The Washington times., 1920-08-29

PARIS, Aug. II.
"vERYBODY has heard and wondered
at the way Mata-Hari, the fascinat-
ing Dutch Oriental dancer and spy,
went to her death.
She was gayly dressed and acted a.
though she were enjoying a dramatic tri-
umph instead of going to her execution.
Was 1t the supreme courage Of the woman
that led her to face death so gayly? Even
at the time many persons thought It was
not rational that woman who had become
q 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
current in France that MataHari had re-
ceiyed . promise that she should be al
lowed to escape at the last moment, and
that this accounted for her gay and callous
demeanor.
The report appears to have originated
with some friends Of the picturesque and
gallant young Frenchman, Pierre de Nor
tissac, who is now In retirement and exile
and was devoted admirer of the dancer.
Those who spread the story are unwilling
to discuss 1t now ,'as they fear 1t will bring
them into trouble. The French Govern
ment has ordered a searching investiga-
tion into the whole subject, with a view of
finding out what truth there is in the cur
rent reports, and If they are substantiated
Of Furnishing all persons who were guilty
Of triiing with the gravest acts Of state.
Mata-Hari who had been intimate with
some Of the richest OF the financiers and
~jeunesse doree" of France. Germany, Eng
land and other, countries, was convicted.
after very prolonged proceedings, Of sell
ing certain secrets of the tanks and other
military Information to the Germans.
Several highly placed Frenchmen made
the most strenuous efforts to save her life,
in spite Of the possible danger to them.
selves, and among them not the least
prominent was the gallant Pierre de Nor
tissac. one Of the latest of her admirers.
She obtained an appeal from her first con-
viction by the court-martial, and her exc
cution was in consequence delayed about
three months, but the evidence Of her
guilt was SO overwhelming, her acts. Of
treason so numerous that the higher court
could do nothing but confirm her sentence.
On October 8, 1917, the beautiful Mata-
Hari, 'the woman with the body Of god
dess and the charms Of demon" was
taken In q military automobile, under q
to the gloomy Castle Of Vincennes, the
place OF execution. 1t was at Vincennes
that the traitor Bolo met his fate, and that
scores Of spies and traitors-no one knows
how many--faced the firing squad during
the great war. Vincennes has a historic
reputation as q place Of military execution,
for It was here that Napoleon Bonaparte
secretly executed the most popular men,
Der OF the Bourbon family. the Duke
d,Enghlen.
Mata-Har was reused before dawn IN
her prison in Paris and. driven to VIM
cennes, so thGt her execution might take
place at sunrise and be free from public
observation, according to custom. She
was, however, treated with the utmost
courtesy and consideration up to the last
moment--more like a princess than a spy.
She wassupplied with champagne in abun-
dance in her cell and with dainty meals
from one OF the finest restaurants in Paris.
She dressed in her customary costly and
luxurious manner during her imprison-
ment. Everything that manicures, hair
dressers and masseuses could do to main
tain the charm and perfection of her body
was freely permitted to her. Finally. when
the day of execution came, she was al
lowed to array herself in most dazzling
manner.
She wore a diaphanous costume Of In
dian silk trimmed with gold lace. Her lips
were rouged in the approved Partisan
manner, her eyes were pencilled and her