Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-29

PARIS, Aug. IL.
TVERTBODY has heard and wondered
at the way MataIIar:, the fascinat-
ing Dutch Oriental dancer and spy.
went 10 her death
she was gayiy dressed and acted as
though she were enjoying n dramatic tri.
hmph instead of going 10 her execution
was II the supreme courage of the woman
that led her TO face death so paylyq Even
at the time many persons thought it was
hot ranonal that woman who had become
spy for money should laugh at death.
Was 1t not more probable that there was
some other reason, hitherto concealed. for
her strangely frivolous behavior?
"A widely circulated report has become
curren; in France that Mata.Hari had re-
ceiVed promise that she should be al
ioWea 10 escape al the last moment and
tha' ms accounted for her gay and Gallons
demeanor
The report appears to have Originated
Win some friends Of the picturesque and
gallant young Frenchman, Pierre do Nor
'lsSac. who is now in retirement and eYt,a
ana was devoted admirer of the dancer.
NOSE VINO spread the story are unwilling
TO discuss il now, es they fear il will brinI
thehl mo trouble. The French Govern
inehI mas ordered searching inycsIiga-
lion into the whole subject. with a view NJ
hhdihg out what truth there is in the chr
I'm reports ana if they are substantiated
OF Furnishing all persons who were puiI,v
OF trying with the gravest acts OF steta
Mar;. thTE who had been intimate with
some o! The richest OF the fnanciers and
)eunesse doroe' of France GERMANY. Eng.
ianu ana o'her countries, was convicted
a!'cE very prolonged proceedings. OF sell
10 ,ett"ih secrets or the tanks and other
NiltarN information to the Germans
Several highly placed Frenchmcn mazda
me most strenuous efforts to save her life
i" spite "i the possible danger to them.
serves, ana among them not the least
prominent was The gallant Pierre de Nor.
m's"c, one oi The latest of her admirers.
She Obtained an appeal from her first con.
''t'"H y! IN" coUrt-mnrtia and her nxc.
cul'nh was III consequence DELAYED abou,
'Aiee months, hut the evidence nj her
eN!lt was so overwhelming, her arts NJ
reason so numerous that the higher conrt
Soa!H 90 nothing but confirm her sentence
on october :, 1917. the beautiful Mata.
VAN INC woman with the body OF a god.
t.Ss ana the charms of Il demon" wac
iahth III military automobile under =,
t""iG OF So'"ie!S. from her prison in Paris
10 me gloomy Castle OF Vinccnnes. the
!"o' oil execution Ii was at Vinrennes
80 '''''''' ''ptp liltl MS late, and that
scores OF spies and trai,ors--no one knows
no" iEahE-'a faced the firing squad during
Inc great war. Ninccnnes has n biatnr;c
reputation as place Of military eyecu,ior
lof II was here that Napoleon Bonaparte
secretly executed the most popular NON.
nol OF the Bourbon family. the Duke
d'Enghicu ''1 DuAe
Maia liar. was reused before dawn IN
"tf PRISON III Paris and driven 10 Vim.
cehhes' so That her execution nigh, taLe
pace AT sunrise and be free from nuhlic
observation, according 10 custom. she
was however, treated with the u,mn.t
courtesy and consideration up TO the iost
moment moro like princess than n env
2he was supplied with champagne in aim.
uai"e III hcr cell and with dainty meals
IRON one OF the finest restaurants in pr.
she dressed in her customary cos,ly 40
hNirious manner during her jmDrienn.
ment. Everything that lnanicures hair.
WtSS.fS ana inasseusos could do 10 rnain.
tain the charm and perfection Of hor had,.
Was freely permitted to her. FINALLY, wS"n
the day OF execution came she was oi'
lowed TO array herself In a most da1yi,na
manner.
She wore diaphanous costume ~, T.,
dian six trimmed with gold lace. Her ill.,,
were roused in the approved parisjan
manner, her eyes we're pcuc!lled and her