The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-12
A BEAUTIFUL FlEND,
The True Story of the Fascinating Nine.
Lola NIontez.

l
'Lola Montez," says the New York
JouTnal, ''was born in Limerick, Ire
land, in 1920. Her mother was an Irish
woman of the lower classes, her father
Spanish nobleman.
''She was girl of rare beauty and
charm and was married at an early age
to Capt. James, an English officer, who
took his wife to India. Here he treat
ed her like dog, and after turning
whatever of worthy possibilities the
beautiful creature possessed into those
of fiend, he deserted heE in a strange
land.
..Broken-hearted and devilish, she
returned to London. There she met
Jean Francois Montez, wealthy man,
born in Pau. This man had an i'm
mense fortune and spent it lavishly in
fitting the girl to be an associate of his
| class. He made Lola Montez what she
was.
In addition to splendid education
and all the other accomplishments he
had her instructed in dancing, in which
I she became, if not first-class one, an
artist capable of provoking much COM
| ment and attracting attention.
She was noted for her beautiful feet
and the grace and passion of her move
ments.
She had but one recognized rival in
this regard, the. great Nine. Vestris,
who, though but a BARRIERS daughter,
was an immense favorite as danseuse,
and was so proud of her beautiful feet
that she had her dainty boots sewed on
every morning,
But Lola Montez triumphed and was
the danseuse of the day.
Among other things, she was the
originator in Lsndon of that exquisite
motion-poem ia Tarantelle.
Montez spared no exertion or money
in introducing her into good society
and making a ''lady of position3 of
her. They lived much in Paris After
turning the heart of the French people
she went to Russia, where she also
made a great impression.
She next drifted to Bavaria and liter
ally danced her way into the heart of
old King Louis. She sought position
as court danseuse, but was denied by
the royal director of dancing, who
deemed her not quite up to the stand
ard as soloist.
Within an hour from her rejection
an order came from the king for her
acceptance.
On her first appearance the royal
monarch himself led the applause.
Then, as now, the audience followed
suit. The gallery gods, however, were
not appeased by this summary forcing
of something down their throats which
was not to their liking, and many times
Missed her as her terpsicorean manipu-
lations fell short of their ideal
She soon thereafter gained an as
cendancy over the king, which made
him perfect tool in her hands. She
got possession not only of the kingly
jewels, but the jewels of the crown,
which were not his to give.
The students became divided in their
sympathies in regard to this usurper
of royal power, and the majority of
them became her fierce enemies
To escape being shot Lola Montez
was obliged to fly the country in male
attire.
She went back to London and in We
ry truth appeared at one of the English
court balls arrayed in the royal Bava-
rian jewels. 1t is needless to say the
audacity was not repeated.
She next married a love-stricken
young 9@,de by the name of Hawthorne.
Their marital happiness was of short
duration, however. After little more
than honeymoon they were divorced.
During the proceedings in the court
room this beautiful fiend sat and smil-
ed while the man who would have died
for her wept bitterly.
She next travelled to Australia, and
here became very reckless in her beha-
vior, incurring immense debts and rails
ing trouble generally.
Men raved over her there, as else
where. A song entitled s.Haye You
Seen Lola Montez of the Rolling Black
Eye?' went the rounds of Kangaroo
land.
Her creditors becoming troublesome,
however, she concluded to leave them
all, and succeeded one day in reaching
the deck of vessel bound for America.
She repaired to her cabin, where she
sat calmly smoking in state of utter
nudity. In this condition. of course,
the men could not approach to arrest
her, and in this way she escaped.
She came to New York, where she
lectured and danced with success, and
finally started on a travelling tour,
bringing up at San Francisco.
Here she again met Jean Francois
MonteZ, now married and having one
son. The family, never very united,
soon went to flinders before the pres
ence of the beautiful archfend, and
Montez, in his blind infatuation, more
than once sought to put his son to
death on account of the boys interfer
ence in his mothers behalf.
1t is told of Lola Montez at this time
that when out riding one day she en-
countered teamster who was over-slow
? in removing his wagon from her path.
She descended from her coach and hit
him furious blow. To her intense as
tonishment, the powerful brute
turned upon her and gave her good
threshing.
Arising. dusty and wounded from the
encounter, she shook hands with heI
assailant, saying:
'sYou are the first man in all my life
time who vanquished me-"
Strange to say, from that very day
her fortune turned and life after that
was one series of misfortunes
She married Mr.. Hull, then editor OF
the AttG. She soon tired of him, how.
ever, and selling her jewels to queen
of the demi-monde for 500, 900, she took
steamer for New York.
Two nights after she had gone the
woman who had bought the diamonds
was found murdered In her bed and ev-
cry one of the jewels had disappeared.
Arriving in New York, the downward
road of this remarkable woman took
short turn toward the end. She became
addicted to the use of stimulants and
opiates of all kinds and quantities, and
became total wreck.
Some charitable friend had her con.
veyed to Randall's island, where her
death occurred surrounded by circum-
stances of great mystery.
1t was rumored that the once famous
woman was one night dragged from
her bed and her head pounded upon
the floor of her room till she died.