Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-10-20

stone bearing the single word Pam
da," particularly since those which
surround ii are literally covered with
facts and figures concerning the his
tory Of the persons who lie buried
there.
who was Pamela ask the tourists,
turning inqulringly to the guide. And
that parsonage merely shrugs his
shoulders, smiles and replies: That,
monsieur, is what the world would
like to know-for here is the grave Of
a remarkable woman, the idol of royal
ty, the toast Of France. But who she
was or where she came from are
questions that have never been
answered.
Pamela" continues the guide, with
that quick grasp of historical data
which Is common to those who direct
visitors in various sections of Europe,
was the name given TO the beautiful
child brought from England to be the
playmate Of the little ones in the
palace of the Due de Chartres, later
the Duke Of Orleans. Golden haired,
%blueeyed, a verltable sprite, the little
girl won all hearts, in spite of the fact
that there was very evidently a dark
mystery about her origin. There were
some at court who shook their heads
and shrugged their shoulders mean
ingly when, as she grew up, the girl
called Pamela began to make con-
quests which were more and more
widespread. But the secrecy which
yelled her birth did not affect her
popularity in the slightest. She was
the Inspiration Of countless poets, the
cause Of scores Of duels and when her
heart was finally won by the Irish
Lord Edward Fitz Gerald, son Of the
Duke OF Leinster, there were many
who left Paris because they could not
bear to see her married to another.
The announcement of her approach
ing marriage to Lord Edward brought
from London the same question which
had been asking for many years:
Is Pameia?' and In the marriage
contract, still to be seen at Tourney,
the bride Is described as 'S~tepharfie
Caroline Anne Slmms,' known as
Pamela native Of London, daughter
Of Williom Berkele and Mary Slmms.'
"But this does not, by any mems
1ispel the mystery surrounding this
charming Of creatures, for the
of the household of the Duo
lie Charities maintained that she was
he daughter of British nobility, while
me Masonic Magazine, in the Issue
appeared within a month after
Ter marriage, declared that she was
he daughter Of the duke Of Orleans
himself. Moore, In his Life Of Lord
edward Fitz Gerald, leans to this the
Try, stating that the mother Of Pam
Ia was none other than the govern
ess in the dukes family who took such
marke" interest In the girl.
but no matter. These are only
umors-reports, founded only on Cos
Zip. History which Is vague in the ex-
about the origin Of the beautiful
is only too explicit as to her
adventures after her marriage. Lord
edward Fitz Gerald became prominent
n Irish politics and, like Sir Roger
Easement more than a century later,
decided to cast his lot with the French
against England. Accordingly, he
'rossed the channel and arranged for
French invasion of Ireland, only to
,e betrayed and hunted. with a price
# a thousand pounds upon his lead.
Those who were searching for him
Kept a close watch upon his wife and
ord Edward vas finally captured in
he apartments of the lovely Pamela
Who sold her jewels and everything she
possessed In a vain attempt to bride
lis ~jailers. The Irish lord lived only a
short time afterward, dying as a re-
'ult Of wounds which he received when
he was captured, and Pamela re
urned to Paris where she lived unul
Ter death at the age OF f1fty.seven.
even then, this woman Of mystery Is
described as admired and sought after;
in society, remarkable for her
cveliness Of fancy and play Of wit
, creature born to win all hearts.
Here lies what is left Of her, inferred
lnder the single word that cloaked her
rue identity.
"Who was 'PamelaT That, mon
'ieur, Is a question that will probably
lot be truly answered until the Day Of
Judgment"