MADAMS TUSSAUD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6501, 28 December 1881, Page 5

MADAMS TUSSAUD.

Every colonist has hoard of Madame Tussaud and of her renowned exhibition in Baber street, London, and those who with to know more about this interning personage should peruse "The Memoirs of Madame Tussaud,” recently published by Messrs Routledge and Sane. It is said the late Duke of Wellington frequently enjoyed » gossip with Madame lues and, and it is not to be wondered at. for she wee one of the few people who lived late into the first half of this century who could distinctly renumber the great Devolution of "93" and who knew intimately almost every personage who figured in it, from the King and Queen I down to Robespierre and the infamous Marat. By b/rth a member of one of the most illustrious houses of Germany, and the grand-daughter of the famous Field-Marshall von Qreaholtz, Madams Tuesaud had exceptional opportunities for studying the various characters of her time. She was bora at Berne, but, losing her parents when quite a child, was taken by an ancle to Paris and placed under the care of M. Curtins, her mother’s brother. He was originally a medical mao, but his fame rested chiefly upon his merits as a modeller in wax. In tnose days it was not permitted for‘students in the Hospitals to mutilate the dead for anatomical purposes, and waxen images of the various parts of the human body were fabricated, in order to facilitate their studies. These Curtius made to perfection, and later on he opened a Museum in the Bue St Honor!, which must have closely resembled that now existing in Boker street. Curtius was a brilliant conversationalist, and many writers on the French Revolution are inclined to believe that at his hospitable table, whither Voltaire, Rousseau, Franklin, and Lafayette were wont to assemble, the great scheme of the mightiest of social revolutions was planned. His house was a kind of political club, and here his celebrated niece formed relationship with all the famous people of her time, and she could distinctly recollect the frequent quarrels she had witnessed os a girl between Rousseau and Voltaire. As her parents had left her but ill provided for, M. Curtius taught her early his art, and at the age of 16 she was considered so efficient therein that she was appointed to teach it in her tarn to the unfortunate Princess Elizabeth, sister to Louis XVI. Modelling in wax was one of the favourite arts of the last century, and exceedingly fashionable. Mddlle von Gresholtz being a very pretty young woman and of ancient family, Madame Elizabeth took such a fancy to her that she determined ehe should reside with her at Versailles, not only as her instructress, but also as lady in waiting. Here the future Madame Tnisaud lived for several years in the closest intimacy with Madame de France, usually sharing her room at night and taking her meals almost every day either with Madame or with Madame de Campon. Her affection for her Royal mistress lasted to the end of her days, and •he rarely spoke of her without weeping. During the Reign of Terror Madame Tnssaud lived with her uncle and aided him with his museum, which wae now one of the eights of Paris. Robespierre, Danton, Marat, and all the other leaders of the day were constantly Curtins guests. It is unquestionable that Madame Tussaud exerted her influence with her ancle to save the lives of many persons connected with the Court, and she herself lost during the horrible night of August 10 three brothers and two uncles, all gentlemen of the Queen’s Guard. This certainly must have Men a terrible day of grief, and would have for ever embittered the temper and spirits of a less brave woman. Madame Tus gaud's known Royalist tendencies got her at last into trouble, and led to the horrible death of her uncle, who was poisoned by order of Robespiene. After her uncle’s murder Madame was imprisoned for a long time, and shared the same cell as did Madame do Bsauharaais, who subsequently became Empress Josephine. In 1796' Udlle von Gresholts married M. Tumad, a gentleman of very old Bqyalist family, and an ex-guardsman of the Royal Guards, and with him left Franco and sought an asylum in England. Here she met with friends, and having a handsome capital, inherited from her uncle, founded the celebrated exhibition which is still in the possession of her grand* children. She returned to France in 1804, and was kindly received by Madame Bonarrte, and took several likenesses of Napoleon But, notwithstanding many pressing invitations to remain in Paris, the preferred London, “where there were no horrible memories to haunt her peace.” She lived until 1851, being over 90 years of age when she died. To the last she was active, and her memory never failed her. Her character was a very singular one. She was a brilliant conversationalist, and her wit is reported to have been iris Gaulois. She bad great respect for Catholicism, but at heart she was like all Frenchwomen of rank, before the Revolution, a philosopher, and her remarks frequently shocked the orthodox. In youth she mutt have been handsome, as is proved by the beautiful portrait of her in the Baker street exhibition. As an artist in wax modelling she was most skillful; but it is not only as a modeller that she deserves fame j the alto pointed exquisitely in minis tore. Hor models are superb, and perhaps the best portraits of the leading men and women of the revolution are those blackened wax masks which hang up in the Chamber of Horrors, most of which were taken from life by her, and deserve to be carefully reproduced.