Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-11-22
no 4s
From .Hemes ,rsusesfs If the Empress Josej,hiae
JOSEPHINE AND TIE FORTUNE
TELLER


JOSEPHINE AND TIE FoRTUNE
TELLER
4 none day. before nv first marriage. while
taking my usual walk. observed number
OF negro girls assembled round an old wo-
man. engaged IN telling their fortunes 1
drew near to observe their proceeding The
Iold sybyl. on beholiing me, uttered loud
exclamation, aud almost by force seized my
hand She appeared to DO Under the great
lest agiation. Amused at these absurditiesy
as 4 thought them, allowed her q proceed,
saying, so you discover something extrsor-
binary in my destiny2--'Yts,-'ls happiness
or misfortune 10 be my lot?'--'Mislotiune.-
All, stop and happiness too.'--'Yon take
care not 10 commit yourself, my good dame;
your orscles are not the most intelheible.'-
Il am not permitted 10 render them more
clear, said the woman. raising her eyes with
a mysterious expression towards heaven. But
to the point replied 7, Tor curiosity began To
be excited; 'what read you concerning me in
futuriiyp-.NVhat do zee in fnturep--You
will no, believe me il ak.'-'Yes, indeed,
| assure. Come, my good mother. what ann
TO fear and hopep'-'On your own head bo
II then; istens You will be married soon;
that union will not be happy; you will become
a widow, aud then-then will you be Queen
Of Fyaare' Some happy years will be yours;
but yon will die in an hospital, amid civil
connection
"on concluding theso words" continued
Josephine. "the old woman burst from tho
crowd, and hurried away as fast as her limbs,
enfeebrd by age, would permit. | forbade
the bysiandcrs to modest OF banter the pre-
tended prophecies on this bidiculots predic-
tion; and took occasion, from the seeming
absurdity Of the whole proceeding. to caution
the young negresses how they gave heed 70
such matters, Henceforth. thought of the
| afterwards, when my husband had perished
on the scaffold. In spite Of my better judG-
mcnt, this prediction forciby required to my
mind after a lapse of years; and though
was myself then in prison, the transacton
daily assumed a less improbable characferS
and ended ny regarding tho iulflrnent as .
| matter Of course
The above recital might be corrobofatod.
if necessary, by the evidence or various per-
sons, Who, at different times, had likewise
heard IL from the lips Of the individual con-
| cerned.
PORTRAIT or JOSEPHINE -"to.s.
| phine was rather above than below the mid:
die size, hers being exactly that perfection
Of stature which is neither TOO tall for thu
dehcacy Of feminine proportion. nor 90 d.
| u"uou'e do ". ucWaSt itofu u'ehtty. usk
person, in lis individual forms, exhibit FAULT
less symmetry; and the whole frame, ANNA
ted by iightness and elasticity Of movement.
| seemed Ike something nricl in its perfectly
graceful carriage, This harmonious ease or
action contributed yet more to the digniiedt
though still Youthful air, so remarkable in Jo-'
sephlnes appearance. Her features were
small and. finely modelled. the curves tending
rather to fullness, and the profile tending To
Greciaf, but without any statue like coldness
of the odt- line. The habitusl character OF
II her countcnance was a placid swectnesst
within whose influence there we're few who
would not have felt interested In being 80.
gentle, Perhaps The first impression might
have left lseling that there wanted energy;
but this could have been for an instant only,
for the real charm Of this mild countenance
resided Id lib power Of varied expressions
changing with each vicisstude Of thought
and sentiment "Never," says an honest adj
mner. ibid any woman better justify. Tho
eyes Are the mirror Of the SOUL" Josephine's
we're Of deep blue, clear and brilliant, even
imposing in their expression, when turned fol.
ly upon any one, but in her usual manner
they lay half concealed beneath their long and
SILKY eyelsshes. She had a habit Of looking
thus with a mild subdued glance upon those
she loved, throwing into her regard such win
ming tenderness as might not easily be resist
ed, and even in bis darkest moods, Napoleon
confessed Its trahquiixing power. Realizing
exactly the fine description Of the old poet,
Josephinet
Long hair ,cas glossy chestnut brossn.'
whose sunny richness harmon;zed delightful.
| Iy with clear and transparent comploxions
and neck OF almost dazzling whiteness. Her
eyebrows we're shade darker, arching regU-
Iarly. and psnciled with extreme delcacy.---
Sho read delightful; asd nature had been
here Peculiarly propitious; for so Harmonious
were the tones Of her Voice, even 10 the most.
!ordinsry conversation, that instances ara
common OF those ~ho, coming unexpectedly
and unseen within their influence, have 70.
NAMED as If suddenly fascinated and SPELL
bound. till the sounds ceased, or fear of dis
covery forced the listeners away. This charm
Is known TO have wrought powerfully upon
| Napoleon. His own admission was, "I'be
| first applause Of tie French people sounded
TO me sweet as The voice Of Josephine" On
the whole, Josepfihc; perhaps, smight not
exactly have pretensiohs 10 be what IS termed
fine woman, but hers was that style Of
beauty which awakens III the heart far deepS
er sentiment than MERE admiration.
! A newspaper is the history OF the world for
one day II is the history OF that world ia
which we now live, and with i. we are con-
sequentIy more concerned than With those
which have passed away, and exist only in
Remembrance; though, to check US in our too