Good legal advice can make all the difference. V Langrock Sperry & Wool takes PRIDE in contributing to the advance in civil rights for gay andlesbian citizens, and to making our state a better place for all Vermonters. Langrock Sperry &,Wool offers the services of 22 lawyers with over 300 years combined experience’ in all areas of the law— including two lesbian attorneys with special expertise serving the legal needs of the g/l/b/t/q community SUSAN MURRAY & BETH ROBINSON With offices in Middlebury and Burlington Middlebury (802) 388-6356 Burlington (802) 864-0217 smurray@langrock.com brobinson@langrock.com Langrock Sperry & Wool, ..LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW The Standard for Cozy and Elegant Homes Since 1929 RUTLAND HOUSE LTD. ' Fine Home _I§4_)ute ll / 30 , Manchester VT 162 South Main St Rutland VT 800 - 649 - 2911 An American Girl n Paris ne night late in the fall of 1898 in Paris, a young American girl of 22 went to Bullier’s, a crowded dance hall with a family friend. When a woman of exquisite beauty and elegance entered the hall, the American girl was entranced. As the crowd caught sight of the beauty, they began to rise and whistle and cheer, “The sul- tana of sex has returned! The sultana of sex has retumed!” It was Liane de Pougy, one of the most desired cour- tesans of her day. The American, Natalie Clifford Barney, was deter- mined that she would be her lover. Natalie Cliiford Barney, born on Halloween of 1876, was the daughter of wealthy and indulgent, parents. Her father, Albert, was an alcoholic, always concerned about money and appearances. Her mother, N Alice, had beenhighly sought after before her marriage. After the birth of Natalie and younger sister Laura, Alice began to pursue her artistic talents and studied with James Whistler some years later in Paris. The Barneys lived a fash- ionable life between Washington D.C., Europe and, in the summers, Bar Harbor, Maine. As a young woman Natalie was exuberant, live- ly, beautiful and gay. — Natalie claimed that by the age of 12 she understood her prefer- ence for women and intended never to betray herself by marrying. Although she was engaged (to a man named Bob Cassat) for a while, she was wealthy enough to not need a husband for economic reasons. But her father was always looking for a suitable matefor her. In the fall of 1898, Natalie was living in Paris with her mother while Albert and Laura were in America. She and fiance Bob had agreed that theirs would be a mariage blanc — an unconsummated marriage. He took Natalie to meet her female lovers, and she helped him pick out a prostitute for himself. Still, Bob was jealous of women like Liane. . The courtesan of l9th cen- tury France was part prostitute, part artiste, and part geisha. She had to engage and inspire her protectors on many levels, and many courtesans became wealthy, independent women. Liane was fluent in English and Spanish, was a fearless equestri- enne, and played piano and guitar. V The day after sighting Liane at the dance hall, Natalie began her pursuit without fear of failure. Natalie started her courtship‘ by sending Liane flowers with enig- matic notes; “From a stranger — alas! And who doesn’t want to be one anymore.” She signed them Florence Temple Bradford. While she bided her time,’ Natalie had a page’s cos- tume made. In February, Natalie read that Liane and her German baron had broken up. She sent Liane a dozen black irises, and the next morning Liane appeared with one of the irises tucked at her waist. That afternoon, Natalie donned her page’s outfit, concealing it under a cloak, and slipped away to Liane ’s house. Almost immediately they fought. Natalie thought her love would transcend the physical to the spiritual, and that she could rescue Liane from hervwretched courtesan’s life. But Liane declared that she had freely chosen her lot and enjoyed her life. They began an intense, passion- ate, sexual affair, but Liane’s profes- sion remained a sore point for Natalie. At first, Natalie had little trouble trysting with Liane. Alice was too preoccupied with her paint- ing lessons to keep a sharp eye on her rebellious Natalie. When Albert returned to Europe he was stricter than Alice had been. When Bob I came to visit in May, he helped her slip out to meet Liane, despite his strong disapproval and jealousy. In the fall, the Barneys were vacationing in Brittany, where Liane also rented a cottage. Natalie sneaked away one night and met Liane at the waterfront. They hired a rowboat filled with flowers. Natalie removed her cloak to reveal a sailor costume. She sang American songs, rowed the boat across the calm water, and dropped anchor. She and Liane lay together among the flow- ers under the stars. Natalie was filled with such joy she wondered how she ever lived through it. But it could never last. A friend wrote with news of a rich, 9- handsome gentleman who wanted to meet Liane. The lovers argued once again and Liane went back to Paris. When the Barneys returned to the city, rumors of Natalie’s affair were beginning to circulate. Albert con- fronted his daughter, and according to a friend ofNatalie’s,.?‘pulled her by the hair, which was quite long, onto the sidewalk of Avenue Victor- Hugo.” He made Natalie promise to never see the courtesan again, a promise she did not keep. ’ Liane was done with her young American lover, though not entirely — they continued back and forth throughout 1900. But when Natalie became involved with the poet Renee Vivien, Liane wrote a jealous letter: “Your heart doesn’t exist. What I used to love doesn’t exist and I’m mad at you for making me discover it Take care that I never run into you, for I would -take off your mask in front of everybody. Good-bye.’’ , The next year Liane pub- The courtesan. = of 19th century Francewas part prostitute, part artiste, and part geisha. lished [dylle Saphique, a novel. She had begun to write it while they were still in the midst of the affair and even had Natalie contribute a chapter of her own. At the end of the book, Liane’s character dies. In a way, the character died in real life too, for Liane, whom Natalie remembered as one of her greatest loves, became religiously devout and regarded Natalie as her greatest trespass. V Further Reading: . Wild Heart: A Life, by Suzanne Rodriguez, Ecco, 2002 Portrait of a Seductress: the World of Natalie Barney, by Jean Chalon, trans., by Carol Barko, Crown, 1979 Sapphic laflzll, by Liane de Pougy, (ifyou can find it.) - Francesca Susannah is a writer interested in lesbians through history. She lives in Burlington.