The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08
OLD HOUSE TO BE RAZED.
IT Was the California Home of Lola
Montez, Professional Beauty.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
San Francisco July 7.-The little weather
beaten house where the famous profes-
sional beauty and the most celebrated bal
let dancer of her day. Lola Montez. lived
for nearly three years. In Grass Valley.
Nevada County, Cal, IS about to be re-
moved to make way for modern structure.
Lola Montez. who was created Countess
Of Lansfeldt by the King Of Bavaria. was
tbs most famous beauty and one Of the
most brilliant figures in Europe fifty years
ago. She came from New York across the
Isthmus Of Panama 10 the Golden State
IN the early summer OF 1873.
At that time San Francisco was a city
of about sOooo people. and It was the gay
est, nveliest and most extravagant city
OF its size In the world. No theatrical or
operate star ever had the reception here
that Lola Nontez had. V hen her steamer
1000 people were gathered to greet her.
When sha descended the gangpiank and
was helped to an open carriage, the multi
tpde cheered as IL for a popular potentate.
For days there were throngs of men con-
etantly m tie streets about the hotel wait
ing q chance to see the celebrated beauty.
Seats at the old American Theatcr, on the
corner Of Sansome and Haleck streets.
where she appeared, were sod at prices
from tS to so ga9h the sold gn se
about 1880. and had IL been az large as
almost any Of the better theaters in the
large cities to-day the sale would undoubt-
etly have been $500, or $500.
When the dancer appeared TO perform
her famous spider dance the audience
plause. The plot was a part OF her own life
among the nobility in Bavaria and Wur-
ternserg. There were six performers In the
drama.
Lola Montez was gorgeously gowned that
night. and in excellent humor. but when
the echoes of the burst OF extravagant ap-
piause died away the audience was Olsen
chanteo. The play proceeded tanely. The
spider dance was given several times. and
suddenly there were no further encores
Lola Mcntez saw that she had been over
advertised. Six more performances to fair
ing no further demand for seats. the en- en-
Sagement closed. She spent the little for
tune as quickly as she gathered it.
Among the friends the woman made was
a young Irish editor, Pat Hull. of San
Francisco. He and Lola became fast friends
She said Pat was the best story-teller she
ever knew. Pat hac been stump speaker
in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the campaign
of 1sis- and President Taylor appointed him
TO go to the Territory of California and
supervise the census OF 1850.
Pat liked the country and became an
editor in San Francisco. He had tho pro-
Lola Montez. He was not at all cookbook
Ing and was slouchy in his dress. So. when
It was announced in November, 1853. that
he and Lola had married. there Was Il SEN
sation in the city. Pat and Lola went to
Monterey on their wedding tour, and few
weeks later TO sacramento. There the bride
met an agent sent to California by King
4 Louis of Bavaria, bearing a request for the
kbeauty to return to Paris. Pat got mad
tebout his wife receiving messages from old
Ndmirers, and In a war OF words his cloth
big and personal belongings were thrown
from the second-story window of the Golden
Eagle Hotel In Sacramento. and his wife
bade him begone. Pat returned TO San
Francisco and obtained divorce.
AT about that time Lola Montez met in
Sacramento two old friends. whom she
knew in New York, and with whom SHE
went TO California They were living in
away up in the Sierras IN Nevada County.
They invited her to visit them there. The
young woman accepted, and fell IN love
with the rude, wild town at orvs. She built
. rude cottage and the towa was her home
Tor three years.