The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-07

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march in the van of the army, the
despoilers of the country, the foes of
her people. 1t was in the line of duty
of the writer, as commander of a COM
pany of scouts for General Johnston
to often be near her and witness the
grand ovation given her by the officers
and men of Shcrman's army, and he
can truthfully say her equipagc and
retinue was of oriental splendor, and
she gracefully performed the roll of a
veritablc Cleopatra, such was the mag
nifcencc of her display, the tribute
and homage paid to her beauty and
the romance of her career.
On reaching Washington bill was
rushed through Congress giving her
$4,000 for the service rendered Union
prisoners and the losses she sustained
in so doing. At the capital she soon
became the social lion and the best
and most exclusive society felt honor
ed in admitting this wealthy and aris-
tocratic Southern beauty to their
homes. Here she formed the acquain-
tance of, and married James Bccchcr,
a wealthy New Yorker with far more
money than brains, who became so
infatuated with her charms that he
made her bridal present Of check
for 100000. Now she was fully
launched in the social swim and did
honor to her position in the extraya-
gancc of her display. Beecher grew
jealous of her notority, or she of her
commonplace husband, and a divorce
was the result. Being now free,
young, rich and beautiful, she entered
'6elds green and pastures ncw." She
took as companion the notorious
Cora Pearl, and away these congenial
spirits winged their flight to the gay
cities of Europe to bring to their feet,
counts, lords and princes of the blood.
Armed with letters of credit vast
sums, and endorsements from Stanton
and Seward, they found no difficulty
in gaining recognition to the best OF
society, and admittance to royal favor.
Courtesies and priceless gifts showered
upon them. At St. Petersburg, the
archduke, a cousin of the rcigning
czar. fell victim to her wiles and
slave to her enchanting beauty, and
in a moment of blind infatuation,
made her present Of his grandmoth-
er's jewels, said to be worth princes
ransome. At a grand court ball at the
winter palace, to which she had been
invited at the instance Of this noble
man, she had the audacity and irnpru-
dence to adorn herself with these
heirlooms of the royal family. She
could not, however, escape the eagle
eye Of old Alexander, and this esca-
pade came near costing her her life
and the archduke his estates. AS
soon as the truth was known the czar
ordered her out Of his dominions with
an imperative order never to return
ON pain of death, an order which it
was best to obey. The archduke was
banished from his court and remained
under royal displeasure until the death
of the czar.
The beautiful young adventures
now made their way to Paris and by
their very boldness gained admission
to the palace of Napoleon. Count
Percele, ambassador to Japan, was the
next victim to fall under the spell OF
her daring. They we're married in
the church of the royal family in
Paris with great ceremony and splen-
dor, receiving magnificent gifts, some
from the hands of the Empress Eu-
genee herself.
She shortly afterwards sailed with
her husband to the land Of the little
Japs. Here she created the same ex-
citement and stir as elsewhere. For
time things went well. The ideas of
property in the polished little French
man were not so cxacting as at Wash
ington or St. Petersburg. At last
the prime minister of the mikado be-
came entangled in the meshes OF the
dangerous beauty and soon was com
pletely in her tolls. The countess
had passed the meridian of her power,
the zenith of her glory was passed,
her star was in the decline. She was
at the age now for reflection, and her
aim should have been to retain the
honorable and titled name which she
now possessed. But she seemed i'm
PEELED irresistibly forward to meet
that danger and ruin tliat she knew
would sooner or later overtake her,
without the powers to forsake the
paths in which they lay.
The count deserted her, returned to
Paris and procured divorce. The
countess married the prime minister
of Japan, but onward and rapidly she
sped to the end. For some real or
imaginary indiscretion her husband
caused her to be thrown into prison,
and obtained from the mikado death
warrant, and away in foreign lands,
friendlcss and alone, Mary Boozer,
Countess Percele, paid the penalty OF
wayward and wicked life by being
brought to the block.-D. A. Dtckert,
in Atlanta Constitution.
Bucklens Arnlca Salve.
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