The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-11-15
DoNALDsoNvI1LE LOUISIANA SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 15 1884

again he heard the cry he pulled away th'
leaves and there lay little child with i,
handkerchief tied tightly about its necl
in the last stages of suffocation. Hequick
1y released the little one from its perilous
position, and taking it up tenderly i'll his
| arms took it to a neighboring house, where
it soon revived, and at last was able to
speak. By close questioning they dIscoy-
cred that she had been on a big ship, and
| that she was cared for by a woman whom
she called aunt. This woman brought her
| from Germany and kept her at a lew board
Ing house for several days, then che dis
appeared with her one morning and moth
ing more was heard of the child till she was
found in the graveyard nearly suffocated
to death. The case is surrounded with mys-
terry. 1t is supposed that the child was
heiress to great estate in Germany, and
was left in charge of relatives who would
succeed to the estate il the child were put
out of the way. The woman who had her
in charge was engaged for the murder and
intended to throw her overheard from the
steamer on the passage to the United States.
No good opportunity offered, and after
landing she took her to the cemetery, tied
the handkerchief about her neck till she
thought she was dead, and then covering
her with dead leaves, left her. The authorities
are searching for the would be murderess,
and it is to be hoped that the author of this
unparalleled piece of villainy will soon
be found and punished.
Colonel Mapleson of her Majesty's Opera
dropped in on us radiant and happy as a
big sunfower, the first of the week, and
the great Diva Patti, arrived almost at the
the same time. Mapleson is certainly a
most extraordinary man. Only few
months ago he departed q bankrupt, fol-
lowed by the curses of swindled ballet girls
and defrauded musicians. His scenery and
properties we're knocked down under the
auctioneer's hammer and scattered to the
winds-in fact it was question if he would
get away at all. The season had been most
disastrous. Abbey had sunk $4,000, but
paid his bills like a man and stood his loss
like q hero. Mapleson only paid those he
could not avoid paying and left those whom
he could avoid paying to w.ss!!sila for their
money. He was supposed to be utterly
bankrupt, and certainly few managers ever
left the country in such disgraceful plight.
He was in hot water all the season with his
singers, musicians and directors, and now
he comes back happy and smiling with
Patti at his back, who has condescendingly
consented to sing for 5000, and I don't
know but the Colonel has to pay the ex-
penses besides. Whoever suffers, Patti
won't. Her money was putu before she
left and she receives 5000 every night in
advance. Mapiesofl says that the directors
of the Academy of Music ought to be ex-
ceedingly obliged to him for driving Abbey
out of the opera business, and knocking
the Metropolitan Opera House. out on the
first round. j.
One thing is very certain, and that is,
now that the fierce composition of last win
ter is removed we will see no such opera
for years to come as Manager Abbey gave
US at the Metropolitan Opera House. Mean
while the new Company which dropped
down on US Ike a shooting star, has been
filing the Star Theatre with the lovers of
good music, and giving us, if not really
first-class performance, one thoroughly &C
ceptable, and which, with few additions,
would make it quite good enough to put
into the Metropolitan Opera House, where
at popular prices it could be made to pay
for the entire season. 1t is time that we
got over the shoddy craze of paying ten, ff-
teen, or twenty five dollars night for seats
to hear a singer, but it cannot be given for
less if three OF four of the principal singers
are allowed to walk off with from eight to
ten thousand dollars night, Forty years
ago we got good opera for fifty cents and
a dollar but the man who attends fashion
able church these days and has box in the
opera besides, needs a bank account like
Gould or a Vanderbilt, Or else must be
exceedingly lucky when he takes a fly in
stocks.
The papers have been full of the romance
of Commodore Meade's daughter, who has
just turned up at ST. Paul's as the wife of
one McAfee, who ran away from Ireland
leaving wife and young child behind him.
It is Mrs. McAfee's third matrimonial ven
ture. She is well recolected in Brooklyn,
where for years she figured as great So
ciety belle. Her father the Commodore
was peppery old gentleman, and when one
morning the young lady turned up missing,
she having eloped with fellow by the
name of Lands, who has since figured as
the murderer of two men, nobody in Brook
lyn who knew her was much surprised; but
the old Commodore was thrown into such
desperate rage that he swore he would
shoot the man if he could find him, and he
absolutely refused to see his daughter NJ
| to the day of his death. Like most run
away matches, hers proved dead failure
Lands, who was wealthy, did not suit hel
| the pair led cat and dog life, and were
| finally divorced and she found consolation
| in husband No. pa German. Ee crossed
the Styx, and on the return voyage te
America she met the young Irishman, Nc
Afee, and they we're married in New York
The brother of the first wife found him il
clover up to his ears, and after a long chase
hunted him down and lodged him safely IL
States prison. The wife found quarters il
charitable asylum, having sounded ever.
phase of life at thirty eight, from a bar
oness with castle and retinue to pauper'
condition, dependent for the bread sh
eats on charity.