The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-01

known as st. Pierre Miquelon. There is
not blade Of grass growing on the ISL
ands, which are two rocks, divided by
narrow strait, and yet they form naval
station, do fourishing shipping bust
ness and have a trade estimated at $780,
600 900 year.
After the governor of the islands. who
is 4 vice admiral. the most important per-
sonage in St. Pierre Miquelon is Nine.
Marie Louise Gazette. She is multi
millionaire. She has made all the money
herself. and is woman of literary talent
with streak of genius in it.
Nine. Gazette, nee Bernois, was born
in Jarbes Gascony. but was taken TO
Miquelon by her father. sailor, when
quite young, and sent for a few years to
seminary in Cape Breton, n. S. She mar
ried at the age of fifteen, and when she
was thrty-two-about fifteen years ago
was left childless widow.
Some time before his death Monsieur
Gazette retired from the sea and pur-
chased n modest hotel, which was patron
lied chiefly by sailors, Of whom there are
thousands in Miquelon, during the summer
months. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
sailors-French sailors especially-are dis
posed to be lively and require a strong
hand to keep them within limits. While
her husband lived Madame Gazette at
tended strictly to her domestic affairs, and
was noted for her bright smile and sweet
ness of temper. She possesses those attri-
butes still, and wdowhood has developed
| in her a strong hand. One day before she
! left off mourning a row occurred in the
| hotel barroOm, and gen d'arme was sent
| for to queli it.
| ''Messieurs. said Madame Gazette as
| she appeared on the scene of the disturb
ance with her brightest smile and revolt
yer in her right hand, ''yonder esplanade is
| an excellent place to settle your disputes
! I'll have none of them here, and l swear
to you by ST. Agathe that I'll shoot the
! first sailor attempting fracas on these
premises,
Snen the gen d'arme arrived he found
| the Hotel Republique as quiet as a ceme-
terry, and from that day TO this, except in
q social way, the services of the tribe have
never been called into requisition By mad
anne or her assistants.
Madame Gazette grew richer and richer
year by year. She purchased a few acres
of rock back of the Esplanade, on which
she erected fifty sailors boarding houses.
Those boarding houses are kept in splen-
did condition and yield a handsome reVe-
nue. to the Queen of Miquelon.
She has organized a police force to guard
her interests. which she pays literally, and
has ali together more than 1000 names on
her pay roll. for she owns fleet of brigs,
schOoners and other sailing craft trading
with France Newfoundland and Nova
Scotia She is phenomenally fortunate in
her undertakings, all her employees are
insured, and upward of fifty widows and
superannuated seamen draw pensions from
her treasury.
1t is limited that smuggling has material
ly assisted in building up the great fortune
OF this extraordinary woman. and certes
Mquelon is a favOrite resort of the class
of this extraordinary woman, and certes
1t is known. too, that French wines and
brandies are as cheap as they are plentiful
along the shores of Newfoundland. Never
theless, it must in justice be said that
among the many seizures effected by Queen
Victoria's revenue officers within the past
quarter of a century not cents worth has
been traced to the ownership of her ma
jesty of Miquelon.
After her husbands death, Madam,
Gazette had as many suitors as the Gre
clan Penelope, but she dismissed them al
with such chilling politeness that the mum
Der decreased to zero; her reputation as
man ruler and manhater spread far ant
near, and save European who now anG
then offers her his name and the dilapidat
ed chateau of his ancertors, by mail, she il
left in peace.
"Messieur,' she would say to the appli
cant for her heart. II have none to give
but you will always find in this hotel tn,
I finest sherries and brandies and the best CT
D CARS to be had this side of Paris
/ Madame Gazette takes an annual trip Il
France and has purchased fine estate II
e her native Gascony, on which, it is report
| ed, she intends settling down when sh