The southern press., 1851-10-29
The y,yapd,,rs.


publican:
: A few days ago appeared in the liet of deaths
in the morning paper, the name OF Widoto Con-
stance Few took notice of this simple an
nouncement and fewer still know the Incidents
of the beautiful life that has just closed. l am
sure Your readers will be interested in the short
sketch am going to give them, and which has
been furnished me partly much by an eminent
physician, who knew the excellent widow, and
indeed, closed her eyes when they had looked
their last upon earth.
Constance was the daughter of brave officer,
killed at the opening of Napoleon's Italian cam
pagn. Left alone at the age OF seventeen, with
out any other support than her courage, her
beauty, and her virtue, she became the VIVIAN
diere Of her fathers regiment, the 18th of the
line. For the benefit of those of your readers
who may not be informed or the subject, will
explain that vivandere il woman who fol-
lows regiment, sometimes on foot, and some
times ia little cart. and sells liquor to the sol
diers. She always has on hand, too, a supply
of little deicncies for the SICK and rolls of linen,
and an assortment of balsams and salves for the
wounded. She is almost always brave, noble
hearted woman, Drawing fatigue and difficulties,
dangers, and even death ITSELF with equal cour-
age and cheerfulness The vivandere 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 empty. In the battle,
amid the hail of balls, the first to raise fallen
comrnde, the first to close his bleeding wounds,
and drag him to place OF safety, it is always
she, always the vivandiere
The dress Of The vivandiere is, generally red
pantaloons, short blue cloth skirt, bordered
with red, and tight-6ttng jacket, similar to
the uniform coat OF her regiment. and little
military hat, adorned with the iricolored cockade,
set jaunty 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.
pensng 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 those
who did not explain themselves clearly enough
upon the marriage point she found that there
remained ten. Constance was in qnandary
for she liked them all, and shuddered at the idea
of wonnding the feelings Of any of them. Pres
sed at last to make choice, she secretly gave
each one a rendezvous in the 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, dis. |
honored her with suspicion unworthy Of her
pure life. However, upon finding themselves
TO the number Of ten, all sub.otficers of the
same corps, and nevertheless all rivals, the as.
constituent of these men made the horizon
black with tempests already looks OF defiance
were passing between them, when the VIVIAN
diere made her Appearance.
@You have been faithful" said she to therein.
devious; thank you for it; also, let there
be no nonsense, no coquetry, no peri ly, among |
US; all must pass here if on parade Be- |
sides, you are my only friends, and 1t is
from you alone that wish to take advise. All, |
let US say the word, you have addressed me
declarations of love. Deny it who will Is that
true?"
"Yes!" loudly answered the ten lovers.
Sand you all really wish to marry ME o.
added she, with rogueish smile; lis it true?"
:" Yes" was again the grave and resolute
answer.
"Very well" replied Constance, in tender
and playful tone, you are all alike. i, seems
However, can only marry one, and you leave
all equal rights to my gratitude, and what il
gratitude, is love, in the heart of her whom you
call Constance the Virtuous"
You. my brilliant quarter-master, you loved
me the first-that is worth good mark for YOU
You, my valorous adjutant, twenty-five years
and the cross of h5nor-that would tempt
Duchess, il ] am not mistaken. You, my young
sergeant brave end gallant. you saved me from
the hands of the Austrians-my honor owes you
for that. You, head Of The file of the
god Mars, could you be overlooked, suberb
drum major, whose seven feet remind me of the
Of my native villager"
The soldiers all laughed at these joyous sal.
lies of the young girl, who, after having thus
passed in review the titles Of all her pretendants
;ried, You zee il is impossible to choose, for
10 not wish TO be subject Of discord between
ron. But will do better, she fastened to add
he war is about 10 begin |; the little corporal has
sworn that before the end of the month he will
enter Vienna. II is then at Vienna that will
become the wife of him who, during the cam
,aign, shall have performed the most brilliant
lciion. My heart, my life, the only treasures Of
he poor orphan, shall belong TO him without d.
'ision. Let all TO whom this decision is ne.
'eptable touch that"-and she held out her little
white hand.
At these chiyIrous words, thunder Of ap-
clause burst forth hands were shaken all round,
md the corks sprung from the bottles, which bad
'een brought for the occasion. They drank 10
Tory, and to love, henceforth inserarable. At
Vienna, the soldiers once more shouted, and
hen separated.
Two months after this scene, the grand army
made its trumphal entry into the capital of Aus
ria but the rs had paid with blood its prodigies
II vllor The young quarter-mas,er, one of he
enA lovers Of Constance, had had both legs
arriad away; but in falling beneath the eyes,
md almost in the arms Of the beautiful vivian
Iiers, he had cried "Of the nine lovers who re-
main for thee, eight will be more pited than I, {
or they will live" These simple words, CON- {
rising whole drama of love, did not escape |
he young grl.--She saw him safely of the field Z
nd carried TO the hospital IL
few days after that, table for eleven per. l
ons was spread in a little restaurant of The
aubourgs Of Vienna. Faithful 10 her engage ,
nents, Constance, moro beautiful tnan esv.,l !
rom secret sadness, which yelled her regard. +
ad invited her lovers 10 meet her there. She n
vas the first 10 arrive and TO salute, with tear,
nd a regret, the unoccupied place Of the brother
n arms who had fallen in the battle. When the
est were assembled, they went over, together, Il,
he episodes of the campaign,-so short yet so b
A Al A.