The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-20
ONE MINISTER TO SPAIN.
w. e. Curtis, in Chicago Record,

w, Il. Curtis, In Chicago Record.
In 1854 President Pierce sent Pierre
Sotlc, of Louisiana, to Madrid as a spe-
Cial envoy ana plenipotentiary TO negotl-
alc for the purchase of Cuba and the Isle
sf Pines. which lies just southwark across
the gulf of Matamano. Mrs. Augustus
Henry Denis, of New orleans, is Il grand
daughter of Mr.. Soulc, and inherited his
library, pictures, correspondence ana
archives. Mr. and Mrs. Denis live in
the winter in n pretty villa north of
| Tampa, Fla, surrounded by beauu-
ful orange grove. In their parlor, when
| was in Tampa recently, they showed
me Mr.. Soule's commission, his crcden-
tals, his passport and instructions, which
are still retained in the original port
folio which he carried with him to Ma
drid forty-three years ago. The father
of Mrs. Denis, Melville Soule, accompa-
MED her grandfather as secretary Of the
mission. While representing Louisiana
in the senate Mr.. Souc had been an ard
ent advocate of Cuban annexation, and
had the confidence Of the anneXationists
| throughout the country. FOR that reason
he was selected by President Pierce for
that important mission. He applied all
| his well known zeal and ability to the
| task, but accomplished nothing. The
! pride of Spain was aroused, and she
| would not permit Mr.. Soule to submit
! formal proposition. But during his stay
| in Madrid he was the hero of an adven-
ture that furnished gossip for a decade
in all the courts of Europe.
! The cession of Cuba to the United
! States was distasteful to France, and
| Mr.. Soule, being n native Of that coun-
! try, had made himself personally often
| sive to Emperor Napoleon III by some
speeches he had delivered in the United
| states senate. While he was in Paris.
| en- route to Madrid, he was subjected to
many annoyances, and even insults,
which were not rebulted by the govern
ment, and of which no official notice was
| ever taken. Napoleon, however, did not
! fail to inform the Spanish court of his
sentiments regarding the annexation pro-
| ject and his personal dislike for Mr.
| Soulc Upon his arrival in Madrid the
| American envoy at once perceived the
| hostility of the French amba esador, but
| ignored 1t with digniiied indifference, and
| even accepted an invitation to attend a
| ball at the embassy shortly after his ar
| rival As he entered the embassy with
| his suite, the Marquis de Turgot, the
host, stood at the door of his drawing
| room to receive his guests, accompanied
by the Duke of Alva (who married a
| sister of the Empress Eugene of France),
and several of his fellow -countrymen.
| When the American minister passed by
| with his wife on his arm, one of the
Frenchmen expressed his admiration for
| Nine. Soule, who was a famous beauty.
81 cannot share your admiration" re-
torted the Marquis de Turgot "She is
no doubt very good looking but she re-
| minds me strongly of Margaret of Bur-
sundy"-who at that time was the most
notorious woman in Europe.
Young Melville Soule, who overheard
this insult to his mother, supposed the
| remark to have been made by the Duke
of Alva, and as soon as he could find a
friend to carry the message sent him a
demand for an apology The duke de-
sired to explain that a mistake had been
made, but the ambassador and other
| Frenchmen, who hated the Soules per-
suaded him to refuse, which he did and
a duel was fought at daylight. The duke,
having been challenged, had the choice
of weapons, and selected broadswords.
Soule had never handled sword in his
life, but was perfect athlete, and went
into the fight with such vigor and reck-
lessness that he soon disarmed the duke
whose superior skill counted for nothing,
he being enfeebled by dissipation. The
duke, having received a severe cut in the
neck, lost lot of his blue blood, and
his seconds explained that there had been
| n misrepresentation; young Soule eX-
pressed himself satisfied and the antagon-
lists shook hands and became good
| friends
But this was not the end of 1t. Wher
the truth was known, Mr.. Soue, senior
challenged the French ambassador and
they fought with pistols the next morn.
ing The first shot was harmless on botl
sides. At the second me Marquis dc
Turgot fell with bullet in his hip which
inflicted a painful wound and laid hin
up for several months. Thus the Soules
established their character in Madrid
although they did not succeed in buying
an island, and they We're thereafter
treated with the greatest distinction by
every one except the attaches of the
French embassy, Queen Isabella, the
Bourbon, who is known as isabella the
Bad" expressed her respect by inviting
Mr. and Mrs Soule to be her guests al
the palace of the Escurial, and as a tolI
en- of her admiration for husband who
would so promptly defend the honor o.
his wife presented him with a famou.
painting by Ribiera, which was hanging
on the walls of her drawing room.
TEE WAN TH no TT