The Philipsburg mail., 1898-07-29
| among the Europeans were maze In

among the Europeans were maze In
Paris.
She settled herself there ABOUT
quarter OF a century ago ana py va
rious ways soon succeeded in winning
higher place in the social circles or the
French capital than she had ever ell
joyed on this side of the Atlantic. THOSE
who are not among her admirers say
that lavish charity to the Roman Cath-
olic church was her chief lever, Dut at
all events she won the position she CO.
veted among the exclusives OF the Eau
bourg St. German. and at one time she
unquestionably intended to remain
resident Of Paris for the remainder OF
her natural life. But in an evil hour
she decided to have her portrait paint
ed by MeissOnier. For some reason
Meissonier did not admire Mrs. Mack
ay though, of course she knew nothing
of that. The result was portrait that
displeased the sitter beyond words II
resembled her. to be sure. but it was the
resemblance of a caricature, being
sort of combination of a Spanish dancer
Of the Otero type and washerwomaI
of the type Mrs. Mackay was charged
with being by the Bonynges. Making
every possible allowance for Nelson
ier he seems to have been no better
than prig all through the episode OF
the Mackay portrait, for even his
friends have admitted that he did the
picture in great haste. afforded the wo-
man far too few sittings and painted
the hands in the picture from those OF
his hired model He pleaded rush OF
imperative orders for an excuse, but the
Mackays declared that that was disin-
genuous. They say he set out dellber-
ately to humiliate Mrs. Mackay, and
they also declined to pay the exorbit-
ant bill he presented. Litigation fol-
lowed, of course and also of course. the
perfumed painter won, for the litiga-
ton necessarily took place in France.
The painting disappeared after the
bill was paid and stories OF it's destruc-
ton were printed on both sides OF the
| water These were neither affirmed
nor denied till some time subsequent
ture was brought out and hung in Mrs
Mackays London house. where it is
| now one of the most prominent draw
ing-room decorations. Some who have
seen it say that it's display proved Mrs
! Mackay to be brave woman, since it
is the portrait of much uglier, grosser
and older woman than she.
Paris was not a pleasant home for
the Bonanza Kings" wife after that
and besides, the Prince Colonna, who
married and was divorced from her
daughter, was an Italian, and by the
French law entitled to seize his chill
drtn-Mrs. Mackay's grandchildren
wherever he could find them on French
soil.
So she removed to the English cap
| ital, where. barring the incidents
charged up against the Bonynges. no.
thing seriously unpleasant has occurred
| to mar the pleasure. When she decided
| to establish herself in London she pro-
cured first the good offices Of a so
cial magnate" named Fitz Henry, a
sort of Ward McAllister, with British
notifications, and Fitz Henry saw to
! it that she was taken to the Duchess Of
Manchester, after which it was com
paratively plain sailing into the favor
of royalty itself.
Her London residence is at No. 6
Carlton House Terrace truly little less
than palace in magnificence, which
was built by the third duke of Leins-
ter and sold by the present duke in
consequence of his losses in the Argen-
tines in 1891. Her social triumphs
there have been described so often that
the public is already familiar with
| them
Mrs. Mackay is of medium height and
of good figure" Her eyes are dark.
and so is her hair Her complexion is
good, and she dresses magniticently but
always with the sort of taste that
makes it possible to term her chic -
Her husband lives on this side of the
water most of the time because his