The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-20
A CLEVER WOMAN.

A CLEVER WOMAN.
The Gossip About Mrs Frank Leslie and
the Marquis de Leuville.
New York Letter in Cleveland Leader.
A few years ago, when Frank Leslie died,
there was considerable difference of opinion
with regard to the distribution of property
between the reputed Mrs. Leslie and the
gentlemans sons. The courts settled the
question, and established Mrs. Leslie's claims,
not only to the property, but to the right
and title of wife, which had also been dis
puted by some.
Since that time Mrs. Leslie has gone quiet
ly on her way attending to the dozen publ
cations issued under her husbands name,
bringing them all to a higher degree of ex-
cellence and prosperity than they have
hitherto attained. She has marvellous exec
utive ability and keen eye for business.
Mrs Leslie's name is brought prominent
ly before the public to-day in consequence
of paragraph in the London Globe which
states that duel has been fought on the
Belgian frontier by the Marquis de Leuville
who is reported to be affianced to Mrs. Les
lie, and German count. Both parties en-
deavored to make it appear that the encoun-
ter was political one, but the real cause of
the quarrel was the too free use of Mrs. Les
lies name by the German. The marquis,
who glories in being in one of the best shots
in the world, wounded his adversary, and
the honor of our fair countrywoman is vim
dictated. The same paragraph further states
that the match between Mrs. Leslie and the
marquis has been broken off solely on the
score of religious differences the Anglo
Frenchman being a Romanist, while the
lady is a Protestant.
This is what the papers say, but the truth
of the matter is not here. According to the
Marquis's own statement the engagement
was broken off last fall before he left Ameri-
, He said tbara was 6iffiouIt1y ahout ba
marriage settlement, andso the marriage was
broken off.
Those who are supposed to know say that
the sum his Lordship insisted on having set
tied upon himself was altogether beyond the
desires and wishes of Mrs Leslie, and that
she fatty refused to entertain his offer Wise
woman that, and thorough American. Good
husbands are to be had without paying their
weight in gold tor them.
Two years ago, when the Marquis de Leu
vile made his appearance in this city, he
was chaperoned and introduced into society
by Lady Hardy, He was taken up by GER
tain set and lioniZed considerably. He gave
a series of afternoon receptions, small and
select, at which Lady Hardy did the honors.
The Marquis was pleasant host, and the
people who met there were bright and clever
albeit many of them were more Bohemian in
their ways of thought and life than would
please a very conservative person, However
IllSy W6TS ali WllIllH the pale Ol DOllb6 So
ciety, which is conveniently blind to the fact
that some of them hold peculiar ideas with
regard to marriage, etc.
The Marquis had ruled and reigned we'll
nigh six months when it began to be whis-
pered that he was not what he seemed The
prying gossips said he was not genuine
marquis, that he had no money, and that he
wore wig and corsets. painted his face as
we'll as pictures; that he penciled his eye
brows and padded his shoulders and hips
that he could not marry the rich American
girl, which was SAID to be the object of his
visit to America, because he already had a
wife in the person of Nine Tussand's daugh-
ter; that his name was Oliver, and he had
once been halter on the Strand in London.
This, and much more of a like nature, was
fruitful material for the gossips and news
paper correspondents, and it was not long
till the Marquis de Leuville's name was
known all over the country. At last he
yielded to the pressure and determined to
return to Europe, which he did early last
fall, and since that time he has been living
mostly in Paris-principally, l should say,
for the purpose of furnishing Partisan news
paper correspondents with something to
write about, for there is scarcely Paris
letter that has not some mention of him.
Mrs. Braddon has also made good use of
him. He is one of the principal characters
in Mount Royal" fine shot and fascin-
ating man, etc.
The truth of the matter concerning this
man, or what l believe to be the truth
have from an English gentleman who knew
the Marquis in London and Rome. He says
he has right to the title, because he bought
it and paid for it; that he once was teacher
at drawing; that his name is, or was Oliver;
that he has no wife, but is bona fide
widower; that Nine. Tussand's daughter was
not his wife, although he would have mar
ried heron account of her immense wealth
if he could, but on the same account her
husband objected to her marrying nybody,
and refused to let her have a divorce. Ac-
cording to English law the husband has a
claim upon the wife's money, whether
they live together or not, and so hus-
bands of rich English women natur-
ally object to divorce. We do things differ
entity here.
There are people in Cleveland who remem-
Der seeing the Marquis and the woman in
Rome, where they created no little sensation
by the magnfcence Of their eQuippage and
their general style of living. They also re-
member the scene and the scandal which
followed when the woman found another
lover, and quietly went away with him.
And this is the man who came here with the
avowed purpose of finding rich wife, and
who was received with open arms by society
To the credit OF American women be it said
that he was obliged to return without the
wife. Mrs. Frank Leslie, who really is one
OF the cleverest women in this city, may
thank her lucky stars that she discovered
his true character before it was too late
Emperor William.
Pail Mall Gazette.
The vitality of the German emperor is a
source OF unceasing establishment and admit