The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-26
IAN AMERICAN PRINCESS
Berlin Letter to London Truth.

q they had been instructed to make up < to the Princess Noer, Countess Won & Waldersee. I remember that lady as one of the galaxy of pretty Americans who were drawn here during the mid de period of the empire by the ease with which access was then obtained < to the most amusing court in Europe of the Tuileries. Some of # those transatlantic charmers were etoiles flantes and had varied desti- S nies.
 Eliza Cook got hold ot the king of the Netherlands and of his son, and, with the former, of the petroleum springs on the Orange estate in New Jersey. She had such incompatible diamonds that the empress, to avoid seeming to compete with her at the opera house, used to go there un- adorned with jewels. A New Orleans beauty, small, sparkling and petulant as humming- bird, made conquest of the old Marquis de Chasseloup Loubat, when he came to propose for her in the name of his nephew, and at her far famed fancy balls at the Ma rine ministry opened the official world to many of her countrymen. Another beauteous American from Boston was all powerful at the home office in Persigny's time; and De Morny's death robbed pretty New Englander of unbounded influence at the Palais Bourbon.
 But the American girl Cor rather young lady, for she was more than a quarter of century in existence), who was cap.ied highest by ambition, resolution, audacity, style Gin dress) and beauty was Mary Esther Lea, who now, as Countess von Waldersee, is about as bad a thorn as there is among the many thorns in the side of the Empress Victoria. If trust were to be placed in the favor of princes, she would be certain to govern the German empire through William II. and Augusta Victoria, when Frederick II. is called to another world. How ever, even should the favor she enjoys continue, her reign may be cut short, owing to the ill-health of the crown prince.
 In that event Prince Henry would be regent, and his future wife, Irene, worships her Aunt Victoria. I have not seen the Princess Noer since she used to be boarding around here. Her father was a Wall street operator, who was unknown to the Astors and Vanderbilts, and never grew to be a millionaire by his operations.
 At that time Miss Lea was beauti- ful and very lively, but wanting in the suave graces. She still, am told by friend holding an upper function at the court of Berlin, has jolies restes, and in country in which women of all ranks are heavy and graceless is of exceptional elegance. She has brains, is resolute, independent, sees her way to the objects she has in view, and is counted one of the most ambitious women in Europe.
 Mary Esther Lea picked up here that prince of Holstein, who was among the beaux who revolved around the Duchess de De--i in her widow hood and settled down in lite with a Danish heiress connected with the royal family. That heiress, l have been told, left him her fortune. He was born in the year 1, and was quite an old boy when David Lea's daugh- ter bewitched him. The bewitchment took place as the struggle between the north and south was going on in America, and, he and she being "hon- est," marriage was the consequence.
 The old gentleman's hobby was Syria, where he was born. "Partoat pour Ia SyTtd" was then the national air of France, and after Miss Lea be- came Princess Noer she begged her illustrious husband to take her to the Holy Land. In going to the east he was away from his relatives, V he nat- ursily were h:nsse-::g kcr his fortune, and he made will leaving everything to his bride. The hardships of the excursion were not great, seeing that it took place in winter, with every convenience which wealth and the good offices of Turkish beys and pashas and European consuls could procure. Nevertheless, such as they were, they killed the poor old beau before the spring had come round. As there is no such thing in Daniah law as morganatic marriage, her position was solid one, and the will was bind- ing. She was created princess of Noer by the favor of Emperor Franz Jo- seph, who, 2. the time csthe marriage, wanted to be (to defeat the plans of Bismarck) on the best of terms with the Schleswig- Holstein- -Sonderburg- Augustenburg family.
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