Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-10-05
LONG BRANCH "REMINISCENCES.
Fisk and the Famous Josie Mansfield

Pisk and the Famous Josie Mansfield.
Fisk went down each afternoon.
He was portly man, with sen
suous, stupid lace. His chic had
carried him to his position and his
swagger had kept him fortified
therein. He generally wore the
gray uniform he affected as the
Colonel OF militia regiment. H.
was loud voiced and made his pres
ence known in thousand obt rus
I've ways. There was band which
gave forth delicious music as VT
sailed away; dinner was served a la
carte, and the menu took in every
rark dainty to be found in
thel markets. The travellers
were from every class, gam
blers and fast women forming
a large portion of the crowd. The
Woodhull and Claflin were very
fond of going back and forth FOR the
trip, and to their credit let me
write it, they were the most
quietly dressed and decorousiy
hammered women aboard. They
usually wore black of some soft,
clinging material, made entirely
a Ia made, aud trimmed with rich
lace. Their hats of black seu off to
great advantage their fair curls and
blonde beauty, and the only light
ing up of their nun-like garb came
from the gloves-long, pearl-cov-
cred, SETTLING affairs-which
stamped as distinguished an other
wise simple toilet.
The famous Mansfield" was sew
eral times q fellow-traveler. She
was q sumptuous-appearing wo-
man, a Cleopatra in the magnifi-
cence of her figure and In the eX-
travaPance of her costumes. She
was, of course, a "noted woman"
and the attention she received from
the Colonel made her more con-
spicuous. Respectable woman
shrank from her neighborhood and
sought q place in another part OF
the vessel, and many complaints
were filed by the Long Branch res
idents of her constant appearance
on the steamers.
At the Branch her cottage was
on Ocean avenue, and from its bel
vedera was flag flying the ma
tional standard. There is no estima-
ting the amount of money spent in
fitting up this home, or computing
the vast sums expended in the
revels, which were of daily occur
renee. At "the sale" everybody
was present. Ladies went to satis-
fy an inordinate curiosity, just as
they flock in large numbers to the
auctiOning off of the household
goods of the Parisian courtezans.
Some were present to verify by act
ual sight the fabulous atories of the
Eastern magnIficence of this-shall
/ sanctify it by name of home?
No! this abode. The windows
were draped with point lace, which
hung from cornices inlaid with
pearl and gliding. There were
mantel mirrors and pier-glasses,
the frames Of the same irI-
descent material, laid in
with gold. The bronzes were
Of classical subjects. There were
figures in marble worth small
fortune and sold for a song. On
the walls were choice paintings
and exquisite engravings. The
carpets were of 30 fine texture that
they echoed back no football. The
furniture was covered with bios
som green satin in one room and
with rose-tinted silk in the next
Up stairs the same luxurious tone
pervaded every apartment, but IN
the dining.rOom more than any
where else could be noted the sy-
barite taste of the occupants. The
Chine, glass and silverware of the
rarest quality, and in profusion
There was silver dinner service, II
dessert and a breakfast set, carved
In elaborate and grotesque designs.
There were beakers in gold and
silver. The decanters and glass; 8
were like bubbles. and on every ar
ticle was the monogram of this
charlatan who called himself a
Colonel, and in the face of whose
quiet assurance modest rich men
either stood aghast OF fell under
his baneful influence. The "house-
hold gods" sold for only a moder-
ate price. Many were bought in by
. famons gambling-house. The
eottagers secured the pictures,
which must have been selected for
him by some artistic friend, and
the brOnZes found their way into
New York homes, where their sad
history is forgotten, If 1t was ever
known.-C0rr. Cincinnati En-
Quirer.