Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-17
typical lSarisian Mpsterp
Over Uubicb ELI france rs Aooo


All Paris. always eager to revel in
sensations. is alert for the trial of
Nine. Marguerite Steinheil, charged
with the murder of her husband and
her racther. The trial began in the as
size court last week, and interest in
the remarkable case has been stimu-
lated by the announcement some days
ago that Nine. Steinheil had won
the sympathy of the director of the
prison where she is confined, who
proclaimed loudly her innocence. The
significance of this becomes apparent
when it is recalled that Nine. Stein
he'll has been characterized as a
"charmer of nien."
No other mystery of recent years,
black with crime and red with pas
sion, has so stirred France as this
dounle murder in which a strange wo-
man with a Kaleidoscope past is
coupled with the names of a dead
president of the republic and living
king, and who has been brought
from her cell in the prison of st. La
care, the gloomy Paris penitentiary
where women whose evil deeds have
startled the world have been con-
fined, to answer for her life.
Political parties have plunged into
the case; the Dreyfus affair has been
resuscitated, and the charge has been
made that government officials have
shielded the woman, so that the af-
fair is more like a political campaign
than a capital case
Her Power Mystery
No one has yet revealed the secret
of Nine. Steinheils inexplicable
power over many men. Statesmen of
the highest influence have been her
servants to command; fortunes have
been layished upon her by aristo-
Gratis of enormous wealth; famous art
lists have acknowledged he1 spell. A
library of conjecture has been WI it.
ten about her but the true story is
more remarkable than the creations
OF imaginative Partisan jour- aiists.
After a fashion it is the story of
Du Barry or La Pompadour, with the
stage setting in republic instead of
kingdom. She was Marguerite
Japy, daughter of eminently respect
able parents and granddaughter of one
OF the prominent manufacturers of
France, whose establishments in
Bayonne still bear her name.
AS girl Marguerite Japy lived in
the little town of Beaucourt. She
was not very strong and was sent to
the south for her health when still a
child. That visions of her future per
turbed her is evident from the con.
fession that when she met Adolphe
Steinheil while he was painting fres-
Goes in a Bayonne church and fell in
love with her she married him be.
cause she wished to go to Paris and
mingie in the gay world there.
Stelnheli was the son of a painter
and nephew of the illustrious Meis-
sonnier, so he had the entree to the
inner circles of one of the most de-
Hghtful groups of Paris society. I'm
mediately Nine. Steinheil began he
Woman's campaign for power. Literary
and artistic lights were not enoe III
for her shrine. She soon became a
notable figure in high political and iu.
dlcial society in the capital Her hus,
band was invited to the most exclus-
I've official receptions, and it was no
secret that he was asked because OF
his fascinating young wife.
She Meets President Faure.
Nine. Steinheil started her own
salon, that vain ambition which has
been for so many French women the
lure of the flame for the moth ever
since the wise old adys of Nine.
de Stael.
Everybody came when Nine. Stein
he'll invited. Money was spent lav-
ishiy, though her husband was poor.
He mortgaged his home in the I'm
passe Ronsin. He was hard pressed
Then came brighter if not better days
Nine. Steinheil struck at the most
glittering target She was introduced
to Felix Faure, president of France.
by M. Lemercier a judge.
The president was subjugated nv
her indefinable charm. He gave an
order for a portrait to Adolphe Stein.
he'll. His visits to the Steinheil home
did mt