The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-10-14
THE DAILY GAZETTE.
From the London Court 1ourna 1
EXTRAORDINARY DELUSIOIN.

DtfDOSt interest mas DeSu cApeTleAc-
ed in the fashionable circles all over
the continent. by the publication OF
the mcclure Of the Princess de s.,
which, printed at first in small mum.
bers for private circulation only, has
gradually spread itself throughout the
aristocratic and religious cots1Ses OF
Europe It Is now exactly year
since the young Princess Eleanore de
I D., in the prime OF her youth and beau
! ty, 2 young wife, adored by her hus-
band, and much beloved by her family,
died suddenly at the hotel de s., in
Paris, and was buried with great pomp
at Pere La Chaise, where splendid
monument by Lechene, recording her
age, her lineage, her virtues, has just
been put up by her disconsolate hus
band.
In spite Of the high position held by
the Princess, and from her great
wealth and beauty having become the
| observed ofall Observers, there has al
ways existed an extraordinary feeling
ofmystery in the public mind with re
gard TO the circumstances of her death.
/ The Princess, a child Of immense i'm
| agination and power, LETT at an early
age an orphan, with the consciousness
Of beauty and the command of bound
less wealth. finding herself suddenly
| transported to her guardians old cas-
lie in the Hartz, was not likely to en-
Joy either content or happiness; and
here her temper and disposition grew
50 wild aud uutractable that, after re-
peated efforts Of home education, it
was deemed advisable to send her to
be trained into rule discipline by Sc
clusion in convent.
Just then her guardian being ap
pointed ambassador to Paris from the
Court Of W, it was thought the best
opportunity for placing the child in
the Rue de Varennes, where she could
be better trained to habits ofobedience
than elsewhere But, alas! this first at
tempt proved totally aboltive. Three
successful efforts at escape were fol-
lowed by decided attempt to set fire
to the furniture OF her room where
she was confined; and the governess,
teariul of the effect of such exampleon
other pupils. and weary ofthe attempt
OF tanning this bold vehement spirit, re
luetantly restored the young lady to
the care OF her guardian. A coaaseit
de famtlte was held, and it was resoly
ed to send the culprit, now no longer
a mere child. but fine, high spirited
girl Of fifteen, to England to complete
her education, with the hope that the
conviction Of being thus alone in q
| foreign country, dependant upon her
good behavior to ensure the kindness
| 0t' those about her, might have the
| desired effect
The young lady was accordingly
placed at - at Hammersmith, and
ior a time the hoped for change seem
| ed to have taken place in her temper.
But, after while, itappears that the
burst of violence to which she gave
way, and the fits of depression which
succeeded, became so alarming as to
cause serious fears other health. Let
ter after letter was dispatched to her
guardian from the young lady herself,
begging to be taken into favor, de
clariug that the climate OF England
was weighing her to the earth, and
the discipline Of Hammersmith break
ing her heart
The Prince de s., arrived at Ham
mersmith one Sunday morning. He
returned no answer TO the last letter
despatched by his ward, and she was,
| therefore, not aware of his intention Of
arriving. The lady commissioned to
bear the news reported 10 have found
her on her knees alone in her room,
praying with most fearful expression
OF countenance. and on being inform
ed of her guardians arrival, she had
uttered most unearthly shrek; and
rushed down the stairs like one DOS
se8sed. The guardian was much ( Las
ed with the progress and improve
ment, and brought her back to Paris
triumphantly, as a specimen OF the
good training OF the ladies of Ham
merslnith. There was, indeed, no to
ken of the old indomitable spirit left
within her. She was silent and sub
dued, submissive to all, and only mr.
geut in her supplications never to be
lett alone or in the dark. She always
persisted in maintaining that it was
useless TO lay any plans for her welfare
ior that she would die before she was
twenty one.
Even when she became the bride OF
Prince Leon, she would insist upon
every arrangement being made with
view to this early death, which seem
ed to prey upon her mind forever
II was not till the young couple had
been married for some time that, BY
dint of maternal care and solicitude,
the confession was wrung from her
that she had sold herself to the Evil
One. and that she would be claimed
before she reached the age OF twenty
one, She confessed that her despair
had been so great at being exiled that
she had addressed her vows to the
powers of darkness on the very Sun
dav morning when her guardian had
arrived, and the announcement Of his
presence was evidently the token OF
the acceptance ofthat fearful VOW.
Ii seems that in spite Of every care
and counsel--despite of the constant
watching and wise teaching OF the
Able Dupauloux, nothing could turn
aside this idea from the mind OF Prin-
| cess EIeanore and although the very
extreme of dissipation and excitement
| was tried to divert her thoughts, she
| gave wayto asettled melancholy, and
died Just two days before the compile
ton Of her 21st year, sudden y, sit
t;no In her chair. full dressed for