The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-04-12
M. WI. INMAN & CO.,
Successors to Mowry Robbins 81 Co.
i39 and I4I W ostminster st. Providence r..
DUCHESS AND COMMUNIST.
A True Romance of General Boulang"r's
j J-uuary Campaign.


January Campaign.
The results Of the grGat elcctionccr-
ing battle Of the 27th Of .IauLary will
be- known, commented on, thrashcd
out by the time these lines are in
print; but the struggle has lent such
passion 10 opinion that ! may even
now record a circumstance connected
with It's progress And ycntu c to
do 80 with all the more confidence be-
cause the uncCdOte throws curious
light on certain aspects of social life.
The story Is positively authentic, but
il comes back to my mind in "A dramat-
c form, and with your kind pcrmis-
sion ! will give it in acts, each having
us own scene.
Act l. A miserable room, whore an
Did woman lies dying on n trucl;Ic-bcd.
great lady. whose indcfatigablo
charity Is known 10 all Paris, is sit
ling at the right hand side Of the sick
woman. On tho left another woman
takes her seat, rOugh-lOokiug, and
with thick, short hair. Both ali kc
give every care TO the sufferer. She,
having fallen into short dOZe, the
wo Watchers exchange few words,
'ud each mentions her name They
ire equally amazed when the lady says
hat she il the Duchcssc dues, the
working g-womaH that she is the noto-
'iou5 Louise Michel
Act II. We arc now in the fine house
II the puchessc Uzcs. The lady has
Just received n small packet tied with
I string and u lotter Of explanation
rho letter is from Louise Michel,
nd what she writes amounts TO
his: "Tho poor woman we both were
ursing died yesterday in my arms.
icforo she brcathcd her last she told
NO that she had left an humble offer
ne i'm gratitude for your kind care
The parcel sent herewith contains tho
title koc cpsakc
The Duchcsse opens the packet,
which contains n small cross. She I'M
ncdiatcly writes 10 Louise Michel, in
ihc first place TO thank her. and also TO
beg her TO call on her, that they may
.lccidc together on what can be done
to help the dead womau's family. This
lotto is at once answered by the
recipient, who Apologies for her in
ability TO wait ON the Duchess. She
is i'll and confined to her bed.
Act Ill Louise Michel room. The
Duchesso Il Jzcs has thought it her
duty to go herself and visit the famous
Maid nf tho Commune. As she
mounts the stairs she sees a great
number OF raggcd-looking wrctchcs
Going To see Louise Michel, or coming
down again Whom she is in the room
she finds herself jostlcd 10y some OF
lhcso visitors, who, however, discreet
~ withdraw when she appears, and she
goes into the inner room, whore Louise
Michel is really and truc i'll, in bed.
After the ordinary civilitics, Louise
Michel addresses her to this effect:
Those people, madame, whom you
saw in such numbers that you may be
puzzled, are old mates Of mine from
NOumea at the time when | was in
penal scrvitudo after the Commune.
They always come TO ask my advice
whenever the is an election In Paris.
Now. | have just told them all to vote
for General Boulangcr. For my own
part have no particular reason to
support him. but | know YOU take an
interest in his success, and ! have
done my best for him to make YOU
some return in my poor way for your
great kindness to my dead friend. -
This is the drama: rs to the outcome
Of the plot, you now know IT, 1t was
hidden in the bllloting urus of the
votes given the 27th Of Januay y.-Lc
Paris lllustrc.