The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-14
STRANGE LOUISE c n
Her sincerity and Courace-J"king w"
Nourrcoi4-Fncia tsiiucs'.

lssuTrfO t--ln flii t~'ih'N"
Iouiso Michel = certainly n detraquee
T., ,%oli,ic. but IL she makes detestahle
.nocc.hes and commits still more abomina'
nj acts. there can be no question rs to
hn, sincerity or her courage IN defending
nor oninjons II is this sincerity and her
solf a~hnecation that gives her a certain
s~ya,patliy among people who detest her
the mics. Another cause OF the general
indnlocucc shown 90 thi, misguided
.omoy $ her womanlinCss. II may SOUND
str,i,rc TO hear that this vehement
n@foni@t. who is ready t. Kill and to de
.tr,v pnssc.ses any Wonianiy qualities.
once away from politics she Is kindness
jtself. No one has % more tender love iof
children. greater pity Tor theased on more
devoted care for the iniitm She was heg
mofhcrs rood angel throughout her pr
rents life. although the Old lady never
believed in her daughters utopian dreams
In uri,ate life fouiscfiichei is not 81 Mi
D disagr.cablc companion She - bright
alUa,. cheerful. and enjoys IA good joke.
She ike. to play Jokes. above ali on her
sworu enemy. the bourgeois. One day
whom le.nrning 10 her home just outside
he Notifications. hc found herself seated
On q horse car beside q respectable look
inc old gentleman whom she wa sure
gy9s "a Piiiistinc. Beginning the CONVEX
.afiou about the inhabitants Of the dis
trict. it, needs. etc. she trmldiy rc
marked But have YOU not IN this quarter
aterriblc communist, woman who wants
10 DESTROY everything What Is her
namey' "Ah. yes. replied the old gentle
LT -H.- Af,1al ~ ffIlUe - no aUTl ~
And then the old gentleman went on to
say how much the presence OF such a
woman injured the reputation OF the
place. while she constantly encouraged
him bv putting in a word. TO show tha,
she was entirely Of bis opinion, that II
was tcprettable the law did not permit the
expulsiou Of such a dangerous character,
otc. When the red heroine reached her
destination she turned as she was leaving
the car door, and with a diabolic smile
replied to the old eentlemans polite bow
.lfsieu. I'm Louise Michel And off she
went. chuchiing to herself
Louise Michel lives at Leyallois- Perret,
a suburban town adjoining Paris. Two
small rooms and a smaller kitchen com
Prise her humble abode. There, sur
rounded by her cats and some stray dogs
that she has picked up 10 save from the
pound. she receives her callers and writes
her books Most Of the money she earns
She gives away IN charity, retaining fOl
herself only what is absolutely necessary.
Al first glance Louise Michel IS homeiy,
almost ugly looking. Tall and very lean.
with frizzly gray hair floating wildly
around her high and retIcating forehead.
an oval face with strongly marked fea-
lures. largc. nose. wide mouth. false teeth
and weak chin, she IS repelling. This
ugliness. added TO teachings received
from parents who know the woman
only from hcarsay, causes the chil-
ireu 10 mock at her when she
goes along But TO q careful OBJ
server the ugliues5 Of the revolution
olva apostle is only momentary. Her eye
is gentle and bright. her smile at once
tender and malicious and her voice soft
and sweet. In short. the general express
sion Of the face Is singularly intelligent
and engaging. 1t is only when she talks
about the wrongs and suiferiugs Of hu-
manity that her eye becomes terIible. II
conversation with those who are tho
furthest from her beliefs she is always
polite, and it is easy TO see that this VI
rago Of the political meeting is a woman
who has received an excellent education
and breeding. Notwithstanding her the
cries aud manner Of prOpagating them.
Louise Michel is one Of the most curious
and interesting figures Of the present day.
Charles Seymour's Paris Letter in The
Epoch.