New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-15

on end inflated by Lamartine, the Con
courts, Carlyle and Michelet, nor did the
publication OF her Confessions In
1892 shed much reliable historic light
upon her. for they were made with a
purpose. that Of misleading her jailers
IN Austria On them, she knew. de-
pended her continued captivity or her
liberty. II is almost incomprehensible
that Sardou did not chance upon her as
q most likely heroine for one of his
melodramas. and an ideal part for Sarah
Bernhardt. It was left for Maurice
Donnay to write the play for the ia
nous actress. and from its production
IN 1902 may be said 10 date the serious
study Of the life Of Tn roigne de Meri-
court and Of the role she played during
the revolution. Several French histo-
rians have gradually sifted fact from
invention end now Mr.. Hamel offers IA
what may IN a way be considered IS the
defnitive life - this mysterious woman.
Anne Joserhe Terwaine or Terwagne.
was born at Marcourt. In Luxembourg. on
August 13. 1862, the daughter Of we'll
TODD peasant At the age OF Ave the
child lost her mother and was intrusted
10 the care OF an aunt IN Liege where
che went to convent school for year
and then was made a household drudge.
Anne-Josephc ran away and returned
home, only 10 be forced by her step
mothers ill treatment 20 leave the pa
ternal roof again forthwith. taking with
her her two brothers Mr.. Hamel lays
stress on the love and care bestowed by
Theroigne upon these two throughout
her life. The girl almost Immediately
separated from them. herded cows for
still other relatives worked for a while
IS a seamstress at Liege, and. at six
teen, agreed 70 accompany a strange
lady" 70 Antwerp, TO take charge Of her
child This woman abandoned her at
The Belgian port but she was taken In
by an English woman as comps Mon 70
her children. This lady, certain Mrs.
Colbert discovered her gift for music
and had her voice trained.
Theroigne de Merlcourt-her name was
created by slightly changing her patro-
nyn'c and adding to II the name Of her
birthplace also slightly modihed-began
her vie galante" at the age Of twenty
by allowing a rich young Engllshman TO
abducI her. She went 20 Paris with
him, returned with him to England. then
left him on account Of his dssolute
habits, generously lowered by him Her
next conquest was an elderly man. the
Marquis de PERSIAN, Of Paris, whom she
treated none too we'll in the end. her
chief ambition In Life al this time ap-
pearing 20 have been success and fame
Is q concert singer Mr. Hamel en-
6ssvors 10 ascertain the truth between
Therolgne's own unreliable COMES
sions" and the legends about her career
and mode Of living. Certain 1t is that
at this period she was we'll provided with
money and luxuries while IL may be as
sumed that her clever brain picked up
the education she undoubtedly possessed
by association with men Of the world.
The author points out. incidentally, how
a contract made by her In London with
the notorious Italian singer Tenducci
confused her earlier biographers. In II
she Is called Anna Gioseppa le Comte."
Anna GiosepIa Campinados," which
was her grandmother name, and. in
English legal phrase. Anna Gioseppa
Theroigne. Spinster." The contemporary
French and Austrian investigators who
prepared the case agains, her were puz-
zled by this word "spinster." MISLEADING
IL for still another family name When
asked who Mr.. Spinster" was Therogine
replied with assumed anger: You have
no right to ask me that question. NY
priva.e life concerns no one"
Sh was IN RoL.e when the first rum
blings Of the French Revolution reached
her. At once. seys Air. Hamei, she was
fire and fame for the cause of the pco-
pie. She went 10 Paris IN May 1899
md began the brief career that was 10
end in her insanity and her confinement
- madhouse in 1924
Mr.. Harel destroys romantic legend
after romantic legend OF her activities
6uytng those days OF storm and stress.
size did nor. he says. lead the mob IN
fbE attack on the Bsstille she did not