The Red Cloud chief., 1898-02-25

Anough to- most men OF the world who
know their Paris. but one which up to
10y has been content with exploitation
In the more or less discreet light OF tho
half-world. Not that she has been OBJ
scure: the Paris woman OF her class
seldom Is that. especially II the moral
disabilities under which che labors are
capital. She has. on the contrary. been
conspicuous for IA number OF years In
the dress parade, whether at the opera,
at Longchamps, or in the Avenue des
Acacias; and she has even been the
holder OF a salon" This woman Is the
Vicomtesse Jouffrey d'Abbans. who be-
came famous overnight as the yelled
lady" concerned In the case OF Dreyfus
or of Esterhazy. according to ones sem
tImsnt.
Tho Vicomtesse Is called In Paris not
an adventures. but a woman OF the
world" which is euphemistic for a va
riety OF attributes. most of them sub
ject to scrutiny In Christian communi-
ties. She belongs properly to the d.
vision OF Partisan society OF which
Nine. Cora Pearl was the b~est-known
example OF latter AUTOMATICALLY In
which. II Is OF course unnecessary to ex-
plain. Is not always, according to the
Paris code. considered advantageous.
The purely social existence Of these wo-
men is confined, as far as feminine In
tercourse Is concerned. to their own
drawing rooms; but they are usually
considered the true leaders OF fashion.
As such they are always dealt with
first by the newspapers; the descrip-
ton Of their gowns and Jewelry. In
reports of a public function at the opera
or at the race track. Invariably precedes
that OF the wife and the daughter OF
the President himself. not to speak OF
the ladies OF the Faubourg. St. German.
They enjoy the Intimacy Of the great
men OF Europe, and. at somebody's ex-
pense. outshine the wives Of those grea,
men In dresses, in Jewels. and In equi-
pages.
The Vicomtesso Is not exactly q lead
r. in this peculiar world. although she
has done her share In adding to It's
gayety. She Is no longer young. and
she has seen that II she wished to gair
n lasting position she must do some
thing besides the mere showing Of her
self in handsome gowns. Her salon
has been In existence now about ffteei
years. but It is only latterly hat sht
has become exclusive. Her drawing
rooms are freQuentod by statesmen,
literary men. artists, and. above all, b,
officers OF the army, and the military
attaches Of the various foreign embas-
sizes and legations: consequently she
is popularity supposed to be the receipt
acle OF enough State secrets to set al
the governments Of Europe by the ears
The history OF this roman and of her
rise to be the friend. and perhaps the
%confdant of men high In the councils
Of nations IL a singular one. but In NJ
wise more singular than the histories
OF her sisters Of like class; all are
tinged with m unreality that is almost
ridiculous. She was born In a little vii
lage Of the Jura, the daughter of tav-
srn keeper. one ChabOut. a drunkard
and wife beaten. At tho age Of 8 she
vas already tending bar. serving drinks
to the rough Transfers and laborers
who frequented the place, working early
and late, and getting hard knocks Is
recompense. She was precocious, OF
course. and pretty. She learned some
thing of the ways OF the world-at least
the uncouth world In which she lived