Hypatia Turned Authoress.

Evening Star, Issue 6895, 6 May 1886, Page 2

Hypatia Turned Authoress.

In Faria, for some weeks past, there has been a dearth of interesting scandals ; but one has been promised during the present week in the publication of the memoirs of Emma Crouch, better known by the more romantic name of Cora Pearl, This once famous individual was born in England forty-four years ago, and at the age of fourteen was taken to Paris by one of her admirers. It was in the palmy days of the Empire that she made her debut as Cupidon in Offenbach’s “Orphee aux Enfers.” She showed no indications of cleverness as an actress or singer, and her English accent was so strong that she could not even pronounce the name of her part in correct French. Under the Empire, however, histrionic ability had but little to do with the success of any actress at the minor theatres. In other respects she was a success, and she soon found herself decorated with sealskins and diamonds. At the zenith of Cora Pearl’s prosperity she discovered that she could not possibly exist upon less than 2d,ooofr per month, and, having made this discovery, she lived up to it as long as she could. Now, however, she is poor; her face has become wrinkled, her figure has lost its grace, and she has suffered from a long illness. Being in need of money, she deter mined to publish_her memoirs, the announce" ment of which imediately brought liberal contributions to her depleted exchequer from former fashionable acquaintances; and it is evident that the portions of her memoirs which will pay best

aro those which will not be published. The most interesting letters are after 1870. Then troubles, political and financial, began, and excuses had to be made. Previously there was the Imperial Civil List to draw upon. Amongst the characters who figure in the pages of Cora Pearl’s book as having been exceptionally generous is “ le Due Jean,” a personage who stood inconveniently near the throne of the Third Napoleon, and who still casts hankering glances after vanished glories. The real names of the other characters, although veiled for obvious reasons, can be easily guessed.