Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-10
A ROMANCE OF TWO CONTINENTS.

mysteries of the grand spectacle at
Niblo's when its gauzy attractions were
flashed before the eyes of the New York
public, was danseuse who speedily
won favor with the management and
with the thousands who admired the
ballet. The simple name upon the bills
was Mile. Marie Bonfanti, and yet the
circumstances attendant upon the change
of this name to that of Mrs. George
Hoffman have never as yet been fully
told, and it becomes the province of the
Herald to place the actual facts before
the public and to unfold the singular
story of marriage which is the simple
heart history of popular favorite, and
lady whose position before the world
entities the history to careful reading.
The recent Developments in the suit
against Mr.. George Hoffman for money
advanced TO his son George, when in
London, has brought before the public
the narrative of that son s marriage with
the danseuse, and the romantic charac-
ter of the affair forms in itself one of
the most interesting recitals.
THR FIRST MEETING.
Notwithstanding the statements made
Of young Mr.. Hoffman's acquaintance.
ship with Bonfanti during her first en-
gagement in New York, the real facts of
the case are that their first meeting was
not until long after her first appearance,
and it was accidental. Being an inva-
lid, and having been ordered to the
South for his health, young Mr.. Hoff
man had been sent to Savannah, attend
ed by servant, and after a short stay
there was en- route to New Orleans.
Mdlle. Bonfanti, who was under engage
ment to appear in that city, was in
company with an elder sister, from
whom she was inseperable, travelling in
a palace car which had been secured for
the special use of the party bound to
New Orleans to appear there in the
ballet. Young, pretty, and speaking
but few words in English, the dan
suese was annoyed and surprised to find
that at Montgomery, Ala, two young
men, also bound to New Orleans, en-
tered the car. These two young men
were Mr.. Geo. T. Hoffman and friend.
Attracted by the black eyes and mod
est demeanor of the dancer, Mr.. Hoff-
mans attempted acquaintanceship, after
the knowledge of who the lady was had
been obtained from the reading of the
name upon small leather travelling bag,
laying carelessly on a seat in front of
the two ladies. This satchel was plain
~ marked ''Bonfanti," and, as the lady
herself AYERS, was probably for the first
time left neglected with the name ex-
posed. Having fair knowledge of
italian, acquired during a residence
abroad, young Hoffman addressed the
ladies in their native tongue, and this
fact led to the conversation, and the &C.
quaintanceship thus formed became the
key note to his life and hers.
Arrived at New Orleans tho young
gentleman still pursued his acquaint-
ance, and became conGdant of Bon
fanti, and she became interested in him.
He represented that he was "alone in
the world" possessed of large means,
and when he learned that the danseuse,
who had earned much money and had
saved it during her professional career
in New York, had been robbed of all
her savings by rascally italian agent
but few weeks before, he gained a
hold upon her affections by his persist
emit attempts to find the unfaithful agent.
To this end he employed the best
legal and detective talent to be had, and
the treacnerous agent was discovered in
Cuba, where he had gone with travel
ing company; but as he died soon after,
none of the missing government bonds
handed him in tin box by Bontanti,
after drawing them from the bank in
Wall street, where they had been de-
posted, were ever recovered.
THE ROMANCE BEGINS.
During all the stay in New Orleans
Bonfanti and young MIR. Hoffman were
good friends perhaps; but not
an action, word or look passed between
them that even the sister could object
to. The mutual confidence of the par
ties, the sympathy of their unfortunate
and lonely lives, and all the shrewd
methods used by men to gain the afec-
tons of fair and trusting woman, con
spired to the growth of the attachment
between the favorite of the ballet and
her acquaintance of the palace car, and
the avowals of love made to the dark
eyed Italian were received with favor,
and the lady remained true to herself,
with one hope of future with the man
she loved as the bright aim of her ex-
istence.
This meeting at Montgomery was in
March, 1872, and after the termination
of Bonfanti's engagement in New Or
leans, she returned North to Cincinnati,
Mr.. Hoffman being simply a friend
travelling with the party, and an agree
ment was made between them that a
marriage In her own country should be
consummated, the actions of both
parties being free from any faint OF
scandal.
Back again to New York for a few
weeks; Mr.. Hoffman, then scarcely Is
years of age, sailed for Europe On June
). agreeing with Bonfanti that she
should follow him in the next steamer,
and the first knowledge that his parents
received of his departure was by letter
addressed to his rnother, written On the
steamer, and sent to her by the pilot
when !" off shore" It contained but a
few words of adieu, q simple "God
bless you," and that was all.
TRUE TO HIKE PROMIsH.
Still ignorant that young Hoffman
was not, as he had alleged, and follow