The Washington times., 1919-06-01
CHAPTER XVI.
COpyrlshs 1919. By Star Company.


THE readers of this page have followed the career Of
Jacques Lebaudy as told by the records Of his
= public activities his estate papers" and as re.
%ealed by those associated with him And in this the
Anal chapter it will perhaps be of interest to present an
intimate family view of this strange revealed by
the person who knew him best-Mme Lebaudy his widow.
Lebaudy was unquestionably devoted to his wfe-and
yet refused do her the simple justice OF legal cere
monial marriage. He a man Of strange moods and
irrevocable determination and afectonate, yet
cruelty exacting and inconsistent.
Lebaudy's moods were extraordinary. His devotion
TO his wife on one occasion induced him to purchase Jewels
richly embroidered robes of state and order special cere
mony with military pOmp to mark his elevation OF her
to the title of the Empress of Sahara On this Occa'
sion everybody was commanded to show the most Obse
quous Difference and respect to his WIFE under penalty OF
the severest punishment.
And vet in another mood on another occasion, LIE.
baudy compelled his wife, dressed in shabby clothes to
stand before him while dinner party Of his guests from
the Partisan gay world rdcued her. insulted her and
thoroughly Inundated her.
And Lebaudy had a strange CHASTITY sense of humor.
Out of the "reminiscences of Nine. Lebaudy come many
memories which, in the eyes of wife and intimate COM
nanion for so MANY wears shed an interesting light upon
the characteristics of this most extraordinary advenurer
At times his humor little less than diaboca at other
times something of the wholesome prankshness OF
schoolboy And despite his pecullartleS-Whlch nave
caused the majority of his friends and acquaintance to
pronounce him insane but which of his other friends
declare the marks of shrewdness- was so Nine Lee
baudv remembers a remarkable judge of men.
''in the Spring of 1897" Nine Lebaudy has written
among her "reminiscences for this page 'Mr. Lebaudy
chartered magnificent yacht the famous Catherine,
which had belonged to royal duke Of Great Britain for
cruise through the Mediterranean The charter OF this
Yacht entaed an expense something like 0OOO
francs day. but Mr. Lebaudy wanted 1t because, when
he examined it out of curiosity he found its main
deck splendid suite of chambers which designated
the bridal chambers by the boats owner.
"He would have none of the yachts original crew
Instead he personally engaged sailors and officers seeking
them out in the Lmehouse district where all the human
derects of the to spend their savings IN de-
bauchery or plotting This is to be happiness cruise
Lebaudy said to me, and might well spread the
happiness around among those who are going with u.s.
In general way that crew of twenty-five derehcts,
opium eaters drunkards pratica looking brgands most
of them proved agreeable company than any
yachts crew ever had shipped withand we travelled
almost around the world in private yachts Later some
of them joined Mr.. Lebaudy's Sahara army and were
ready fight all the governments Of the world Tor him.
And there specific instances of this keen Iudg-
ment of men. Take the captain, for instance While
Mr. Lebaudy was negotiating with half dozen OF the
eknown captains who happened to be idle then ne
noticed one night particularly vile LimehOuse resort
an ugy viciOusIooking villain with eye, cork leg
and vocabulary and composite lurch which proclaimed
him veteran Of the shadiet lanes Of all the seven seas
His very responsiveness drew Mr.. Lebaudy to him.