Lola Montez in Grass Valley (PH 17-1)(Undated) (40 pages)

of his guests. The famous Lola Montez Bear has been purchased by Mr. Storms and will no doubt act well his part inthe coming festival.” (From adin the same issue) “Six of the best dogs, two at a time, will fight the bear until either bear or dogs are vanquished.” The following issues of the Grass Valley Telegraph did not mention the fate of Lola’s Grizzly. The July 6 edition simply stated that there hadbeena “jangling of dogs.” : A humane feeling for animals was noted against bear fights in the Grass Valley Telegraph, Beb. 9, 1854; “I am told that among the spectators were Many persons claiming to be gentlemen: — judges, lawyers, and Christians. How long will sucha horrible state of things be tolerated in California?” Lola’s court lasted a year and a half and to it came the illustrious personages and leading figures of the day, enjoying its cordial hospitality andfellowship, the wines and food, but above all all meeting the famous and gracious hostess, the Countess de Landsfeldt. (Next Week: “Grass Valley Domain, 1853-1854” PART X “Grass Valley Domain, 1853-1854” As if inretaliationfor the benign reignof the Coun~ tess de Landsfeldt in Grass Valley, the winter began in fury that fall of 1853, and Lola courageously responded to the challenge, defying the elements that had set themselves against her. Jonas Winchester, millman, wrote to his wife in New York on November 19, 1853: “The lovely Thanksgiving day has been succeeded by one of the wildest storms we have ever had in Grass Valley. At 2:00 a.m. this morning a terrible gale woke me with its howling and moaning, like a maniac. Torrents of pine leaves. and burrs and twigs fell upon our . house, giving one the impression of a storm of hafl. © You know how those old pines moan and sob with the varying blasts of winter — crushing the spirits with their melancholy voices. Last night the sound was awful. A distant roar like a mighty waterfall gradually increased as the wind-demon approached till it absolutely shrieked. The house rocked, the twigs and leaves rattled, and every moment I expected one of those old giants would come tumbling and tearing . about our ears. I could not sleep, but with the first peep of day got up. By this time the wind lulled coming in fitful gusts, and ‘the rain a deluge poured. . So it has continued to this moment. (p.m.) Those two old oaks fronting the mill (on Wolf Creek below , Winchester Street) gave way to the blasts by parting . with several of the largest limbs — one of them a . foot and a half in diameter. A pine tree fell near the Grass Valley House, smashing three cabins, and . badly injuring one man, so much 50, that it was . feared he would not live. Another large limb fell on a cabin in the neighborhood of Old Neal’s, in which three men slept, breaking itinto ruins, yet strange to say, all the sleepers escaped uninjured.” In another Jetter he wrote, “The Countess is here yet, as contented as a lamb. She seems to have taken up her residence permanently among us.” Nevada Journal, January 20, 1854: “The merry ringing of sleigh bells has been heard for several days past in our city. Several temporary sleighs have been fitted up, and the young gentlemen have treated the ladies to dashing turnouts. On Tuesday the Countess of Landsfeldt paid our berg a flying visit per this conveyance and a span of horses, decorated with impromptu cow bells. She flashed like a meteor through the snow flakes and wanton snowballs, and after a thorough tour of the thoroughfares, disappeared in the direction of Grass Valley.” The Golden Era, Jan. 22, 1854: Nevada Correspondent “Snow fell here to the depth of 16” and a right merry time the boys had with snow balls. Yesterday, a sleigh load of Grass Valleyans paid us a visit, accompanied by ‘Madame Lola’ who happened to enter POGVGUSOHHH HH HHH HHHHHOSOHOHOOHVHHHHOHKHGCDVODEOOCEEE my ‘sanctum’ just as I was penning my items and so confused me that I shall be obliged to say ‘Adios.’ The Golden Era, January 29, 1854: “The (Nevada City) Journal says the snow and excessive cold for ~ the past few days have entirely suspended all mining operations, the ditches being frozen and buried.” Grass Valley’s social and recreational activities in 1853 and ’54 centered around the churches, theater, lodges, clubs and societies such as the Grass Valley Literary Society and Sewing Circle. What with billiards, bowling, dancing, concerts and lectures, the lonely and culturally starved found some companion, ship and nourishment in this primitive and isolated community. . _ Lola Montez, Countess de Landsfeldt, held herself apart from the public gatherings, however. Her name does not appear in the early papers as serving on any committees or listed as a member of any Grass Valley organization. Her life in the village was as. she described it to her Sacramento friends, spent in riding, exploring the mines, reading, writing andentertaining her many visitors. Lola’s domain included the nearby town of Nevada (City) as noted in the following item by one who_ signed himself “General Blaze.” Nevada Journal, May 12, 1854: (Frisbie’s Restaurant, located on Coyote and Main Streets, above the Assay Office) “_. Whilst taking a help in sustaining my exhausted frame, a Porter-House steak, rare; baked potatoes, biscuit and cup-o-coffee, I had the languid satisfaction of resting my gaze on Lola Montez, Countess of Landsfeldt. As I watched her expressive, childlike face, I signed for those days when I too, was guileless and inexperienced in the ways of the world.” That she was a benevolent person seems apparent in the accounts relating to thisfacetof her personality. She was most solicitous towards children, especially those in need. The stories of her many bountifulacts, such as: standing at the gate with bandage and ointment in hand to dress the wounds of any injured miner, or riding to the cabin of an indiigent with a basket of food, are most likely true. An eastern correspondent summed it up in this manner. ; “She flitted from city to city doing generous things.” . The following is quoted from the memoirs of Mrs. . Matilda Uphoff, Grass Valley pioneer, who atthe age. of five attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853., “There were only a few girls in Grass Valley, and I was five when Lola Montez gave us little ones a: Christmas party at her home. We were all excited about it. If Lola had been the woman some say she was . our mothers never would have let us visit her. She met us at the door as we arrived and gave each of us a merry welcome. Idon’t remember much . about her looks, except that she seemed to :.1e the most beautiful woman in the world. Yes, she had a. tree, I remember that, and she had gifts for us and we played games and had good things to eat. She had a bear chained to atree inthe yard and we used to go by to look at it. Lola Montez was very kind. Once my mother and I and my baby sister wentto Sacramento. We took the stage. Lola was on board, too, and she held me in her lap most of the way down, taking the care of me completely off my mother. She talked to me and sang as the stage drove along. I believe she gave me some candy too. Mother.was, very grateful to her for her help on the trip. Yes, she was very kind to many people.” Two other little girls may have attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853, one already known on the theatrical circuit of towns and mining camps andthe other unknown, but destined for greater fame. They were Sue Robinson and Lotta Crabtree: Sue, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Robinson was billed in the early theaters as La Petite Susan or BlackEyed Susan. The Robinson family (not Dr. D. G. (Yankee) Robinson, burlesque artist) were special favorites in Grass Valley; in fact, they seemed to belong in the community, and purchased a home at the corner of Neal and Church Streets for a winter residence.

of his guests. The famous Lola Montez Bear has been purchased by Mr. Storms and will no doubt act well his part inthe coming festival.” (From adin the same issue) “Six of the best dogs, two at a time, will fight the bear until either bear or dogs are vanquished.” The following issues of the Grass Valley Telegraph did not mention the fate of Lola’s Grizzly. The July 6 edition simply stated that there hadbeena “jangling of dogs.” : A humane feeling for animals was noted against bear fights in the Grass Valley Telegraph, Beb. 9, 1854; “I am told that among the spectators were Many persons claiming to be gentlemen: — judges, lawyers, and Christians. How long will sucha horrible state of things be tolerated in California?” Lola’s court lasted a year and a half and to it came the illustrious personages and leading figures of the day, enjoying its cordial hospitality andfellowship, the wines and food, but above all all meeting the famous and gracious hostess, the Countess de Landsfeldt. (Next Week: “Grass Valley Domain, 1853-1854” PART X “Grass Valley Domain, 1853-1854” As if inretaliationfor the benign reignof the Coun~ tess de Landsfeldt in Grass Valley, the winter began in fury that fall of 1853, and Lola courageously responded to the challenge, defying the elements that had set themselves against her. Jonas Winchester, millman, wrote to his wife in New York on November 19, 1853: “The lovely Thanksgiving day has been succeeded by one of the wildest storms we have ever had in Grass Valley. At 2:00 a.m. this morning a terrible gale woke me with its howling and moaning, like a maniac. Torrents of pine leaves. and burrs and twigs fell upon our . house, giving one the impression of a storm of hafl. © You know how those old pines moan and sob with the varying blasts of winter — crushing the spirits with their melancholy voices. Last night the sound was awful. A distant roar like a mighty waterfall gradually increased as the wind-demon approached till it absolutely shrieked. The house rocked, the twigs and leaves rattled, and every moment I expected one of those old giants would come tumbling and tearing . about our ears. I could not sleep, but with the first peep of day got up. By this time the wind lulled coming in fitful gusts, and ‘the rain a deluge poured. . So it has continued to this moment. (p.m.) Those two old oaks fronting the mill (on Wolf Creek below , Winchester Street) gave way to the blasts by parting . with several of the largest limbs — one of them a . foot and a half in diameter. A pine tree fell near the Grass Valley House, smashing three cabins, and . badly injuring one man, so much 50, that it was . feared he would not live. Another large limb fell on a cabin in the neighborhood of Old Neal’s, in which three men slept, breaking itinto ruins, yet strange to say, all the sleepers escaped uninjured.” In another Jetter he wrote, “The Countess is here yet, as contented as a lamb. She seems to have taken up her residence permanently among us.” Nevada Journal, January 20, 1854: “The merry ringing of sleigh bells has been heard for several days past in our city. Several temporary sleighs have been fitted up, and the young gentlemen have treated the ladies to dashing turnouts. On Tuesday the Countess of Landsfeldt paid our berg a flying visit per this conveyance and a span of horses, decorated with impromptu cow bells. She flashed like a meteor through the snow flakes and wanton snowballs, and after a thorough tour of the thoroughfares, disappeared in the direction of Grass Valley.” The Golden Era, Jan. 22, 1854: Nevada Correspondent “Snow fell here to the depth of 16” and a right merry time the boys had with snow balls. Yesterday, a sleigh load of Grass Valleyans paid us a visit, accompanied by ‘Madame Lola’ who happened to enter POGVGUSOHHH HH HHH HHHHHOSOHOHOOHVHHHHOHKHGCDVODEOOCEEE my ‘sanctum’ just as I was penning my items and so confused me that I shall be obliged to say ‘Adios.’

The Golden Era, January 29, 1854: “The (Nevada City) Journal says the snow and excessive cold for ~ the past few days have entirely suspended all mining operations, the ditches being frozen and buried.” Grass Valley’s social and recreational activities in 1853 and ’54 centered around the churches, theater, lodges, clubs and societies such as the Grass Valley Literary Society and Sewing Circle. What with billiards, bowling, dancing, concerts and lectures, the lonely and culturally starved found some companion, ship and nourishment in this primitive and isolated community. . _ Lola Montez, Countess de Landsfeldt, held herself apart from the public gatherings, however. Her name does not appear in the early papers as serving on any committees or listed as a member of any Grass Valley organization. Her life in the village was as. she described it to her Sacramento friends, spent in riding, exploring the mines, reading, writing andentertaining her many visitors. Lola’s domain included the nearby town of Nevada (City) as noted in the following item by one who_ signed himself “General Blaze.” Nevada Journal, May 12, 1854: (Frisbie’s Restaurant, located on Coyote and Main Streets, above the Assay Office) “_. Whilst taking a help in sustaining my exhausted frame, a Porter-House steak, rare; baked potatoes, biscuit and cup-o-coffee, I had the languid satisfaction of resting my gaze on Lola Montez, Countess of Landsfeldt. As I watched her expressive, childlike face, I signed for those days when I too, was guileless and inexperienced in the ways of the world..” That she was a benevolent person seems apparent in the accounts relating to thisfacetof her personality. She was most solicitous towards children, especially those in need. The stories of her many bountifulacts, such as: standing at the gate with bandage and ointment in hand to dress the wounds of any injured miner, or riding to the cabin of an indiigent with a basket of food, are most likely true. An eastern correspondent summed it up in this manner. ; “She flitted from city to city doing generous things.” . The following is quoted from the memoirs of Mrs. . Matilda Uphoff, Grass Valley pioneer, who atthe age. of five attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853., “There were only a few girls in Grass Valley, and I was five when Lola Montez gave us little ones a: Christmas party at her home. We were all excited about it. If Lola had been the woman some say she was .. our mothers never would have let us visit her. She met us at the door as we arrived and gave each of us a merry welcome. Idon’t remember much . about her looks, except that she seemed to :.1e the most beautiful woman in the world. Yes, she had a. tree, I remember that, and she had gifts for us and we played games and had good things to eat. She had a bear chained to atree inthe yard and we used to go by to look at it. Lola Montez was very kind. Once my mother and I and my baby sister wentto Sacramento. We took the stage. Lola was on board, too, and she held me in her lap most of the way down, taking the care of me completely off my mother. She talked to me and sang as the stage drove along. I believe she gave me some candy too. Mother.was, very grateful to her for her help on the trip. Yes, she was very kind to many people.” Two other little girls may have attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853, one already known on the theatrical circuit of towns and mining camps andthe other unknown, but destined for greater fame. They were Sue Robinson and Lotta Crabtree: Sue, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Robinson was billed in the early theaters as La Petite Susan or BlackEyed Susan. The Robinson family (not Dr. D. G. (Yankee) Robinson, burlesque artist) were special favorites in Grass Valley; in fact, they seemed to belong in the community, and purchased a home at the corner of Neal and Church Streets for a winter residence.