The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-30

Eriage, aIienated Alexander of Russia from
the French Emperor, and hence the cam
Paign Of Moscow, and the Imprisonment of
Napoleon. Every court Of Europe was
emulous Of the honor of such an alliance.
The Bourbons in their exile, would gladly
furnish princess of the royal blood as
bride for the mighty conqueror. The Rus
sian court profcred any Of its high born
maidens to the acceptance of the master
Esprit, at whose frown all Europe trenlbes.
And the Austrian monarchy. the proudest
of all earthly dynasties, eagerly seeks ALI
ance with the soldier of fortune, who has
twice entered i,s capital in triumph and re-
posed piebian marshals in its palaces.
After much deIiberatiom, Napoleon deci-
lted to accept the alliance of Austria. Pro-
posals were made for Maria Lstiisa, and
eagerly accepted. Maria was then nine
teen years of age, and was most happy to
be h0nured as the bride of one who had
filed the world with his renown. Napo-
leon was iorty-two. On the 18th day of
March, 1910, apparently without emotion.
she left the palace OF her father, surrounded
by all the pomp the Austrian monarchy
could confer, to meet her future husband
AS tie long train of carriages left Vienna,
the people gazed mournfuiIy upon the
scene, Maria Antoinette, the last princess
of Austria had furnished for the throne of
Franch, but few years before, bad perish
ell miSerably upon the scaffod. The pop
ulace were only prevented by the soldiery
from cutting the traces Of the carriages and
preventing the departure. The gorgeous
procession moved upon its way towards the
frontier of France. Napoleon bad never
yet seen the bride who was coming to meet
him. "She is not beautifully" he said, as he
gazed upon her miniature, 'but she is a
daughter of the Casars!''
When Maria arrived at the Rhine, her
Austrian attendauts left her, aud she was
received by the French nation, AID conduc-
ted towards Paris with the highest possible
accompaniment Of imp@riaL splendor. The
bells rang their merriest peals of congratu
lation. The Austrian and tr-coIored flags
fioated in friendly embrace from every tow
er. Iriunphal arches, Illuminated cities,
and civil and military PROFESSIONS greeted
her progress, while the horses of. her char
lot buried their hoofs i'll beds of roses, which
we've spread over her path. France then
ID The zenith of lis pride and into cated
with glory, from the Rhine to the Pyrenees,
resounded with all the expressions and dem
onstratons Of rejoicing. Napoleon met her
near Compeigne. Springng from his own
carriage, he eagerly leaped into that of the
restraints Of etiquette of courts, folded her
in his embrace with the most youthful i'm
Ipetuosity. The Positions were ordered 10
drive upon the galiop to the palace of
Compeigne. The unexpected ardor was
not at all unwelcome to Maria, and few
hours IN the society Of her imperial husband
invested her with such queenly case and
affablhty that she could hardly be recognized
by her former attendants.
The marriage ceremony was celebrated
with the utmost spiendor at St. Cloud, and
never before, or since, has Paris resounded
with such an uproar or rejoicing, as when
Napoleon led his youthful bride into those
apartments OF The Iuiileries, from which Jo-
sephne, but three months before had been
icruelly rejected. Four queens held the
bridal train of Maria Louisa, and the am
bassadors Of all the courts Of Europe re-
volved around her as theirctntral luniinary.
But who can tell how dismally these re-
LODGINGS fell upon the ear Of Josephine, as
she sat weeping in her deserted chamber.
In one year from that time, Maria was
placed upon that mysterious couch Of suf-
fering from which 10 real wealth or SPLEEN
dor can purchase exemptions. Her pains
: were long and protracted, and her anguish
dreadful. The attendant physicians in the
utmost trepida,on informed Napoleon that
the life of the mother must be sacrificed
''Save the MOTHER" said Napoleon, but per-
cevlng that they had lost their presence of
mind ia view of the peril of so illustrious a
patient, he Immediately added, ''do as you
would win the humblest tradesman ia the
Rue of ST. Dennis The ply scans reas-
sured, returned to their duty the crisis was
passed.
The birth of this child was an event
which had been anticipated by all France
with. the most sincere interest. Ii had been
previously announced that the cannon of
the Invalides should proclaim the advent Of
the expected heir TO the throne. If the
child were a princess, 81 guns were 10 he
fred; if prince, 100. At6 O'Clock in the
morning OF the 3Oth of March, 1911, all
Paris was aroused by the deep booming of
those heavy guns, reverberating over the
Icity in enumeration Of the arrival of the
+ welcome stranger. Every window was on
the alert. The slunberers were aroused
from their pillows, and silence pervaded all
the streets of the busy metropolis, to count
the tidings which those explosions were
laundering into their ears. The hearts Of
the great capital ceased to beat, and in all
her glowing veins the current OF life stood
still.
When the twenty-frst gun bad been
fred, the interest was intense beyond all
conception. The gunners delayed mo-
tient the next discharge and all Paris stood
breathIess in suspense. The next moment
the guns double loaded, pealed forth the
most welcome announcement, and from the
retirement, and from the entire city one
universal roar of reclamation rose and
blended with their thunders. Never was
there an earthly monarch greeted with.more
affecting demonstration Of nation's love
aud homage. The birth Of the King of
Rome, how ilustrions! The Thoughtful
mind will pause, and muse upon the striking
contrast furnished by his death. Who
could then have imagined that his renowned
father would perish prisoner in dilapida-