Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-11-01

gidnCe, luIl oil internal VISIONS, was Ncllcu
by the slken tringes OF her eyes. Her
lips were somewhat pouling,-hrr bosom
full Of Sighs and fruitful affection her arms
were of due length, fair and admirably
moulded, and fell with graceful languor on
her robe, as if weary of the burden Of her
destiny. Her neck habitually inclined to-
wards her shoulder. She appeared of
northern melancholy trsnSplanted into the
tumult of GalIic camp. The pretended
insipidity OF silence concealed thoughts
delicateIy feminine, and the mysteries Of
sentiment, which waited her in magma
ton far from that court to her magnificent
but rude place OF exile.
The moment she returned TO her private
apartments, or TO The solitude of her gar
dens, she again became essentially Ger
man. She cultivated the arts of poetry,
painting, and music. In these accom-
pliShmentS education had rendered her per-
Iect, as il to console her, when far from her
native land, for the absence and the sorrows
To which she would one day be exposed.
In these requirements she eXcellcd; but
they were confined TO herself alone. She
read and repeated from memory the poetry
of her native balds. By nature she was
simple, but pleasing, aud absorbed within
herself: externally silent but full of inter-
nal feelings; formed for domestic love in
an obscure destiny: but, dazzled on
throne, she felt herself exposed 10 the gaze
of the world as the conquest Of pride, not
the love of hero. She could dissemble
nothing, either during her grandeur, or at
ter the rcyersps Of her lord and this was
her crime. The theatrical world, into
which she had been thrown. looked for the
picture of coniugal passion in captive of
victory. She was too unSophisticated TO
affect love, when she only felt obedience,
tindiiy, and resignation. Nature will
pity, though history may accuse her.
This Is a true portraiture of Marie Lou
iSa. wrote it in her presence ten years
afterwards. She had developed at that pc
riod, during her liberty and her widow
hood, all the hidden gracrs Of her youth.
They wished her 10 play a part; the ao-
treSS was wanting, bat the woman remain
ed. History should award her-what a
partial verdict of Napolron'S Courliers has
rrfused--pily, tenderness and grace. "
She had been condemned for not having
, been the theatrical heroine OF an affection
she never felt. Overlooking the feelings
of woman, her accnsers forgot that the
heart will make itself heard even in the
drama Of such an unparalleled destiny !;
and il the heart is not always a iustifica-
! ton, it is at least an excuse. Justice
! should weigh such excuses, even when she
! condemns.
Marie Louise never loved Napoleon
| How could she love him? He had grown
| old in camps, and amidst the tolls of ambi-
ton she was only nineteen. His soldiers
heart was cold and intleyble as the spirit
of calculation which accomplished his
greatness. That of the fair German prin-
cess was gentle, timid, and pensive as the
poetic dreams OF her native land. She bad
fallen from the steps Of an ancient throne
he had mounted upon his by The force OF
arms, and by tramping heredtary rights
under foot. Her carly preudices and edu-
cation had taught her 10 consider Napoleon
as the Scourge OF God, the Attilia of mod
ern kingdoms, the oppresSor of Germany
the murderer Of princes, the ravagrr Of na'
ti0nS, the incendiary Of capitals; in {
word, the enemy against whom her pray.
rrs had been raised to heaven from he
cradle in the palace Of her ancestors
She regarded herself as hostage cOncrdrC
through fear to the ConGueIor, after the IN
, grateful and tolerated reputation of wifi
who had been the very instrument of hi
fortunes. She felt that she had been sold
: not given. She looked upon herself as tL
cruel ransom oI her father and her country
4 She had resigned TO her fate as an immo!a
r tion. Cast alone and without friend, iut
/ a court composed of parvenu soldiers, rrvc
e luionary courtiers, and bantering womer
? whose names, manners and language wer
= unknown TO ner, her youth was consume
5 in silent etiquette,
: Even her husbands first addresses wer
:, not calculated to inspire confidence. ThrI
- was something disresprctluI and violent
= his affection; he wounded even when L
= sought to please. His very love was roug
n ana imperiouS; terror interposed betwee
n him and the heart OF his Young wife, al
ID even the birth Of an ardently desired 81
L. could not unite such opposite natures. NJ
y rie Louise felt that 10 Napoleon she W
IF only medium Of poSterity-not a wi
10 and mother, but merely the root Of ;
l. hereditary dynasty. This master of Il
$ world could not boast even the inhrre
ul virtues of love-iai,h and cons;ancy to o.
- woman his attachments We're transie
OF and numerous, He respected not the jeG
le ouses natural to the bosom of wife; a
re though he did not openly proclaim
,st amours like Louis XIV, neither did he pr
a sess that monarch's courtesy and rehn
I'd ment. The most noted beauties OF hiSoN
g and of foreign courts were not TO him {
a ecls Of passionate love, but OF irresiStlb
transient desire thus even mngling
raj contempt with his love. Napoeon's 10
ed and frequent absences; his severe and I
he mute orders so strictly observed by hou
mt hold of spies instead Of friends, chosen
= ther to control than TO execute the vii!
he the Empress; his pettishnesS of temper
ot his frequent abrupt returns ; morose {
his melancholy after experiencing reveI
her (her only recreation being ostentatiC
tri- tiresome and frivolous ceremonies j nc
Ter, ing OF such life, of such character,
rm- | such a man. was calculated 10 in.n,re