Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-02-05
ROMANCE REAL LIFE.

The sale of the greatest flax mill on the
continent, says the Paris correspondent OF
London paper, situated on the frontier
close to Courraf, has been the greatest
commercial event OF the week, but would
De Of little import 10 US did it not exempli-
fy the prognostc Of the advent of women
TO the rule of the commercial world in
France, as well as that OF the world OF pol
itics and that Of gallantry, which they have
so long swayed. The purchaser OF that
vast concern is Madame l., to whom
it was Knocked down after the warmest
competition on the part OF some OF the
greatest mill owners of Europe. The hIsto-
ry of this lady is perhaps one Of greater in
terest than that of many of the wisest men
and bravest conquerors Of the earth exhib-
iting, moreover, the French element OF
character in lis most striking and advanta-
geouS light.
Madame Lis the daughter Of mer-
chant at Marseilles, and when still very
young was married TO Catalan officer in
the service of Don Carlos. During the
whole otthe disastrous war which preceded
the entire defeat OF the Pretender, and his
final expulsion from Spain, Madame l.
followed the fortunes Of her husband, and
it was doubtless during thistime of hardship
and danger that both mind and body be-
came fortified to the task which was subse-
quently imposed upon her. During one OF
the skirmishes in the mountains her husband
was shot. Madame with her own
hands dug his grave, and fled INTO the deep
est soi,udes. She well knew that neither
her sex nor her foreign birth would have
saved her from the fate of all connected
with the fortunes OF Don Carlos. The pea
SAINTS OF the district, although destitute as
of her majesty, and she took shelter in the
ruins of an old convent, situated on deep
activity, frequented only by the shepherds
who came from the valley below TO tend
their Aocks. Wood was the only comfort
which could be had during the long and
dreary winter; OF this Madama l., un-
aided, laid in good supply. BY attending
to the sheep and stabling them during the
night, she obtained a scanty crust Tor her
self and milk for her children without cost
"In little while the Inconvenience and
loss of time occassioned by the obligation
TO ascend the mountain on the part OF the
women, when employed in bringing food
or messages TO their husbands, led her tc
offer TO share her refuge with the poor fe
male peasants during the day. The grea
refectory Of the convent was soon cleared
out by her industrious hands, and present
y each morning beheld the arrival OF th'
whole village up at the convent, where !
; was found by the women far more cheer
iul and pleasant to sit and spin the lveloni
:, day, In company, in large, airy, well
warmed hall, and 10 the children merr,
n with their playmates, than TO pass tn
IS hours IN dreary watching for the husband
e return, each one alone in her solitary hove
; worried with the cries of hungry children
u and prevented from working by the dali
journey up to the mountains. The onl
n remuneration which Madama l. rece
h we'd Tor many months from each OF he
D. guests was weekly handful of spun WOO
F. which she would now and then sell al Ii
le nearest town.
"By degrees, and by dint Of managsmel
e. and industry, she was enabled to purcha
D. for herself the raw wool OF the shepherd
10 and TO beg for work instead Of matsria
10 from their wives. Before the sinim