A REVERSE OF FORTUNE.

Western Star, Issue 281, 25 January 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

A REVERSE OF FORTUNE.

Some twenty years ago an Austrian heiress took up her abode in London. She had above LlOO.OiX), and resided in a house in Eaton Square. A Pole carried of the prize, and she became his wife. This Sarmatian nobleman having spent her money, betook himself to America, where he married, and has been enjoying himself in the connubial felicity of bigamy ever since. The Austrian lady had received an excellent education, was an accomplished musician, and could spieak fluently and correctly fourteen languages. Her money and her husband having taken to themselves wings, she pluckily faced, the situation, and gave lessons to pupils who were recommended to her by Lady Herbert, of Lea, and ,other ladies who had known her in the, days of her prosperity. Thus for some years did she gain a livelihood for herself and her daughter. But the pupils fell off, and hearing that a housekeeper was required at the Drury Lane Theatre she applied for the situation and obtained it. From there she was transferred in the same capacity to the Adelphi Theatre. Two months ago, while behind the scenes, she was suddenly called, and running forth, fell down a flight of stairs. She was picked up in a terrible condition. Her spine was injured, her shoulder fractured, her thigh and some of her ribs broken. She was taken to St. Thomas’s Hospital, and now is a bedridden cripple ; but in addition to the injuries by her fall the doctors discovered that she had a cancer. Assuredly amateurs could find no better object for. the receipt of one of their performances, and those taken at the Queen’s Theatre recently were handed over to this lady. Here is a strange story of the vicissitudes of fortune. How many must have envied the wealthy heiress and how few would not have laughed to scorn the idea that one day she would be lying in a bed in a London hospital a penniless cripple.