The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-12
DE LEssEPs's YOUNG WIFE.
She Was the ReigninS Beauty of the
Time i'm the Paris Salons.

Apropos of the death of De Lesseps
Labouehere's Londor Truths Paris letter
contains an entertaining account of the
days when De Lesseps was at the height OF
mis- fame. II starts out by speaking of his
beauty. who is now his widow. She was
really intended for the wife of Charles De
Lesseps. but she preferred the father She
had a dowry of SO, COO. 1t was invested by
NJ. De Lessepss advice in Suez script
when is now worth 100000. Her mother
died on the way to Europe. ana was pre-
served in q barrel of rum TO receive CHRIS
tian burial on lard.
Ferdinand was one of the most captivat-
ing OF men, il not the most. Char.es took
after his mother--was cautious, wrapped
up, dandyish and not at all magnetic He
dld me- wear the willow because MS father
was preferred to him, and never ceased to
be an admiring and dutiful son.
The papers, IN the autumn of 1869. were
filed with accounts of wedding presents
sent to NJ. end Nine. De Lesseps. Then
followed accounts OF the triumphant in
auguration of the Suez canal by the En-
press Eugt ME. They Iead like a. fairy tale
Fhe country of the Thousand and One
Nighss was brought close to Europe. Eng
land feared, and France was certain, that
the po.es of the commercial world were
changed. and that London was going 10
fasi to the mercantile level of Yer ice. Who
knows but what she mignt, if the war of
1870 haG not gwen her great odds against
the continental powers, and especially
France? At any rate, all was elatlon on
board LiAigle. The Crown Prince Of Priis-
sia took oftense at the triumphant manner
OF the Empress, who looked on the victory
She was hailed by the press as the Isabella
the Catholic of the Suez canal, and NJ De
lesseps as the Christopher Columbus And
ven she deserved TO be thus iauded Had
she not threatened herself to drive a knife
in Walawski's heart If he yielded a hairs
breath to Palnerston on the SueZ ques-
ton?
The first of the twelve children of the sec
ond Nine de Lesseps was born just as the
war OF 1870 was declared. The declaration
was precipitate but II had been long in
tended. The Empress had corae back from
the Suez full of the idea that Prussia need
ed a lesson" 1t is to de Lesseps's honor
that he never was SO devoted to her as
when her throne was falling. He braved for
her sake appropriately and an angry multi
tude. He was not merely at her beck and
call, but multiplied himself TO advise and
serve her. he sought to get hold for her of
Theirs. who was large holder of Suez
shares. and had all but succeeded when the
that day de L4eSSeps found her deserted. The
household remained fer luncheon and thsn
fed. She had only a few subordinates and
Nine. lie Breton with her. VI. de Lessep5
kept back the multitude from invading the
Tu4lleries until his Isabella, the Catholic,
had got away.
For the ten subsequent years M. de Les
seps the administrator of Suez and the
paferfamillas merely. La petite famille''
by 1850 consisted of ten children. There
anna was launched the eleventh was christ
ened Paul. after the bishop OF the diocese
through which the canal was 30 be cut.
Queen Isabella was the godmother. The
Nuncic ofiic.ated. Her Majesty scattered
ccfits at the door OF the church. and sent
round her servants to give aims 10 enc poor.
All the ten older children were present.
Boys and girls were dessed alike--that is &c
say scarcely dressed. They had bare necks
arms and legs clipped back hair, Wild black