Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18

poetic senses. she went with him to
Paris, where she became the center of
circle of such men as Balzac, AleXan-
der Dumas and others of that brilliant
coterie.
Paris was peaceful and gay in the
reign of the bourgeois King Louis
Philippe. Art and literature fourished
and Lola Montez met Victor Hugo
La MARITIME, who was dividing his atten-
ton between politics and literature
Balzac, who was writing his "Comedie
Humane" and Theophile Gautier, who
was vel! known even then. 1t was a
life she loved best, but the lure of her
beauty was fatal and she became the
cause of famous duel. She left Paris
and went to Vienna, where her stay
was short, as the Court Theater al
Munich, in which she hoped to get an
engagement. was her objective point
meet the scholarly and artistic ruler
of Bavaria. Louis I. a man of exquisite
taste in art and literature, and whose
reputation for love of freedom and
truth was knoWn over Europe.
VI Lola Montez, Dumas said: I'm her
was mind and heart enough for dozen
kings" Among those she met at Mu-
mich was Count Reichberg, who con
sented to take her to the palace to re-
quest audience of the king. On reach
ing the palace the count remained
away some time. Lola grew tired OF
waiting for his return and followe
him into the presence of the king The
latter. astounded by her audacity
gazed speeches. at her. Her request
to dance before him at the Court The
alter was granted and she was COM
manded to appear on a certain night.
She appeared before the brilliant
court audience in Spanish costume of
silk and lace. with glittering Jewels
Bowling with imperial grace before the
royal box, she began 4 Spanish dance
melting from one pose into another
The king confessed to one of his minis
tiers that he was bewitched, and from
that night the dancer became the I'M
crowned queen of Bavaria. Her star
rose rapidly to its zenith. Being at
heart a pronounced democrat, she es-
poused the cause of the progressive and
liberal party, which was composed OF
the young enthusiasts of the country
and many of the students of the Uni
versity of Munich. She permitted her.
self to be acclaimed their leader, which
drew down upon her head the wrath
of the conservative element of the
population and the enmity of Metternich,
who counted on Bavaria to join with
Austria in the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of SWitz-
erland.
The church party was babe by Louis
to mind its own affairs and leave mat
tiers of state alone. The ministers of
the crown who objected to raising the
dancer to the peerage and comforting
upon her the status and rights of a
Bavarian citizen Were dismissed. She
was made Countess of Landsfeld and
Baroness Rosenthal, and the consort OF
Louis consented to her being made a
canoness Of the aristocratic order of
St Theresa Her portrait was to be
hung in the famous gallery of beauties.
The little villa where Lola lived in
the Barerastrasse, Munich, has lately
been torn down to make room for some
modern buildings. 1t was a simple es-
tablishment for kings favorite. but was
charming and secluded, with balconies in
front, colonnaded terrace at the back.
hidden in a sleepy. shady garden and
from the royal palaces
Here the beautiful Lola Montez lived
from 1886 to 1S4s as Countess OF
Landsfeld, her house the meeting place
for all the brilliant and distinguished
men who came to Munich, her drawing
room a veritable salon. But her arch
enemy, Prince Metternich, whom she
had defeated, Joined with her bitter
and relentless foes, the Jesuits, and
on March IL, 184S, she was forced to
leave Bavaria a political exile, her
carriage accompanied by grim soldiery
and hooting populace. She sought
refuge in the little republic which she
had protected, and the grateful Swiss
people accorded her every distinction.
Nine days later Louis l abdicated in
favor of his sen. Crown Prince Maxi
milan. and retired to spend the re-