The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-27
LIFE IN FRANCE.

LII u AN 4 G0AANSGs
The following extract we take from late
letter published by the St. Louis Republican,
from its regular Parisian correspondent:
The history Of young couple formerly
among my personal acquaintance, and who are
at the very pinnacle Of the temporary splend0r
Of the day, is really in itself so curious, so
illustrative Of many odd things to be met with
in French society, that cannot resist the temp
tation of giving brief history Of their rise
/ and progress first of all promising, howeVRE,
that it is not the fault of the chroniCler that
the world Of to-day abounds in naughty
deeds
Some years ago, then an elderly gentleman
occupying an important post in principal
town, which Yielded him handsome income,
but at the same time obliged him to live in a
style which swallowed up nearly the whole Of
his salary, married very young wife, whose
only dover was a charming face and person,
elegant manners, and an active and highly cul-
tivated mind: An old affection had existed
from childhood between the lady and a certain
cousin of hers, and marriage would have en-
sued but for the poverty Of both parties which
led the lady family to break off the intima-
cy and accept the offer OF NJ. q. So the
marriage took place in due form and order, and
n weary business it is, marriage in Ia belle
France! NJ G. was doatingly fond Of hia
handsome and brilliant little wife; and shes
in return doated on the the old mans incomo
and position, and the splendid existence which
her marriage had procured for her. She had
Just enough of gratitude and good feeling IN
her vain little heart to be really grateful to
him for the pleasant life he had bestowed up
on her, and she felt also certain sort of al
lection for him which caused her to shrink
from giving him pain. But, unhappily she did
not love this husband, who might have been
her grandfather, and the void which the alb
sence of her cousin had left in her affections,
not being filled by anything that could take
its place for she had no children she threw
| herself with all the ardOr of her nature into
| the dissipation Of fashionable and brilliant ex-
| istence.
! Constantly surrounded by admirers, her van
| ity and love Of excitement drew her insensibly
onward and it is thought that her husband,
had he been sharper sighted, might not I'M
reasonably have complained. At any rate, If
such were the case, she had sufficient regatd
for the old man, and sufficient tact, to keep
! her little irregularities secret and while she
amused herself with the gay life around her,
husband was equally happy IN studying her
caprices gratifying all her wishes, and priding
himself on her grace and beauty. SO time
went on, until, unhappily for the old mans
peace, the aforementioned cousin returned
from abroad In short time their mutual af-
fection revived in full force the lady almost
?, repuntcd Of her marriage, became weary of
her lover, and even grew sad. Convinced that
her love for the cousin would manifest itself
in spite Of her precautions, II she allowed him
to remain near her, she determined not to see
him again during her husbands life, hoping
that as she was still very young, and might
look forward, in the natural course Of things,
to living many years after him, the time might
, come when she could marry him. SO she sent
, him away, but suffered so much from the sep
aratiOn that she grew thin and grave, to the
great grief of her husband, who, seriously un-
easy at her state, studied her SO closely that
he ended by discovering her secret. Being OF
a most generous nature, and tenderly attached
to the young creature, whose fate he had link
t ed to his own, he took decision which may
probably seem strange to my readers, but to
q which, nevertheless, he Tigidly adhered until
a his death He sought his wife as she lay PEN
sive on the sofa, i'll her bOudOir, almost regret
ting the elegance which she had purchased at
SO dear rate, informed her that he had dIVin =
G ed the cause of her sadness, that he loved her
e too much to accept sacrifice which was evl-
+! IDENTIFY beyond ner strength that he offered
c the post OF Secretary, and the use Of hand
q some suite OF rooms in his house, to her cousin,
/ whom he wished her to recall without delay
p that for his own part he desired her to consider
herself as henceforth divorced from him, and
as being perfectly free to give herself up to the
! affection that animated her, provided only
that they would both act in all outward re.
spects with due regard to his "honor," and
z. take all reasonable precautions not to render
d him ridiculous. The strange bargain be.
t. ing ratified by all parties the cousin, M. h..
a again made his appearance, and was announced
p, as having accepted the post of private Secre.
- tary to NJ. g. The lady grew gay again, the
u u husband never seemed to regret the fact, bu
u appeared OH the contrary, perfectly happy IL
o the cares and affection with which ''his chill
dren, as he called them, surrounded his de
{. clining days.
a Meantime, notwithstanding the expensive
. style Of living made necessary by the position o
Il NJ. g., he cOntrived oput by small SUN an
- nually for the use of his wife after his DEATH
y But repeated attacks Of gout at length carried
IL him off, before he had been able to aCcumulat
more than small amount for that purpose
1t was found, after his death, that the sun
ID thus left would only procure for his widow al
st annuity of about three hundred dollars, an
40 this sum, through some caprice OU the part o
n NJ. g., was to be enjoyed by this widow onl
" on condition that she remained unmarried.
VI As NJ. L., an amiable young man, but def
! cient in character and enterprise, SCENE
- unable to create for himself, position whic
" would enable him to support wife, Madam
% Il. resolved TO dispense Win MatrlmOhy, an
to retain her annuity. Some few Of her friend
n were scandalized at this and gave her up.
I'd The greater number, appreciating the diff
I'd Guilty OF her position, continue to receive th
of couple as before. But now that she.was free
of shape her own course, Madame G. persuade
II her cousin to come TO Paris, and try his fol
40 tune here He soon found employment as
% % Secretary of the Elysee, thanks to an old co
~ lege chum who filled confidential post in tt
President household.
re But the influence of the capital and Il
e. sight of luxury in which she could not shar
s speedily took effect in the vain and selfish nj
Is tnre of Madame G. She had always professe
d the most thorough going republican principle
k and now resolved TO turn her republican repr
sr tation to her own use. Having Joined sever
is of her friends, the families ofrepublcan reprt
i sentatives, who had taken apartments in a lare
= house near the Champs Elysees, for the pun
= pose of having their meals prepared In CON
y mon, and thus realized a considering econom
y in their household arrangements, she was cor
at stantly in the midst Of n circle Of nOtsbiiitie
where free utteranee Of their views and pre-
ID iects placed them completely in her power, an
at Of whose sayings and doings she Transmitted,
Id detailed account every second day TO Il