Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-09-19
MARY LEA's CAREER.
Something About the Princess
Noer and Countess Waldersee.
A Dashing New York Belle Who Captured
q Millionaire Prince and Later. as
Wealthy Widow, a Famous
German Statesman.


The Ambassadors Of some of the powers
at the court of Berlin act as If they had
been instructed to make up TO the Princess
Noer, Countess Won Waldersee, writes
Berlin correspondent to London Truth I
remember that lady as one of the galaxy
of pretty Americans who were drawn here
during the middle period of the Empire
by the ease with which access was then
obtained TO the most amusing court in Eu-
rope-that Of the Tuileries. Some of those
transatlantic charmers were etoiles flGHtes
and had varied destinies. Eliza Cook got hold
Of the King Of the Netherlands and of his
son, and, with the former, of the petroleum
springs on the Orange estate in New Jer-
sey. She had such Incompatible diamonds
that the Empress, to avoid seeming TO
compete with her at the opera-house, used
20 go there unadoraed with jewels. A
New Orleans beaEty, small, sparkling and
petulent as a humming- bird, made con-
quest 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 Marine Minis
try opened the official world to many Of her
countrywomen. Another beauteous Amer
lean from Boston was all-powerful at the
Home ONCE in Persigny's time; and De
Mornys death robbed pretty New En-
glander Of unbounded influence at the Pal
ais Bourbon
But the American girl Tor rather young
lady, for she was more than quarter Of
century in existence), who was carried
highest by ambition, resolution, audacity,
style Tin dress) and beauty was Mary
Esther Lea, who now, as Countess Won
Waldersee, is about as bad thorn as there
is among the many thorns in the side of the
Empress Victoria. IL 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 However, even should the favor
she enjoys continue, her reign may be cut
short owing TO the i'll health of the Crown
Prince. In that event Prince Henry would
be Regent, and his future wife, Irene, wor-
ships her aunt Victoria. / 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 Astor's and Vanderbilts, and never
grew to be millionaire by his operations.
At that time Miss Lea was beautiful and
very lively, but wanting in the suave
graces. She still, am told by friend hold
ing an upper function at the Court Of Berlin
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
Berri in her widowhood and settled down in
life with Danish heiress connected with the
royal family. That heiress, l have been
told, left him her fortune. He was born in
the year one and was quite an old boy when
David LEAFS daughter bewitched him. The
bewitchment took place as the struggle be-
tween North and South was going on in
America, and, he and she being 90 honest,
marriage was the consequence.
The old gentleman's hobby was Syria,
where he was born. "Partant pour Ia
Syrie" was then the National air of France,
and after Miss Lea became Princess NoeT
she begged her illustrious husband to take
her TO the Holy Land. In going to the East
he was away from his relatives, who natur
ally were hungering for his fortune, and he
made a will leaving every thing to his
bride. The hardships of the excursion
were not great, seeing that it took place in
the winter, and with every convenience
Wultu WEALTH. dild AlC SoOh olhNCo VI VI n
ish Beys and Pashas and European Consul:
could procure. Nevertheless such as they
were, they killed the poor old beau before
the spring had come round. As there is M
such thing in Danish law as a morganatiC
marriage, her position was a solid one anC
/ the win was binding. She was created
Princess of Noer by the favor of tn,
Emperor Franz Joseph, who, at the time o.
the marriage, wanted to be Ito defeat the
| plans of Bismarck on the best of term:
| with the Schleswig- MISUNDERSTANDING
| Augustenbu rg family.
With her good looks, quick wit and i'm
mense fortune the Princess was not long il
/ experiencing penbsrrdS lc choir in regard {,
suitors. After Count Won Waldersee haC
covered himself with glory at Sadowa SHIT
preferred him to the others. But, as SHIT
was not born" her Austrian title did no
meet with any but sulen recognition at thu
Berlin Court. The Crown Princess (nov
Empress) was mistrustful of her clever
ness. The Princess NOer's opportunit,
came after Prince Williams married tn
big Holstein Princess Augusta Victoria
The actual Crown Princess went to Berlin
tall, fnely-built, country-bred girl, lumber
ing in mind and body, unattractive and in
capable of Improvement The mental su
periority of her mother-ln-law and grand
mother-in-law Inundated her. She had n
taste for study, and good excuses for nc
studying, there being, since her first chill,
was born, pretty nearly always a baby i
the cradle. The Princess Noer undertook I
form her, bought lovely froclSs and charm
ing toys for the babies, gave life TO the dir
ners and teas of her late husbands grea'
niece, and became Indispensable to the in
periai couple.
l t. -. go he a. L..
path blocked by the Noer- William Bismarc
combination, and to find that the adro
Princess nee Lea is the rising sun. She
to Prince William Tin point Of moral Unfit
ence) what John Brown was to Queen VII
toria, and what the Battenbergs are now.