Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1880 — Remarkable Devotion to a Little Girl. [ARTICLE]

Remarkable Devotion to a Little Girl.

About the year 1770 an Italian lady named Fagniani went to London with good introduction, and was received in the first society. She was greatly admired by the wits and men of fashion, and, after a time, went back to her own country, in due course of time she paid .other visits, but, by-and-by, it became a subject of remark that her little girl, who bore the pet of “Mie-mie,” and not her mamma, was the object of devotion of two celebrated men about town, the old Duke of Queensbury, “Old Q, ” and Mr. Geo. Selwyn. The proceedings of the Tatter became, in course of time, so extravagant and even ridiculous as to excite the concern of his rational friends. He adored this little creature; he wished to adopt or buy her at a great price; he was wretched, almost to the verge of melancholy madness, in her absence, making vain appeals, and taking every one into his confidence. All affected to sympathize and—laughed at him. He was, however, fortunate enough to secure as his agent one of the liveliest, wittiest and, perhaps, most disreputable of the free clergymen who then “hung loose upon society ” —Parson Warner, a rollicking, boisterous person, at the service of any gentleman of condition. This worthy agent was dispatched to Paris to try and arrange matters, and, no doubt, to tempt the Fagnianis with more handsome offers. They began to waver. Mme. Fagniani had now another child, which made the affair easier, The delighted Selwyn could not restrain himself any longer, and rushed over to Paris, really hoping to conclude matters. But, after tantalizing hopes and delays, the hapless wit found that he was as far off as ever from the accomplishment of his hopes. The parents would not consent. Mr. Selwyn remained lingering in Paris, his woes and his mournful fate attracting the attention of even the French. His English friends, kept informed of all the stages of the affair, affected to be indignant. The miserable man was wasting away—had lost his appetite; and the well-known English physician at Paris, Dr. Genu, assured him that, if he gave way any further to this infatuation, his reason would go. The family, dreading some outrageous step, at last thought it better to come to terms. Within a few days, strange to relate, all was happily settled and in a fortnight this wonderful child was carried off in triumph to Matson, her floating admirer’s place in England. There she was installed as queen of the place, under care of Miss Selwyn. Every whim of hers was gratified. She was taken to Tunbridge, where she was exhibited in a coquettish Spanish hat and lace. The rollicking Warner was often bidden there and delighted his patron by his devotion to the little thing. In every letter was a postscript addressed to his “little queen” and signed “Your Snail.” There she remained until gout and dropsy and old age began to overtake Mr. Selwyn, who died in the year 1791. Mie-mie inherited £33,000.