Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-10-15
RED NUN WILL LECTURE ON HER
REVOLUTIONARY THEORIES.
SHE'S AN ANGEL ANARCHIST
Hopes to Earn Enough to Establish a
Home in London for Political Elk
ileS-Her Complex Character and
Romantic Career-Fought for the
Commune


the people Of the states will find {
more interesting study in her than il
LII Hung Chang. Michel is unquestion
ably the most unique woman on the
face of the earth today, and the mos
lovaOle. She is an anarchist, if evel
there was one, yet Vanderbilt or al
Astor would be charmed by her per
sonality, even if shocked by her doc
trines
She is called the red nun" of Paris
and she earned the title by fighting
ankle deep in the blood of her com
rades at the barricades; fighting like
a thousand furies by the side of tn
man she was to wed, and after can,
non ball cut him into two pieces shG
kept ON fighting, and was the last tc
stop, when only two or three besides
herself were left out of three score
She proved herself an Amazon then
But she is more angel than Amazon OF
anarchist.
Charity is the handspring of her
life. 1t forces her to live in a garnet
to dress like a beggar, to go hungry
She never has money, for she gives il
away the minute it comes into her
fingers. If she died today, or tomor-
row, or year hence not shilling
would be found among her belongings
If she came into fortune of million
dollars or a million pounds sterling
tor light it is doubtful if she would
have an atom of it year hence; but
the outcast, the forlorn, the starving,
the friendless and homeless would live
like lords in the meantime, and Louis
Michel would be as shabby, as hungry
and as squalid as ever.
Self plays no part in her doctrines.
For fortyfve years she has been
shaving, fighting and starving for UNI
| fortunate humanity, never sparng her.
self even when her life and liberty
were jeopardized. 1t is, perhaps, the
influence of this absolute sinking of
self which gives her the subtle charm
that captiVates all who cross her path.
Last fall the red num- expected to
visit America with her old mother, a
woman close to ninety years of age,
but something interviewed and the pro-
ject was abandoned for the time being.
New arrangements have just been
made for the tip, and as Lousie has
set her heart upon it the journey will
be made. Her sole companion will be
her secretary, Charlotte VanVille, a
young French woman whose anarch
istic proclivities have led her to share
the doubtful fortunes of the red nun"
Two distinguished members of the
peculiar circle in which Michel reigns
are arranging for the trip. They are
Pietro Gori and Jean Francis Marat,
and for some time they have been in
communication with John Most, the an
archist leader of New York. 1t is not
probable, however, that Louise will
have much to do with Most, or the
people who compose his group, as she
is of quite a different caliber.
The object of the journey is to earn
money enough by series Of lectures
On her political theories to build a
home in London for political outcasts
and exiles from all countries on the
globe. The man or woman who Is a
martyr to political causes is the par
ticular pet of Louise, and if she estab-
fishes a home for people of this class
she would regard it as the grandest
a tribute to her life.
In speaking of her proposed shelter
for political exiles she recently said
There they will live for short time,
until they can find employment, lodg
ing and food. English lessons will be
language of the country where they are
compelled to live. Newspaper adyer-
tisements offering employment will be
brought to their notice and explained.
AS the object is charity, this help will
be extended to all regardless of party
or nationality. have witnessed the
ritiful arrival of a great many Of
these unfortunates, absolutely without
money and not knowing where to
turn, during the last political com
motion, and that gave me the idea of
founding this shelter
The red nun" is now 67 years old, a
| tall. gaunt woman with iron gray hair
flying about In all directions, mascu-
line nose, cheek bones which stick
out big mouth and a massive chin.
Her forehead is high, but the gentleness
Of her ewes soften the whole face. Her
expression is constantly changing, and
for that reason different portraits OF
her never look alike While she Is
tall lean and awkwardly constructed.
she has the grace and charm Of the
highly bred lady which she really is.
Visitors to her ill-kept garnet rooms,
piled up with disordered masses CT
cooking utensils, crazy furniture books,
magazines and writing materials. for
set the dinginess of the surroundings
in the hrilliancy of the woman.
She never utters commonplace re-
mark. She has unique thoughts and i
tense way of expressing them. She is
epigrammatic, and sarcastic only when
talking of governments and govern