The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-19
The Two Empresses and the Artist.
rFrom Chamben's Edinburgh JournsIJ

II was the middle Of the year 1912, that year. the
latter month Of which witnessed the annihation
OF the French army on the plains of Russia. Such
catastrophe was far from the Thoughts Of single
inhabitant Of Paris, when one morning in the month
Of June the celebrated artist Rondouie VAS on bis
way to Malmaison to present 10 the Empress jose
phine some paintings Of lilies. He was great
favorite with her, from his having devoted his pen
cI 70 flowers, Of which she was passionately fond.
In full enjoyment Of the lovely morning, he was
gayiy crossing the garden of the Tuilees get to
the Palace de Ia Coneorde, where he intended
taking a coach, when he saw q crowd eagerly hnr-
rylng 10 the direction of the walk by The water
side. The general cry, The King Of Rome .-the
Empress" soon told him the object Of attraction; !;
and the artist qnickened his steps, glad of the op-
portuniiy, thus by chance afforded him, of seeing
the SOD of the Emperor, the yet Graded child Of
fifteen months, whom SO proud destiny seemed to
await.
1t was indeed the King of Rome, in a little car.
rage drawn by four snow white goats the Empress
Maria Louisa walking by its side. She was wrap
ped in a blue shawl, of peculiar shade, known 10
be her favorife color. The crowd had gathered
outside the grating, around which they pressed
closely; and as Redou'e stopped to gaze with the
rest, be saw standing near him young woman with
a child in her arms. The gatb Of both bespoke eH-
treme poverty but the chiId's face was glowing
with health, whilst the cheeks Of the mother were
pale and emaciated, and from her sunken eyes fell
tears, whch she cared not either to wipe away or
conceal.
:" My poor little one my darling" she whis.
pered, she pressed the child still closer TO her
bosom, " You have no carriage. my angel; no play
thing-no toys Of any kind. For him, abundance,
pleasure everh joy Of his age for thee desolatiou,
suffering, poverty, hunger! What is he that he
should be happier than you, darling! Both of you
born the same day, the same hour! ], as young as
his mother, and loving you as fondly as she loves
him.. But you have now no father, my poor babe !;
yon have no father"
The artist overheard these words of wo, and
stood with his eyes fixed upon the poor young moth
IN utter fOrgetfuness Of the King of Rome.
Madame" said he, after moments hesitation,
and IN low voice, " why do vou not make known
your situation to the Empress i''
To what purpose, sir 7" cried the young wo-
man somewhat bitterly. !" Small compassion have
the great ones of this world"
But why not make the attempti"
have done SO, sir, already. wrote to the
Empress, and told her that my son was born the
same day, the same hour, with the King of Rome.
told her, alas that he has no father, that my
strength is failing, that we are utterly destitute
But the Empress has not deigned 10 answer
You will have an answer, rest assured. Per
haps the memorial has not yet been placed be fore
her majesty. Give me your address, beg of you. 81
And alter taking memorandum of it, and Slipping
into her hand all the money he had about him, Re,
doute was soon rapidly making his way to the Place
de la ConcOrde, where just he was stepping into
"I Ii is of no consequence" said he a have oni,
to walk little fast"
Josephine, meanwhile, had been eagerly expect
ing the promised visit of the usually puncsual artist
and was beginning to feel uneasy lest some aeci
dent had occurred TO occasion the prolonged delav
when he was announced.
" ought to scold you," said she, rs she received
with her wonted gentle grace the artists Offering
for delaying the pleasure feel in seeing this ad
mirable drawing'
" must throw myself Upon your majesty good
ness TO excuse me-" answered RedOule rather in
considerably. az had never seen the King o
Rome, and to-day have been fortunate enough lc
catch glimpse of him. Josephine started, and
Redoute, Instantly aware of the awkwarness o.
mentioning the meeting, stopped suddenly IN con
fusion.
al am very glad," said Josephine, making ,
strong effort to repFess her emotion " that you hav
seen the son Of the Emperor. Pry tell me when
you saw him and who was with him." Redout
hesitated.
:. Pray, pray, go on" said she gently, but earn
estly. He obeyed and told her every particula
he had observed, as well as what had delayed hi
arrival by obligiDg him 10 walk to MalmaisOn.
" l see the great artist as always happens has
feeling heart, said Josephine her sympathy arouse,
for the poor woman. ''If Napoleon did but know
the destitution of this poor child, horn the sam,
day, the same hour, with his son Be with me to-
morrow morning at 9 o'clock we will together
visit this poor creature"
And the next morning at O'Clock Redoute wa.
at Malmaison; and an hour after, Josephine, un.
deferred by the dark, narrow, muddy passage, and
the equally dark, damp stairs, increasing in steep
ness every step, had entered the wfeiched apart.
ment, utterly bare of furniture, in the fifth story
inhabited by the widow of Charels Blanger.
Madame" said Redoute, TO whom Josephine
had made signs to introduce her and the object o
their visit, you may rest assured that il the EN-
peIor knew your situation he would give you re
is m iftyS hlo
This lady, whom have the honor to accompany
is good enough to say she will take you under he
protection, and her protection is all-snficient.'
What lovely boy.n' cried Josephine, as tn
little orphan sat up in his cradle, and sming
stetched out his little arms to his mother "Re
donle, said she, as she took the child and ksse
1t, did you not tell inc that he was born the sam
day with the King of Rome %
The same day and hour, madame" answere
| the young mother.
Was it mentioned TO the Emperor at the time |
No, madame we were happy then, and m
| poor Charles had too independent a spirit TO a.
anything from any body while he could work.
| was an engineer; and though employment fiuctu,
ted, Yet still we were never reduced to want. 4
MS leisure time he used to construct model mi
chimes, from one of which, novel and ingenious
the invention, he expected both fame and pecunal
| advantage; but he has been suddenly taken fro
me, and am left alone to struggle with misery an
wretchedness. am sinking lower and lower, ar
gradually every resource has been exhausted. Ala
need not tell you ."-and she glanced sorrowfu
around the miserable little apartment
Tomorrow You shall quit this wretched, III
wholesome abode" said the Empress as she ga,
the child 10 his mother. after fondiy caressng hin
and putting her purse into his little hand. al wi
| send you my own physician; his skill, and Il
comforts with which hope to surround you, wi
restore your health lrely on you, my good friend
added she, turning to the artist, to arrange a
this for mes
She was arising to quit the room, amid the tea
| and blessings of the widow whose heart she hs
made to sing for joy" when the door opened an
young lady entered, at sight of whom Redou
stood motIonless with astonishment II was Mar
Louisa, accompanied by a newly appointed chan
berlain. As Maria Louisa was never known
visit the poor man in his abode ospoverty, Rsdou
mad some excuse for the uncharitable judgement
| formed on the instant-that this unusual proceedn
on her part was intended either as an attempt
'rival Josephine in the popularity gained by her a,
i've and unwearied benevolence, or to please ti
Emperor, as proving the lively interest she took
a child born the same day and hopr with the Kin
OF Rome. But whatever might have been her mt
tive, certain it is that she was now standing in ii
| widows humble abode without deigning a saluts
ton TO any one in il.
Josephine was sweetness and gentleness itself
| but there was something in this want of commo
| courtesy which grated upon the pride. of casi
which, as a Creole of an illustrious race, the Wi
Of the greatest captain of the age, and one sti
feeling herself the Empress, she retained amid d.
sertlon and the disgrace Of her Reputation. i ma
be, too, that she recognized Maria Louisa, thong
| filled her place; and she therefore resumed he
seat as If fearful that her standing might have bee
| construed into homage Maria Louisa, on her par
| was far from suspecting that the female go smp