Evening star., 1899-03-18
THE PRINCESS SALM-SALM
Once Held Commission in American Army,
Now Widow of German Noble.
Her Return to America to He CeIe-
brated by Sth New York VOIun-
teers of Civil War.

The Princess Salm-Salm. widow of the
of the German princes, and who is said to
have held a commission in the United
States regular army, is about to visit her
native land after an absence of many years
in Europe and the remnant of the old Sth
New York Regiment of Volunteers, of
which her husband, the Prince Salm-Salm,
was colonel during the civil war, is pan
ming to make her arrival in New York the
occasion of a celebration.
There are many people still living in
Washington who will recall the career of
the Princess Salm-Salm in this city during
the civil war. She first appeared on the
scene as Agnes Laclerg, at time when
Washington was overrun with people here
for legitimate purposes as well as adven-
turers of every sort, and opinion was di-
vided to which class the princess be-
longed. That Agnes Laclerg was an
assumed name she admitted with cool in
difference, but no one was ever able to
learn more of her past history than she
cared to reveal. She was young and more
beautiful than most of the many beautiful
women who filled Washington at that pc
riod. the mistress of several foreign lam
guages and possessed of all the graces and
accomplishments that wealth and culture
give. Added to this was a personality so
attractive and a manner so winsome that
she was said to have won the hearts of
half the men in Washington and the hatred
and 1u-W1ll OF all the women.
Her Identity.
Who was she? So far as known only a
circus rider who, by a strange combination
of modesty and audacity, knew everybody
in Washington and commanded influence
unbounded. 1t was said she received the
commission of captain in the regular
army. Certain it was she startled all
Washington by riding down PENNSYLVANIA
ri6 1ahi fin,
fshed with the shoulder straps and buttons
of this rank. She was always beautifully
dressed, but had preferences for the bohe-
milan in her style of living. Some said she
was the child of wealthy adopted parents.
who had picked her up in their travels
abroad. She always declared she was of
American parentage, but she was Italian
in appearance, with wondrous dark hair
and eyes and with the manners and vivac-
ity of the French woman. 1t was said she
had run away from the restraints of her
luxurious home and joined circus, where
bareback riding, with it's accompa niments
of gauzy dresses, and tinsel and light, sat
isfled her craving for excitement.
But in spite of her love for horses she
was not success as circus rider, and
she turned her attention to tight-rope walk
ing. Her career came nearly being cut
short in Chicago in 1858. The circus to
which she was attached had announced she
would ascend rope which was fastened
to the ground and run to the top of high
tent pole. The day was as cold and windy
as day in the early spring in Chicago can
be. and the princess, clad in the gauziest of
pink tulle and tights. her dark hair glitter
ing with tinsel diadem and stars, swayed
like reed in the wind and when half way
up she lost her hold and fell The crowd
expected to see her dashed to pieces on the
ground, but a young acrobat standing con-
veniently near caught her in his arms.
Nothing daunted by the accident the in
trepid woman began her perilous ascent
again, and reached the top amid the cheers
of the throng below.
Marries Prince SaIm-SaIm.
Agnes Laclerg crowned her career in