.
Verdict No more money from this
quarter. Exit Prince Napoleon. So in
short time she got up sale OF her
effects. / think she inaugurated the
system. The idea was immensely sucs
cessfhl in her case. Everybody wanted
| to see how this celebrated creature lived
In our country and in England there is
a healthful and widespread Indifference
as to how such women ilive-or die.o d
Once in IA while one of the tender
hearted women reforners is moved to
wax eloquent over the sins and SORROWS
of the poor beings who wouldn't be
where they are were it not for that mon
ster, man; but there is very little inte-
rest to be awakened concerning them
even in the most moral audience. In
Paris something like the glamour which
in their day and country threw a veil
of covering beauty over the lax lives OF
Lais and Aspasia, seems to float mistily
about the women who resemble these
ancients in the matter of physical
beauty, perhaps, but-if those who
| know speak truly-are not exactly their
prototypes in mental power. The Paris
world of all grades rushed to Anna
Deslion's sale, and gazed open mouthed
at the magnificent surroundings, which
spendthriit men he'd enabled this woman
to enjoy.
/ cannot now attempt description of
the priceless works of art which lined
the walls of these rooms; to try to give
an idea of the superb furniture, the COB
elins, tapestries, the carpets, the crystal
| like glass; suffice it to soy that an EN-
press could have no finer. The luxury
was so great that it would almost have
awakened envious feelings in the breast
of saint. "What think you of this
wife2" asked good bourgeois who had
taken madame there That it is good
enough to disgust one with virtue, was
the frank reply.
And where is Anna Deslions now 2
She whose proud magHifcence disgusted
honest women with the petty shifts OF
virtuous poverty-who laughed to scorn
prince of the reigning house, and
scattered his Napoleons as he were a
mint2 Let him who knows answer, Has
she hoated across the black stream where
Charun ferries, and on whose further
shore Cerberus barks ghastly welcome
to his masters domains2 Has she mar
ried some empty pocketed Complaisant,
who took her savings and bought some
little provincial trade with theml What
has been her fate?
The other evening, just as the dusk
was falling, and the blouse colored lamp
lighter was fastening to dress Paris in
its nightly garb of fairy tale enchsnt-
ment, | met woman whose face was
familiar coming out Of bakery. where,
through the wide glass doors, had just
seen her buy a cutting Of bread for two
sous. Hastily hiding it onder her cloak,
she sped past me and turned into dark
alley. Gracious heavensl could that be
the gorgeous lorette of former days4
The bhghting hand of time, the wither-
ing impress of terrible physical paip,
had swept away the bloom which, in
years gone by, had taken captive many
n young mans heart, and held him a
willing victim at her side, while his pat
rimeny was being ruthlessly devoured.
In those days l lived opposite to her,