Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-03
Eugenie'S Match.Making.


The Patti-Caux match was an unfortu
nate one in all respects. tits hard to i'm
aginc why the beautiful, gifted, fascinat-
ing prima donna ever consented to bcstow
herself and her gold-coining talent on one
so utterly devoid Of any qualification to
win the heart Of an intclli gent woman as
was the Marquis dc Caux. He was
title with a man attached to it-nothing
more. He was an accomplished rider, an
elegant dancer, an ornament to the salons
of the Second Emp;re-only that and
nothing more. The match was made
by the Empress Eugcnic, who rather
liked the dainty Marquis, and who knew
he was ruined man. So she sat about
to retrieve his fortunes by wedding him
to wealth, with the slight incumbrancc 81
q wife attached to it. In like manner
had she provided for another ruined noble,
the Prince de Bauffremont. and the sad,
scandalous, and shameful story of that
marriage is not yet ended.
That the Patti-Caux union has not been
a happy one has long been notorious
fact. The Marquis was an incorr,giblc
gambler, and long ago sunk into mere
greedy dcvourcr Of his fair wifc's cnor-
nous gains. It is said that many of the
stories concerning Nine. Patti have been
set on foot by his influence.
It is to be hoped that the match making
days of the Empress Eugcnic arc def
nitely at an enc, for truly she did not have
what the French call "a happy hand" at
such affairs. Only the other day was
told the story of one of these marriages,
which have terminated even, if that were
possible, than did the union of the Prince
dc Bauffrcmont with Mile. Valentine dc
Chimay. There is now to be seen on the
stage Of one of the opcra-b0uffe theatres of
Paris woman whose refined and delicate
beauty lends grace and charm to the
simplest part in which she is called upon
to appear, notwithstanding the defects of
a weak but very thoroughly trained voice.
Years ago this lovely creature, by the in
tcrvcntiOn of her Imperial patroncss, es-
po,lscd young nobleman, the Count dc
X-,and charmed society by her person
al lovelincss, as we'll as by the tascina-
tions of her finely cultivated voice. She
was, if rccollecct rightly, the daughter
of an artist. The Count, who was in the
army, was called away from home by the
| exigcncies of the service. Then scandal
began to busy itself with the good name
of the beautiful Countess. Her husband,
hearing the stories that were afloat, re-
signed his commission and returned to
Paris. But his presence changed nothing
in the state which his household affairs
had then assumed. Finally he went mad,
literally from rage, jealousy and despair.
He was consigned to private asylum
where he soon after died. Then the
Countess announced her intention of 60
ing on the stage. One or two of the lead
ing newspapers of Paris mentioned this in
tention, and the brother of the lady became
involved in more than one duel in cOnse-
uuence, so reluctant was he to believe the
truth concerning his sister. Finally the
Countess made her debut at one Of the
leading theatres Of Paris. Notwithstand-
ing her beauty, her debut was failure
owing to the weakness Of her voice. Next
she reappearcd as an opera-boutte singer
and thanks to the smallness of the house
at which she sings. and her exceptional
personal lovclincss, her success is as
surcd. She still bears her husband 8 name
slightly Italianizcd, as nom dc theatre.
It is reported that Nine. Patti has ex'
pended immense suhs Of money in re-
Storing and identifying the old Chateau
dc Caux, the ancestral home of her hus
band. 1t is also said that her annual in
come, apart from her professional earn
ings, is not over $4,000, a comparatively
small sum when one remembers that shs
is paid 81 200 in gold for every nigh
that she sings, to say nothing Of her re-
ceipts from benefits, gifts, etc. But N
de Caux must not bc credited with al
the extravaganza which this fact woule
seem to indicate. The fair Adelina i
herself the most recklessly generous o
human beings. and her purse has eve
been open to all appeals to it, Particular.
when made by members Of her own fam
ily. Besides which, her own persona
expenditure has always been very great
She dresses magnidcently. and we'll re
!, member her on one particular occasion
when a certain lace manufactory in Brus
sells produced two Spanish mantilla veil
of unheard- of beauty and costliness. On
was IN order from the Queen of Spain
, the other was Immediately purchased b