River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-10-25
PARIS SPENDTHRIFTS.

Brilliant Social Career Abruptly Ended
An American Couple Who lived beyond
Their Means.
Paris Letter to the New York Times.
Another man overheard and mores the
pity, this time it is an American. I shall
give no names, no Initials, even, not for the
sake of the culprits themselves but for the
sake of those who have the misfortune to
be their relatives it is doleful story, but,
l fear me, only too common. She was
such little. beauty some one nicknamed
her LA Bousette" at Mrs. NJ. S splendid
ball 70 might ago; with complexion
such as Giotto used to paint, ivory with
the slightest tint of pink, like blush on
the moss rose and hair of that golden
auburn so loved by Titan, and no one
thought to sneer at her conceit, even if she
did wear it streaming over her shoulders, as
only she would have dared to do in public;
slight and delicate as Tihnia, with great
blue eyes, and a sylph like figure, and fairy
feet,a pocket venus, i'll short, worthy of
admiration which her presence awakened
everywhere. We saw her for the first
time at the opening of last years salon,
leaning on her husbands arm-he too, was
well enough in his way, but only as an &C
cessory- in an exquisite toilet of pale-blue
satin, with a huge boquet of tea roses in
her hand and We wondered who she wa s,
and wondered still more that her laugh
should sound so strangely rs If 1t were
meant to hide a sob. Aud they we're rich
too; Cincinnati hogs sent them $50, 900 a
year, perhaps more; but if their revenue
had been a million, it would have been
insufficient. What pac hey VENT
No fortune could have resisted such ex-
travagance. Money goes fast nowadays, and
4 u nt la a SNgly p1n0nfh
the outside, and then the crash came.
But they concealed their embamassments,
and stuck to their hotel, a bOnbonniere,
with its windows looking out on the verdant
horizons on the Pare Monceau, full of
flowers, and choice pictures, and rare Gu
riosities and costly furniture. Their stables
were always irreproachably kept; their SER
wants were numerous. Madame seldom wore
any gown more than three times, rarely sc
often, and all were by NJ. Worth. They
had their box at the opera. and the Fran
Gals, and never missed first night, anc
gave balls and dinners, and We're cited as a
bright particular constellation in the tirma-
ment of fashion.
Although there were debts everywhere
although there was not a centime III theil
purses, no one suspected their situation
and invitations We're received and accepted
as if they were rolling in atlluence. Some
people in their despair might have resorted
to suicide they did not. For them poison
and pistols possessed no attrac tions, so they
bolted, without leaving any P. p. Cs. on
their numerous acquaintan .es, never COM
municating their intentions TO any one ex-
cept the black nurse who had accompanied
them from the States, after the manner Of
defaultng cashiers or lovers on their hon
ey-moon. And their hotel await its trmnts
their servants howl after unpaid wages, anC
legions of eyasperated creditors. from thu
butcher and baker to the ieweler and horse
dealer clamor for the discharge of theil
bills, while Mr.. IS dishonored name has
been posted at the clubs as a swindler
The absconding pair should have landed
in New York by this time, and are safe from
prosecution; but wonder what will be-
come of the "Welcher," what will be the
end of his wife, and the fate of their poor
children. These last at least, are inno-
cent.