Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24
A KINGS YANKEE FAvoRrrE.
A Hotel Servant That Had q Remarkably
Career in Europe.


From the Philadelphia TELEGRAPH.
Old King William of Holland. during his
long. disgraceful career. indalged in innumer-
able love affairs more or less serious. hut of
all the five females that he set at the left side
of his throne the most remarkable was an
American woman, the celebrated Nine.
Musard. She was realization Of the we'll
known line of Byron. Born in a garrett, in a
kitchen bred" Yet notwithstanding the OBJ
security Of her origin and her lack of etu-
cation and breeding. she bloomed forth into
one of the most elegant women in Europe.
She WAS a New Englander by birth and began
life in some mental capacity in a hotel in Bos-
ton. She is said TO have been extremely beau
tiful in her youth in graceful Spanish style.
her figure being AZ once slender and
shapely and perfect enough in its con-
tours TO have driven any sculptor to despair
who might have tried TO reproduce it,
Her eyes were large and dark, her head small
and finely formed and her features of piquant
delicacy of outline. Her vast fortune came
from her royal adorer in a very singular WAY
lie flew into n passion with her on one occasion
and. catching up the nearest object that came
handy, he hurled it at her head. The lady
cleverly lodged the missile which was a bulk,
package of papers. but. taking possession of il
she carried it of in triumph. IL was made M
OF shares in certain unproductive oil wells in
Galicia. A few years later the company .'strucl
OIL and that quarrel with hing William made
Of Nine. Musard one of the richest women in
Europe.
Like Nine Dubarry. who. in her childhood
peddled pins and staylaces about the streets OF
Paris, and began life as dressmakcrs appren-
nee, the eX-hotel drudge of Boston became
noted for the extreme elegance of her surround.
lngs and the perfect propriety of her demeanor
Her taste III dress was faultless her hotel. her
all fat
their splendOr. She came to reside in Paris and
was munlficent patroness of all artistic or
charitable enterprises. A stroke of paralysis,
which brought about an incurabe droop of one
of her eyelids. deprived her of her beauty he.
fore she had attained middle age. She ALWAYS
sat. when at the theater or the opera. IN a pros
cenium box. with the disiigured side of her face
turned away frcm the audience.
Covered with magnificent jewels. her slender
waist encircled with n girdle of gems tina,
matched the rest of her rarure, and shielding
her eyes from the light with an antique fan.
painted by Vatican or Boucher. and worth in
itself a fortune. her dark hair decked with
roses, and her still exquisite figure set off by
the best efforts of the Partisan drcssmakers
she was a noted and noteworthy figure to the
Lass. Will II be believed that the last wears of
her magnificent existence were embittered by
vain craving to be received in respectable
society? She did everything that tact and in
telligence and lavish hberality could suggest
to bring about that end. but all to no purpose.
She subscribed to all fashionable charities.
She patronized all the relief funds and bene-
hts. the baZaars and the balls. making munif-
cent gifts to each of them. She always engaged
the most expensive box in the house whenever
a new operate enterprise started. Her
life from the hour that she quilted Holland was
entirely sans reproche. But none of the fash
ionable ladies Of Partisan society would receive
her or invite her to any entertainments. Once
she offered to a certain philanthropic duchess
a subscription Of $4,000 for that ladys pet
charity in return for an invitation to dinner.
The offer was declined.
Finally, she fell a victim to the insidious eff
fects of the malady that had robbed her of her
beauty. She went mad and died The sale of
her effects at her sumptuous hotel near the
Arc de Triomphe was one Of the most extra
ordinary scenes that / have ever witnessed.
Her choice laces filed huge Saratoga trunk.
Her silk stockings were brought out by the
clothes basketful. The display of her fans took
up half dozen glass cases. Her tiny gloves
and miniature slippers were the admiration of
all the beholders. Nobody was sad and nobody
was specially interested.