Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-07-27
A SHORT BUT TRUE STORY

4 lovely morning in October IL, was
rendered gloomy one to the inhabitants of
Martinique. Repeated injuries inflicted bv
the ruling powers, coupled with burning
desire among many ambitious and perhaps
patriotic men to crush foreign influence upon
their beautiful Isle, and to govern themselves
as free and Independent people, had long
rendered a residence there precarious. On
the morning in question, the banner Of revolt
was seen floating in proud defiance upon the
walls of the castle at Fort ROYAL, and in the
far distance the smoke of villages showed
the track of the merciless Demon Of Insur-
Iectlon. Every vessel in the harbor of Fort
Royal was crowded with refugees. who hav-
ing hastily collected their most valuable eff
fects had fled before the tide of destruction
which was rolling over that i'll starred island
Among them was merchant of high repute,
who with his wife and daughter. beautiful
girl of about fifteen, took passage for France,
whittier on the following day the vessel sail
ed. Fair winds gave them quick passage
to the Cape de Verbs, and after a tarry of a
day or two there they weighed anchor for
Havre. At dawn on the second morning af-
ter their departure they espied dark looking
brig bearing down upon them, and as the sun
rose above the horizon 1t portrayed to them
the truth that an Algerine corsair was their
early visitor. So much were the high seas
vessel went prepared for an encounter. I'm
mediate preparation was made for contest
should the corsair overtake them, and all sails
were spread to the breezes.
The pirate came up-the contest was fear
ful--the father and mother were murdered
and the beautiful orphan was made the prize
of band Of rufians.-In few days they
neared Barbary coast, and she was sold to the
Bey of Tunis for ten thousand sequins.
The prediction Of fortune teller, years be-
fore, that she would one day wear the coronet
of queen impressed her mind with con-
vction Of its truth, which spread a halo of
light around her amid the darkness of the
worst OF slavery. Her beauty made her a
favorite, and about two years afterward, Sui
tan Mustapha carried her in triumph to Con-
stantinopie. Her beauty, her virtues, her
ample powers to please, made her the exalted
favorite of the Imperial seraglio, and she be-
came the honored Sultana. Then indeed
were the predictions of her destiny verified,
and she wore the crown queen of the OF
toman Empire. Mahmoud II. the present
Sultan of Turkey is her son, and to her infiu-
ence upon his early character may be attrib-
uted his taste for European customs and fire.
quent innovations which his will has made
among the customs Of his people. The last
act Of importance, and which seems like
great stride toward the elevation of Turkish
women to the same station which women
hold throughout Christendom, Is the opening
the doors Of the seragio, and permitting his
women to 90 in and out at their pleas IRE, and
enjoy themselves by rambles upon the lovely
plains which stretch along the banks of the
Bosphorus. The number who were confined
in his seraglio was about six hundred.
The fate of that young girl was similar to
that of Josephine, wife Of Napoleon. She
too was the subject of similar prediction,
and even when confined by prison bars and
upon the eve of conveyance to the gulllotine,
that prediction stood up before her with all
the brightness and sacredness of Truth; and
when the downfall Of RobesperEe caused her
prison to be thrown open: "Ihere,' eXclaim-
ed she to Madame Fontenay, her fellow pri5-
oner, Il told you should be Queen of France"
And she was indeed Queen not only Of France,
but of the heart of that proud COrsican who
swayed it's destinies.