The Indianapolis Leader

Dishonesty of French Servants.

[Paris Letter to Philadelphia Telegraph.]

An American lady died in a private hospital in Paris. She was well-to-do in the world, possessed a handsome wardrobe and no inconsiderable amount of jewelry. When her trunks were forwarded to her friends every article of any value had disappeared. There was not a piece of jewelry of any kind to be found, not even her watch. All smaller articles, such as laces, handkerchiefs, stockings, etc., were missing. Some hours had undoubtedly been permitted to elapse between the time of her death and that of the affixing of the seals, and the time had been made good use of.

Then there was a case that showed an audacity at pilfering altogether uncommon, even on the part of a French servant, which took place at one of the fashionable Parisian hotels some time ago. An American lady, who was in delicate health, but who was by no means considered an invalid either by her friends or herself, died suddenly from some malady of the heart during the temporary absence of her husband in America. This lady possessed a head of hair of unwonted luxuriance and beauty, the long, thick tresses when loosened falling almost to the floor when she stood up, although she was by no means a short woman. When the body was prepared for interment a few hours after her sudden demise, every vestige of this marvellous hair had disappeared, and it was with difficulty that a friend of the family who was present contrived to secure a lock of sufficient dimensions to fill a locket as a relic for the absent husband. Suspicion naturally pointed to the favorite French maid of the deceased as the perpetrator of this audacious and sacrilegious theft, but there was no positive proof of her guilt. There were other persons who had access to the room where the body lay, and the verdict, as is usual in such cases when occurring to Americans abroad, was--no redress.

Cardinal satin belts with a gold edge are pretty when worn with either black or white gowns.