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Camille du Gast (Marie Marthe Camille Desinge du Gast, Camille Crespin du Gast, 30 May 1868 – 24 April 1942) was one of a trio of pioneering French female celebrities of the ''Belle Epoque'', together with Hélène de Rothschild (Baroness Hélène van Zuylen) and Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart the (Duchess of Uzès).〔Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart (French, Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart), Duchess of Uzès, with Camille du Gast was the first women to hold driving licenses in 1897, and alone was the first woman to be ticketed for speeding in 1898 (15 km/h instead of 12 km/h), and the first woman 'lieutenant de louveterie' (Wolfcatcher Royal) in 1923.〕 du Gast was known as "one of the richest and most accomplished widows in France," and as an accomplished sportswoman—a balloonist, parachute jumper, fencer, tobogganist, skier, rifle and pistol shot, horse trainer—as well as a concert pianist and singer. She was the second woman to compete in an international motor race.〔〔〔〔 In France she later became renowned for her extensive charity work. She was president of the 'Société protectrice des animaux' (SPA, 'French Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals') until her death, and her campaign against bullfighting included disruptive direct action protests. She provided health-care to disadvantaged women and children in Paris, and continued whilst under German occupation in World War II.〔〔 Her quixotic character, pugnacity, ambition and daring plus her feminist pioneering meant that she was both admired and detested in equal measure. Her social drive, connections and independent financial status attracted jealousy, misogynist outbursts and gossip. She was the central figure in the Parisian scandal of ''La Femme au Masque'' where she was maliciously but mistakenly named as the nude model in a notorious painting by Henri Gervex. This salacious story involved three court cases, and was reported around the world.〔〔Céline Cauvin, Date unknown, "Les Femmes et L’Automobile a la Belle Epoque (1898–1922) – A partir de l’hebdomadaire La Vie au Grand Air", Mémoire de Master 1 Mention Management des Evènements et des Loisirs Sportifs, Université Paris X Nanterre, U.F.R Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives, see (), accessed 13 October 2014.〕〔〔 Her exuberant social and sporting lifestyle was changed by a traumatic experience around 1910, when her daughter attempted to have her murdered in order to inherit. In the middle of the night, in her own house, she challenged the gang and they fled. Afterwards she devoted herself to French Government work in Morocco, and charitable works with animals, disadvantaged women and orphans.〔 A pioneer feminist, she served as vice-president of the Ligue Française du Droit des Femmes (The French League for the Rights of Women) after World War I.〔 In 1904 she become the only woman official of the Automobile Club de France (A.C.F.). She was known in the press by the soubriquets ''l'Amazone'' and ''la Walkyrie de la Mécanique'' ''(Valkyrie of the motor car)''.〔〔 ==Personal life== Marie Marthe Camille Desinge du Gast was born in Paris in 1868. A 'garçon manqué' (tomboy) she was the youngest amongst her siblings, having a sister plus a brother who was twelve years older.〔〔〔 Known as Camille du Gast she married Jules Crespin in 1890, he was the manager and majority shareholder of ''Dufayel'', one of the largest department stores in France. It had evolved from ''Le Palais de la Nouveauté'' which his father Jacques Crespin had founded in 1856 in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, but by 1890 Georges Dufayel had taken over ownership of the store and changed its name to ''Dufayel''.〔〔〔 Jules Crespin died young (circa 1896/7, 'when she was 27') leaving her a very wealthy widow with a young daughter. This further stimulated her to participate in sporting activities.〔(Université Paris X Nanterre, LES FEMMES ET L’AUTOMOBILE A LA BELLE EPOQUE 1898–1922) – A partir de l’hebdomadaire La Vie au Grand Air. Présenté par Céline CAUVIN Sous la direction de Mr Jean-Pierre BLAY )〕 Other sources report that she started competing under her maiden name, du Gast, at her husband's behest in order to avoid her ballooning and parachuting activities being mistaken for publicity stunts.〔〔 She was an accomplished athlete, fencer, tobogganist, skier, rifle and pistol shot, horse trainer and concert pianist.〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=CRESPIN DU GAST Camille (1868-1942) )〕 Gordon Bennett described her as "the greatest sportswoman of all time".〔 After her husband's death she began to travel extensively, including crossing Morocco on horseback. She was active on the Parisian social scene, being known as "one of the richest and most accomplished widows in France".〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Camille du Gast」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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