New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-16
Domestic Scene.

with Marie Louise was enjoying That freedom q con-
versation and familiarity he was SO roma o. Never
had hs noble and antique features assumed 50 Joyous
and "a natural ia expression He laughed, he chat
/ ts5 ii ioked and a stranger entering by chance
ysonld NAVE had much difficulty in recognizing the
Emperor in that little stout man, lolng WIEN ~ lluen
I noactGiaRcein an armchair.
ia poked the fire with the tip Of bis boot, rubbed
his hands with giee and with playful and tender sal
i lies provoked Marie Louise to venture upon some
French phrases as yet strange to her which she ds'
figured with German frankness so rresisubly drol,
that Napoleon burst into fits OF laughter
The Empress, half angry, half smiling, came ana
sat on the knee of her husband. At the same mo-
ment the door opening, the soldierka face Of Daroe
Sire p aid he the italian artist has arrived,n
@Conduct him here Immediately replied the EN-
peror at the same time pushing back his armchair
he left space for the new conner between the EN-
press and himself.
The visitor, on entering, made profound bow to
the two illustrious personages into whose presence
be was admitted and, at the desire of Napoleon took
o seat near the fire.
Welcome to France, my dear Canova," said the
Emperor, in one Of his kindest accents. " But how
pale and thin you have become since last saw you,
Yoa must certainly leave Rome and come to reside
in Paris The air of the capital wl restore you 70
health and Yigor. See how well we are, continued
he, taking in his hand the fresh and rosy chin OF
Marie Lonise.
aSire, you must attribute my il-health to the fa
tgue of my occupations not to the air Of my country
i IT.
| me indeed, it would be fatal to me-"
/" Paris is the capital Of arts You must stay here
| desire it, said the husband of the pretty German
in commanding tone, on Sudden assuming the
Emperor
wish it to be devoted to your service sire grant me
permission to return Italy soon as have finished
| the bust of her majesty, the Empress which am
| about to undertake"
refuses to remain with me You see, Louise, he has
no other ambition than to be the greatest sculptor in
the world He longs to leave US TO return TO Rome TO
resume his labors and present to the world another
such work as his TeTpsiehore, Paris, Les Dan
4 seuses, Venus, or the Magdalen.
/ The conversation then became more general, they
talked Of the Excavations continued by the Bor
| CHEESE family of Italian artists, of the "Coonne
4 Vendomme" and thousand other topics Nothing
| was new to Napoleon, who cOnversed with perfect
knowledge on every subject, and wonderful clearness
GanoTs could not contain his surprise and adm
/ ration.
How is it possible for your majesty to divide your
attention between so many different matterst" ex-
claimed he
g i have sixty millions of subjects replied Napo.
4 leon with smile % eight or nine hundred thousand
| soldiers, a hundred thousand horse The Romans
| themselves had not so many have commanded at
forty battles. At Wagram fred hundred thousand
cannonbals, and this lady, who was then Arch.
/ duchess of Austria desired my death.D At this he
/
| dro Imitation of her German accent. Il etre bien
| frai." /" | think, said the Roman artist, things
now wear a different aspect
/ Oh celia est ben vrai, said Marie Louse, this
time in the best Frensh possible, kissing the Empe-
ror's hand tendery, who taking the young creature
by the waist, made her sit upon his lap but she
| bushng resisted, Rah bah y said Napoleon a Ca
| nova is friend, and we don't make ceremonies with
friends besides he is himself Of tender and suscep
tibe nature and will be delighted to witness the hap
| piness of an atfectionate couple"
"Listen to me, Louise, and / will relate to you a
! romantic story the hero of which you may easily
guess you will then judge if those who love each
| other ought to feel restraint before GanOva.'
4 He kissed Marie Louise, and keeping her still upon
his Knee began: an the province of Treyisa there
is little village called Possagno In this place was
born and reared the OF an architect whose father
| died al the early age Of twenty seven, and whose
| mother married secoud time, Sart0r di Crepano.'
"At four years old the child, by name Antonio,
was instructed to the care OF his grandfather, who
treated it with much severity BY him it was sent to
pass an autumn at Pradazzie, two or three leagues
from Possagno, at the house Of an italian Senator,
friend Of his, whose name was Faero. The latter,
observing the intelligence OF the little peasant, and
pleased with the ability he eynGed in carving stone
aud shaping clay placed him as a pupil with
clever sculptor called Toretto.S
"Whatl your majesty knows all these minute de-
tails OF my private lfe29 exclaimed Canova in sur
/ prise,
~ know many more,n replied Napoleon malicious
| ly, and he continued
Toretto was man OF strict morals, but however
closely he may have watched his faYorite pupil, An
! tonic found means to escape from the atelier now
and then to go and dance at the village fetes He
I was then only sixteen. Among the gay thTong of
peasants assembled together during the vintage to
| dance the tarantella, there was one whose charms
| eaptiVated his heart, Bettina Blast she was Just
fourteen Her large black eyes sparkled with ANNA
| ton her waist was so tapering two hands could
span il, her hair, the logelest that ever adorned
Maiden
-
The Emperor pressed the hand of Marie Louise,
that she might remark that sigh and without inter
ruptng bis recital, continued
Antonio was enthusiastic, and in love. As for
| the grandfather, he was much less moved by the
destinations than by the marriage portion Of Bettina,
which considerable, particularly for the poor ap
| prentice OF sculptor.
+" The parents Of both formed projects of uniting
them arrangements for their marriage were draw
ing to close, when Toretto and the Senator CHANGED
to bear OF it.
They reflected that this union would destroy the
prospects of their protege, and determined to pre-
! vent it.
+" One evening they entered the chamber of Anto-
MO, commanded him to follow them, and nOtwith-
standing his tears his resistance and despair carried
him to Venice, where they confined him during a
| whole year,
"All endeavors to escape proved Ruthless The en-,
amored youth finding his return to Pradazzie impossi
bic was compelled to seek consolation IN the study Of
his favorite pursuit lpture.
- line talent anu reputation OF Tine young man soon
spread abroad his celebrity was established, he be.
came rich, his society was eourted by all, and the
memory Of Bettina Biasi was gradually erased from
| his mind.
aAt the same time the arts aud Establishments Of
another little coquette Dominica toolthe place in his
affections She was the daughter OF the sculptor,
| VOlpato
/ Proposals of marriage were made but as Do
minica was yet young, postponement was agreed
| upon till the following year Alas before that time,
Dominica bestowed her hand upon Raphael Morghen.
The poor deserted lover was in despair at this
new piece Of treaChery,e
AT this part of the recital, Ganova fell into deep
tit of mnsing and melancholy, unconscious Of what
was passing around him.
His health gave way. His physicians and friends
recommended him to return and breathe the air OF his
native village,
"(Were Goryisart here, he would say this was a re.
medy the faculty do not believe in bat nevertheless
| it always sueceedal
"Antonio set off on his journey.
On his approach to his native place the thoughts
of Bettini Basi, that charming, that lovely girl, so
dsnterested in her love for him. rushed upon his i'm
agination more fresh and more engaging than ever.
ooh p cried he, chow ungrateful have been to
neglect and forget her!s
Diminishing from his mind all remembrance of Do
minica, he dreamt only Of Bettini Bias He pic.
tured to himself the delight he should experience in
/ again clasping her to his bosom.
His heart beat with hope and joy, and whilst he
was resolving within himself to proceed next day
without fail to Pradazze, he perceived the village
/ spire OF Possagno before him.
TOO much agltated to remain in the slow tvettuT-
| mo- he aghted and continued his Journey on foot