July 16, 1975 (8 pages)

ore oo ee pia ' owner ae ee ae 4 e+ Hy ee ee a oe . taygt ys are ee 4 Th e Nevada County Nugget Wed., July 16, 1975 nc — i * — eS SSS oe = :, (Lola Montez’ life has provided much material for biographers and novelists but what the press had*to say about her has long been hidden in musty files. Author Doris Foley diligently searched early ‘day California newspaper files, reading every issue published between 1853 and 1861, to document what they said about the divine Lol aand then for contrast included Lola’s autobiography in this work.) i Chapter 20 THE CURTAIN CLOSES Although in poor health, Lola Montez began a new career in New York as a lecturer. Grace Greenwood, leading woman correspondent for an Eastern newspaper, wrote ‘‘Though apparently the most respectable, this period was perhaps the most pitiable of her life. She had entered on a work for which she was legs fitted than for the profession of a dancer, and in which she depended more directly on her unenviable repute. Though her dress was modest and her manner grave, her lectures were more ‘ demoralizing than her dancing had been. She usually read very Ve erg f i gtih a : ee ee es nicely and quietly with an effect of oratory and a display of feeling, but on the night when I heard her, a somewhat objectionable passage was distinctly hissed by a gentleman sitting in front of the platform. Instantly a great passion swept over her lovely face, transforming it into something terrible. She paused, fixed her eyes on the offender, and seemed like a tigress just about to spring. She mastered her anger, however, and went on reading but with a fierce glint in her eyes to the end.” The lectures and writings lasted until the fall of 1859 when she suffered a stroke. Grace Greenwood wrote, “It left her helpless, blighted and aged before her time; a fate most terrible for an organization like hers, all nerves and action.” San Francisco Evening Bulletin, February 14, 1861: ‘‘Lola Montez is dead! That fact, I presume you have already learnt vy telegraph, for so soon as it was known, it was sent over the world in the time she married George The whip she is holding may possibly be the one used on Henry Shipley. (Photo courtesy of the Harvard College Library, Theatre Collection). — The Divin ‘LOLA MONTEZ AN X _ all directions with as much haste as would have been the decease ofthe most powerful sovereign. With the history and adventures of Lola, the world is already sufficiently familiar; but the Journals of the day, in announcing her decease, furnish us with some interesting particulars pertaining to the last days of her career, that are worth copying. “The last moments of Lola Montez, says the Post, offered a singular contrast to her earlier career. For sometime she had been very ill at Astoria, and professed the heartiest penitence for the manner in which her life had been spent. About four weeks ago, the Rev. Dr. Hawks was requested to call on her and did so. He found her with her Bible open to the story of the Magdalen, and she expressed to her visitor her sincere anxiety'in regard to her future welfare. At the same time she was hopeful. ‘“T can forget my French, my German, my everything,’ she said, ‘but I cannot forget Christ.’ Before she died she purchased the ‘little plot in Greenwood where she is now buried. On her coffin was the plate with the simple inscription: ‘‘Mrs. Eliza Gilbert, died Jan. 17, 1861, aged 42 years. The Herald gave a full account of Lola’s death: ‘‘About two months ago Lola Montez, then being ill, came to New York, and by invitation, took up her abode with Mrs. Buchanan, the wife of the celebrated florist, who knew Lola in Scotland, they, being in their younger days school companions. Lola gradually grew worse, although the best of medical skill was employed and everything supplied her calculated to alleviate her sufferings. About two weeks ‘ago she began to sink, and, being aware of the fact, her whole time was occupied in devotional exercises. But in this respect, anterior to the period we allude to, she exhibited a marked change on her previous life. Her whole desire seemed bent toward_ engaging in religious conversation with everybody with whom she came in contact, and in them she exhibited a deep knowledge on theological subjects. = “During the last week of her life she sent for and was attended THIS PORTRAIT OF Lola Montez, age 30, was engraved by Auguste Hussner about Heald, 21. Trafford age — a om = By Dor THIS PLACE of lasting . in Greenwood Cemet: Avenue near the 37th it is marked by a plain ® inscription "Mrs. Eliza 42." \ Courtesy of the Califo by the Rev. Dr. Hawks of . by members of the Congres engaged in religious con repentance for her past err: Dr. Hawks was at her bedsi she still thought she had 1 being able to speak, she no thought she had found full promptly signified the affi she still thought she had fou promptly signified the affir “After her death her } sickness spared no pains t possible, and, indeed, we m peculiar nature could be. 1 Episcopal funeral services v funeral cortege, which was most respectable citizens Greenwood, where the body before the public was at ! ‘delivered a course of lectur she lived very quietly. Her ~ her fast habits in early life, the summer of 1860, Lola h was despaired of. She rec Astoria, where she lived un town. On Christmas day sh with the malady of which : “Lola was always: very would divide her last meal w and easily led. Doubtless sh mother. Lola was very fond literateur. She had a sma variety of topics, and was \ clever people about her. She number of persons at the s: knowledge as to her capabili attention when she first ar ‘ Westcott. ‘Lola in Bavaria,’ by Mr. Charles Ware, and . Chauncey Burr. ae ee

ore oo ee pia ' owner ae ee ae 4 e+ Hy ee ee a oe . taygt ys are ee 4 Th e Nevada County Nugget Wed., July 16, 1975 nc — i * — eS SSS oe = :, (Lola Montez’ life has provided much material for biographers and novelists but what the press had*to say about her has long been hidden in musty files. Author Doris Foley diligently searched early ‘day California newspaper files, reading every issue published between 1853 and 1861, to document what they said about the divine Lol aand then for contrast included Lola’s autobiography in this work.) i Chapter 20 THE CURTAIN CLOSES Although in poor health, Lola Montez began a new career in New York as a lecturer. Grace Greenwood, leading woman correspondent for an Eastern newspaper, wrote ‘‘Though apparently the most respectable, this period was perhaps the most pitiable of her life. She had entered on a work for which she was legs fitted than for the profession of a dancer, and in which she depended more directly on her unenviable repute. Though her dress was modest and her manner grave, her lectures were more ‘ demoralizing than her dancing had been. She usually read very Ve erg f i gtih a : ee ee es nicely and quietly with an effect of oratory and a display of feeling, but on the night when I heard her, a somewhat objectionable passage was distinctly hissed by a gentleman sitting in front of the platform. Instantly a great passion swept over her lovely face, transforming it into something terrible. She paused, fixed her eyes on the offender, and seemed like a tigress just about to spring. She mastered her anger, however, and went on reading but with a fierce glint in her eyes to the end.” The lectures and writings lasted until the fall of 1859 when she suffered a stroke. Grace Greenwood wrote, “It left her helpless, blighted and aged before her time; a fate most terrible for an organization like hers, all nerves and action.” San Francisco Evening Bulletin, February 14, 1861: ‘‘Lola Montez is dead! That fact, I presume you have already learnt vy telegraph, for so soon as it was known, it was sent over the world in the time she married George The whip she is holding may possibly be the one used on Henry Shipley. (Photo courtesy of the Harvard College Library, Theatre Collection). — The Divin ‘LOLA MONTEZ AN X _ all directions with as much haste as would have been the decease ofthe most powerful sovereign. With the history and adventures of Lola, the world is already sufficiently familiar; but the Journals of the day, in announcing her decease, furnish us with some interesting particulars pertaining to the last days of her career, that are worth copying. “The last moments of Lola Montez, says the Post, offered a singular contrast to her earlier career. For sometime she had been very ill at Astoria, and professed the heartiest penitence for the manner in which her life had been spent. About four weeks ago, the Rev. Dr. Hawks was requested to call on her and did so. He found her with her Bible open to the story of the Magdalen, and she expressed to her visitor her sincere anxiety'in regard to her future welfare. At the same time she was hopeful. ‘“T can forget my French, my German, my everything,’ she said, ‘but I cannot forget Christ.’ Before she died she purchased the ‘little plot in Greenwood where she is now buried. On her coffin was the plate with the simple inscription: ‘‘Mrs. Eliza Gilbert, died Jan. 17, 1861, aged 42 years. The Herald gave a full account of Lola’s death: ‘‘About two

months ago Lola Montez, then being ill, came to New York, and by invitation, took up her abode with Mrs. Buchanan, the wife of the celebrated florist, who knew Lola in Scotland, they, being in their younger days school companions. Lola gradually grew worse, although the best of medical skill was employed and everything supplied her calculated to alleviate her sufferings. About two weeks ‘ago she began to sink, and, being aware of the fact, her whole time was occupied in devotional exercises. But in this respect, anterior to the period we allude to, she exhibited a marked change on her previous life. Her whole desire seemed bent toward_ engaging in religious conversation with everybody with whom she came in contact, and in them she exhibited a deep knowledge on theological subjects. = “During the last week of her life she sent for and was attended THIS PORTRAIT OF Lola Montez, age 30, was engraved by Auguste Hussner about Heald, 21. Trafford age — a om = By Dor THIS PLACE of lasting . in Greenwood Cemet: Avenue near the 37th it is marked by a plain ® inscription "Mrs. Eliza 42." \ Courtesy of the Califo by the Rev. Dr. Hawks of . by members of the Congres engaged in religious con repentance for her past err: Dr. Hawks was at her bedsi she still thought she had 1 being able to speak, she no thought she had found full promptly signified the affi she still thought she had fou promptly signified the affir “After her death her } sickness spared no pains t possible, and, indeed, we m peculiar nature could be. 1 Episcopal funeral services v funeral cortege, which was most respectable citizens Greenwood, where the body before the public was at ! ‘delivered a course of lectur she lived very quietly. Her ~ her fast habits in early life, the summer of 1860, Lola h was despaired of. She rec Astoria, where she lived un town. On Christmas day sh with the malady of which : “Lola was always: very would divide her last meal w and easily led. Doubtless sh mother. Lola was very fond literateur. She had a sma variety of topics, and was \ clever people about her. She number of persons at the s: knowledge as to her capabili attention when she first ar ‘ Westcott. ‘Lola in Bavaria,’ by Mr. Charles Ware, and . Chauncey Burr. ae ee