Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-11-26
The ViVandiere.

Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican
PARIS, Sept. IL 1851.
A few days ago appeared in the list of death.
in morning paper the name of Wido,p Con
stance. Few took notice of this simple announce
ment, and fewer still knew the incidents of the
beautiful life that has just closed. am sure
your readers will be interested in the short
sketch am going to give them, and which
has been furnished me partly by an eminent
physician, who knew the excellent widow ,and
indeed, closedher eyes when they had looked
: their last upon earth.
Constance was the daughter of a brave off
Ger. kiii.,ed at the opening of Napoleon's Italian
campaign. Left alone at the age of seventeen
without any othe, support than her courage her
beauty, and her virtue, she became the vivian
diere of her fathers regimen. the 'oth OF the
line. For the benefit of those of ,'our readers
who may not be informed on the subie,.t,I vii!
explain that vivandiere is woman who To-
lows regiment, sometimes on foot, and some
times in little cart, and sells liquor to the
soldiers She always has on hand, too, a sup
py of little delecacies l;r sick and rolls of lin
en-, and an assortment of balssms and salves for
the wounded. She is almost always brave,
noblehcarted woman, Drawing fatigue and diff
culties, dangers, and even death ITSELF wiz
equal courage and cheerfulness. The vivian
diere is, indeed, the providence of the French
soldier. On the march there is always place
in her cart for the poor fellow overcome with
fatigue, and credit for him whose purse is emp
ty. In the battle amid the hail of balls, the
first to raise fallen comrade, the first to close
his bleeding wounds and drag him to place
of safety, it is always she, always the VIVIAN
diere.
Tie dress of the vivandiere is, generally red
pantaloons, short blue cloth skirt, bordered
with red, and tight-ftting jacket, similar to
the uniform coat Of her regiment, and little
military hat, adorned with the tri colored cock
ade, set jauntly on the side of her head. Across
her shoulders is swung a little barrel full of
the soldiers consolation, and her large pockets
are filled with goodly number of small
glasses.
But to return to Constance. She could not
long remain in the situation of vivandIere, dis
pensing excellent liquor and sweet smiles with
equal liberalty, without attracting attention
One day the young girl sat down to count the
number of her adorers, and, after throwing out
those who did not explain themselves clearly
enough upon the marriage point, she found that
there remained ten, Constance was in guam
dry for she liked them all and shuddered at
fhn iIna of wnp.Iintr tf,a faa1innS Of "A
them, Pressed at last to make a choice, she
secrctlygave each one rendezvous in that same
place and for the same hour Not one failed
but, to the credit Of the brave GIRL let it be said
not one of those soldiers, in accepting this
meeting, dishonoyed her with suspicion unwor.
thy of her pure life. However, upon finding
themselves together to the number of ten, all
sub officers of the same corps, and nevertheless
all rivals, the astonishment these men made the
horizon black with tempests; already looks OF
defiance were passing between them, when the
vivandere made her appearance.
You have been faithful, said she to the rem.
dezvous 4 thank you for it; also, let there be
no nonsense, no coquetry, no 2erfidy among us
all must pass here as if on parade. Besides
you are my only friends, and it is from you
alone that wish to take advice. All, let us
say the word you have addressed me declara
tons of love! Deny it who will Is tina,
| trueY
Yes loudly answered the ten lovers.
And you all really wish to marry mel? ad
ded she, with roguish smile; lis it true?
'Yes! was again the grave and resolute an
swer.
Very well,' replied Constance. in tender
and playful tone, you are all alike. it seems
However, l can only marry one, and you have
all equal rights to my gratitude; and what is
gratitude is love in the heart Of her whom you
call Constance the Virtuous'
| You, my brilliant quarter master, you low
ed me frst-that is worth good mark for you
You, my valorous adjutant, twenty five year:
and the cross of hoEor-that would tempt a
Duchess if am not mistaken. You, my young
sergeant, brave and gallant, you saved me from
the hands of the Austrians, my honor owes you
something for that You, head of the file o.
the god Mars, could you be overlooked, supert
! drum. major, whose seven feet remind me o.
the church, ,steeple Of my native village.
The soldiers all laughed at these joyous sal
! lies of the young girl, who, after having thu:
passed in review the titles of all her preeten
dants, cried You see it is impossible tt
choose, for do not wish to be a subject of dis
cord between you But / will do better, sht
/ hastened to add; the war is about to begin the
! little corporal has sworn that before the enc
/ of month he will enter Vienna. Itis then a
Vienna that | will become the wife of him who
during 'he campaign, shall have performed tho
most brilliant action My heart, my life, the
only treasures of the poor orphan, shall belong
to him without division, Let all to whom this
decision is acceptable, touch that and she held
out her little white hand.
At these chivalrous words thunder of ap.
plause burst forth; hands we're shaken all round