Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-02

~ ODSCufe. C8tnerln0 OF Russia, NCll
Gwynn, Lola Montez, Mime. Blayatsky
and many others like neteors have flashed
from obscurity into the zenith Of tempo
rary power and popularity. They are the
most startling phenomena of history, and
their names survive by reason of the mys-
terry that attaches to their origin and the
amazing audacity of their careers.
The right name Of this woman, II in
deed sho bad u legal right to any name
but that of her more unknown and equally
mysterious mother, is uncertain, but It is
believed to be Gilbert. She said her name
was Maria Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert,
and that her father was a SScotchman, CAP
tain in tho English service, and her moth
or q Spanish creole born in New Orleans.
In some ct her latest writing she substi-
tuted the namo Porris for Rosauna, and
while at first she claimed that she WINS
born in Scotland in 1917 in her later years
she declared that she was born in 1920 in
Limerick, Ireland.
II Captain Gilbert, the father of Lola
Montez, was not u myth, no was a scamp,
for although Lola speaks of him in clover
fiction intended TO DO her autobiography
there is no evidence Of his appearing on
the stage In any scene Of her romantic and
varied career.
Tho mother is said to have been very
beautiful. She appeared In England while
her child was but little more than an in
FAINT. In London this woman taught
singing, dancing, Spanish and French, SO
that her daughter came naturally by
those accomplishments that subsequently
brought her into such great prominence.
Lola Montez was Of medium height,
beautifully formed, and at the age of 10
was sought for by artists as model. Her
hair was long, thick, silky and of the blue
black hue that denoted the Spanish ances-
try Of which she was SO proud. Her COM
plexiOn was warm olive and her eyes
dark blush gray. Her features were
neither regular nor classical, but were full
Of changing expression. Her mouth was
perfect, her teeth even and white and her
forehead low and broad, but the charm, 30
potent with her that it made peasants and
princes her slaves, lay in her bewitching
manners.
In her nineteenth year Lola Montez,
who had already won metropolitan noto-
riety by her original and graceful dancing,
married Captain James Of the English
army. A short time before this her
mother, whose reputation In London was
far from enviable, and who was still q
handsome woman, crowned an errinG
career by running away with o married
man, an attache Of the Spanish embassy to
the court of St. James.
Captain James Immediately after his
marriage was sent to India, and he took
his wife with him. At first she seemed to
DO model of all the proprieties, for she
could look and act like n nun when she
chose, but soon after reaching Calcutta
her inherited and cultivated tendencies as
serted themselves.
Young, beautiful and strangely accom-
plished, Lola soon became q great social
favorite in the Indian capital and the
toast Of all the gay young officers at their
clubs. Although the European society in
India was much less constrained than in
London yet Lola Montez's contempt for
the ordinary proprieties soon brought her
name into unenviable prominence. Her
daring 6irtations became the talk Of the
city. Soon women dropped her, and even
single men feared to have their names as
sociated with hers.
AT length Captain James patience DO
came exhausted. Failing to check the
soandalous eocentricities Of his wife, Sc
rtous quarrel took place. The result was
that without Q word of warning Mrs.
James packed up her belongings and in
formally started back to Europe.
She went directly to Paris, where she at
once found employment as Spanish
dancer, and here Tor tho first time she ap-
i peared before>fhe world under the now
well known name Of Lola Montez, or the
mountain flower OF Sod, rs IL is in Span
| ish.
She was now about % years of age and
In the very prime Of . tropical. vigorous
womsuhood. Lola Monies began dancing
In an obscure place Ut entertainment, but
20 great was her power Of fascination and
% updoubted her ability ~ dancer that
soon ,nanAegrs were bidding exorbitant
sums for hcr services, and the gAy Paris
ians were discussing her - . modern won.
deg.
Artists sought for the privilege Of paint
Ing her; poess sane her praises. and states
men thought IL no disorsdit 10 visit bsl
I; splendid [, astmsnss, where she held isvsal
tWice . week. Her imagination was quitl
IN keeping with hse 0thR tolsnts- 10 ~
journalists who came 30 beg for the sfqey
Il hes nfe she gave seoe,se wisbsut "a