The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-27

whose sway was greatest upon the life
OF Napoleon III, and the destines OF
France not one came from the refined
sophisticated and crafty aristocracy OF
Europe.
AT one time it was thought that the
Marquise de Castighone would be the
Pompadour Of the empire But her favor
was evanescent and her influence nil.
On the contrary, Helene Esealande, a
peasant lass Of good looks and natural
intelligence. became within three months
the woman most powerful and dreaded in
the court and realm
Little did she drean-simple nilkmaid
that she was-that the tall officer that
mite her in the wood lane one morning
and stopped for an instant to chat with
her, would return the same night with a
carriage and four determined, reliable
companions.
Resistance would have been useless, but
she offered no resistance-Quite pleased on
the contrary, at the romantic adventure
She was taken to that wonderous castle
of Complegne-famous in history and TO
her, the farmers daughter, the distant
accessible fairyland Of books and
dreams.
She was barely seventeen that night
At eighteen she ruled the ruler of that
castle and all the lands Whereabouts for
many and many miles in all directions
At twenty she actually tired of being
more than the empress and eloped with a
page, who in turn tired of her love and
soon left Helene TO shift for herself. She
went in varying fortunes through a period
Of several years, during which she be-
came acquainted with many men in many
countries. She had become an actress Of
merit anyway, and when she finally chose
to return to Paris and play there she
took the capital by storm and in three
days was the most furiously idolized wo-
man on the stage.
The enthusiasm was such that the en-
press. who under the new name and
changed appearance had failed to sus-
pect the young favorite Of a few years
before, sent for the actress to get a pri-
vate recital.
The emperor was there. He. like his
august spouse and the rest Of the bril-
liant assembly. there recognized the
Helene he had loved Immediately the old
passion returned. more overpowering than
before. The reinstallation Of the favorite
at the Tuileries palace was the scandal
of the year and threatened to breed ser
ious political complications
During the terrible -Prussian
struggle Of 1S70-1S71 Helen Escalande was
quick 10 pass over to the successful enc
my. She had met Bismarck. as prey
iously stated, when he was ambassador
to France. She was received by him
with open arms and soon was enjoying
undisputed popularity among the mem
bers Of the German general staff, who
made their headquarters at Versailles.
and she led these Teutons the widest
dance of their lives while Paris was be.
sleged and bombarded
The r ench people had forgiven her for
everything; but they never forgave this
hearuess Lreachery. After the var was
over she was insu1ted in the street, de-
rided in song and literature and even as
saulted several times by indignant pat
riots.
She was compelled to change her name.
Later she lost her wealth, and, finally
after years of painful, undignifed strug-
gle to keep body and soul together, she
died in a little hovel of which she could
no longer pay the triHing rent
Esther Beaulieu, described by Sarcey as
the Nine Sans Gene of the second en-
oire, resembled the celebrated prototype
that sardou so picturesquely exploited
IN the stage in more ways than one.
Like the Nine Sans Gene of Napoleon
[. she was originally one of the trim and
o1cr9y Laundry girls whose pretty aprons
l0l large wicker baskets filled with o.eaa
linen are still among the charms of the
Paris streets
One morning Esther went into Arsene
Houssaye's apartments to return his
bachelor washing. The emperor. quite
happened to be calling on
the Director of the Coincide Franchise.
His eye followed every movement Of the
alert and robust red-headed mink who
with jokes and pretty bursts of laughter.
lnpacked and arranged Houssaye's linen
n the various cupboards and drawers.
Then Esther learned Enthusiastically that
She was Pleasing to the unknown gentle
man.
His eyes followed her every movement.
He was plainly interested.
She returned to her shop dreaming. Ma
ooleon left her there for a year. only
giving her little trihing nothings il. rec
7guidon of her love Esther never SIS
oected who he was till one day. to quiet
her fear that she no longer retained ks
affection, he told her he was the emperor.
sent the intending rival to prison and
Installed Esther in a beautiful country
retreat at Neuilly He spent many after
Moons there with her She was jolly.
mprudent, right entertaining compan-
ION.
She was ambitious. too. ana had mas
-ers who rapidly gave her natural abili- /
les an the polish for which she later was 1
-enowned
when Esther. Jealous Of Helene Is
'lande's position, demanded apartments /
1T the Tuileries, the emperor. despite his |
'eluctance. finally had TO yield
The same week the beautiful Marion /
Morris. presented at court by the Amer
can ambassador, also became a member I
Il the imperial household
Tt was the empress. however. who took /
fancy to Marion and made her one Of I
Ter ladies' in waiting.
The girl for long time resisted the (
-dvances q Napoleon. though. as she has I
acknowledged since. she fell in love with {
lin from the moment he noticed her ana I
aid his first compliment
lfe could say these things 50 we'll and {
'oor Marion lust twenty, just from the
lnsophisticated atmosphere az her native
Maryland. was nm easy prey To the expert
Of Gallfc blood
Yer. because If her material repulsion
or plicity-because. also If her loyal
y TO the empress who was SO fond 81
e~-she held aioof
Bat how cauId she refuse 70 LET tha