The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-25

aged the American Art Union? We pause for
reply.
The Countess of Teba ana the Empress
Eugenie.
Hardly five years ago, little French
man, Of rather unprepossessing appearance and
in very Enlightened circumstances, lived in
furnished lodgings in Jermyn street, London.
The name Of Bonaparte and the friendship Of
one or two leading British statesmen, had pro-
cured him the entree OF several of the first
houses; and he might occasionally be seen in
the outskirts of the throng which surrounded
the bellies or notabilities of the day at the West
End balls. Notwithstanding the prestige de-
rived from an illustrious uncle, and the rather
equivocal fame acquired by two unsuccessful
attempts to invade France, the position in so
ciety occupied by Mr.. Bonaparte was rather
obscure than otherwise. Among those who knew
him at all. politicians regarded him as mad
man. the nobility as parrenu, the ultra
English as a nephew of their greatest enemy
old men as a profgate. aud mammas Us
ruined spendthrift. Small encouragement did
he receive when he mingled in the crowd Of
fashionables at some fair ladEs court; cold in
difference, and not unfrequently naughty dis
dain, were the usual acknowledgment Of his
civilities Duchesses and marchionesses took the
measure. as they thought of the needy adven-
turer at glance, and Immediately classed him
among the non-avalables nor were the queens
of beauty and ton less decided in excluding him
from sphere reserved to the ancient arstocracy
Of Mo- 10 Uho fhou in,
London, and overwhelmed by significant atten-
tions from dukes and peers, was too shrewd to
find attraction in his society," and her daughter,
the beautiful Countess ofTeba. could not possibly
find time to listen to the French exile when the
wealthy Duke of Ossuna and the courtly Marquis
di San Jago were signing at her feet. More than
once, if rumor be true, did he muster up cou-
rage to join the select circle of her admirers,
and strive to attract her notice by the intel
lectual power he could display in conversation;
but there was GOODNESS in her manner and
lady-like Indifference in her smile which soon
repealed his advances
Five years elapsed. The quondam adven-
turer was seated on a purple throne, and sur
rounded by the insignia Of imperial state
around him stood the greatest personages of
France, and the representatives Of more than
one OF the leading powers of Europe. The
Countess Of Teba, whose matured but unimpair-
ed beauty eclipsed the fairest ornaments Of the
French court, stood before him. He beckoned
her to seat, and his Master of Ceremonies,
with courtly suavity, directed her mother to
stand behind her chair. We can we'll conceive
the ill-disguised exultation with which the
bride, who. five years before, had affected an
air Of well-bred fatigue at NJ. Bonapartes at
tentions, pronounced the words:-"I declare
that / take his Majesty Napoleon Ill, here
present in marriage" We can form tolera-
bly, fair estimate of the astounding change
which the last five years have produced in the
Countess de Montijo's feelings, by contrasting
her disdainful recognition Of her humble ac-
quaintance in London with the triumphant
smile she wore as she stood on his left hand at
his marriage. Nor is the disparity between the
timid sutton of 184s and the proud husband Of
1853, less marked. Neither the old Court
of the Bourbons. nor the former imperial
regime. ever furnished Paris with q more
imposing spectacle than the ceremony at
Notre Dame. Splendid equipages, jeweNed
toilettes. squadrons of horse, regiments Of in
fantry, ancient mobiles. venerable prelates, and
an innumerable concourse Of people, combined
to stamp the recollection Of the day on the
minds of the nation The country was in a
whirl Of excitement. The Emperor's marriage
was national tste. The departments We'd with
each other in fulsome congratulations. The city
of Paris offered the bride necklace worth 600-
600 francs. Four thousand prisoners were gra-
ciously restored to liberty. and vague hints Of
more friendly treatment Of the Orleans family
were thrown ont by the court. Rumor was
pregnant with prophecies Of the suspicious re-
suits of the marriage. Commercial men saw in
it guarantee of peace; respectable citizens, q
barrier to revolution; the arts, new era Of fos-
tering care; society, pledge of honor, morality
and virtue. France hailed with transports an
empress Of plebeian blood; and even England
applauded the monarch who had the courage to
obey the dictates of his feelings, and boast to
Europe that he was p0rrenu
All this excitement was created by the an
nouncement that the little Frenchman who five
years before, had been cut by his aristocratc
acquaintance, and besieged by his tailor and
bootmaker in his lodgings in Jermyn street,
had resolved to live like his neighbors, and
taken unto himself wife.