Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-08
DAILY EVENING STAR.
The Maid Of Martinique.
TRUE STORY.

Alovely morning in October, 49,, was
rendered gloomy one to the inhabitants
of Martinique. Repeated injuries inflicted
by the ruling powers, coupled with
burning desire among many ambitious
and perhaps patriotic men. to crush for
eign influence upon their beautiful isle,
and to govern themselves as free and
independent people, had long rendered a
residence there precarious. On the morn
ing In question, the banner of revolt was
seen floating in proud defiance upon the
walls OF the castle of Fort Royal, and in
the far distance the smoke of villages
showed the track of the merciless demon
OF instruction. Every vessel in the har-
Dor of Fort Royal was crowded with
refugees, who having hastily collected
their most valuable effects, had fled be-
fore the tide of destruction which was
rolling fearfully over that i'll starred
island. Among them was a merchant
OF high repute, who with his wife and
daughter, a beautiful girl of about fifteen,
took passage for France, whittier on the
following day the vessel sailed. Fair
winds gave them quick passage to the
or two, they weighed anchor for Havre.
AT dawn on the second morning after
their departure, they espied dark look
ing brig bearing down upon them, and
as the sun rose above the horizon, it por-
trayed to them the truth that an Algerine
corsair was their early visitor So much
were the high seas infested at that time
with pirates, Snat every vessel went pre-
pared tor an encounter. Immediate pre-
paratlon was made for contest, should
the corSair Overtake them, and all sails
were spread to the breeze.
The pirate came up-the contest was
fearful-the father and mother were muir
dered-and the beautiful orphan was made
the prize of band of ruffians. In few
days they neared the Barbary coast, and
She was sold to the hey of Tunis for ten
thousand sequins. The predictions of a
fortune teller, years before, that she would
one day wear the coronet of queen, i'm
pressed on her mind with conviction of
Its truth, which spread a halo of light
round her amid the darkness of the worst
OF slavery. Her beauty made her favor
tie, and about two years afterward, Sui
tan Mustapha carried her in triumph to
Constantinople. Her beauty, her virtues,
her ample powers to please, made her the
exalted favor1te OF the imperial seraglio,
and she became the honored Sultana.-
Then indeed were the predictions of her
destiny verified, and she wore the crown
as queen OF the Ottoman empire. NAH
mould Ill, the present Sultan of Turkey is
her son. and to her influence upon his
early character, may be attributed his
taste for European customs, and the fire.
quent innovations which his will has made
among the customs of his people. The
last act of Importance, which seems like
great stride toward the elevation of Turk
lsh women to the same station which fe-
males hold throughout Christendom, is
the opening of the doors of the seraglio,
and permitting the women to 90 in and
out at their pleasure, and enjoy themselves
by rambles upon the lovely plains which
stretch along the banks of the beautiful
Bosphorus. The number who were con-
tined IN his single seraglio was about six
hundred.
The fate of that young girl was similar
to that of Josephine, wife of Napoleon.
She too was the subject of similar pre-
diction, and even when confined by prison
bars, and upon the eveOf conveyance to the
gulllotine, that prediction stood up before
her with all the brightness and sacred
ness OF truth land when the downfall of
Robespierre caused her prison to be
thrown open, g. There" exclaimed she to
Madame Fonteany, fellow prisoner, Il
told you l should yet be queen of France"
And she was indeed queen, not only of
France, but of the heart that beat in the
bosom of that proud Corsican who swayed
Its destinies.