Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-20


him for the sacrifice Of all that was dear to
dissipation. During this time, the grand
duke had married Giovanni of Austria. but
with little affection between them.
Not long after, PicrO was met by some ruff
fans at the corner OF Via Maggie, not far
from his own door, and after bravcly resisting
his assailants, nc was ovcrpowcrcd and muir
dcred. The Grand Duchess GiOvanna died
in 1918, haStened TO her death, doubtless, by
the neglect and infdclity of her husband, leav-
ing four children to the care and training OF
such father! Only two months elapsed, ere
the grand duke, after twice purjuring hini-
self, once to the church, and once to the beau
tilul but frail Blanca, at length bravcd the
ridicule Of his peers by marriage, which,
for time, was kept secret; Blanca removing
to the palace as gOverncSs to the children Of
the good queen Giovanna. A year Of mourn
| ing -elapsed-not without suspicion of the
marriage. tho expiration Of the year il
was publicly announced.
Blanca Capclli, in marrying the poor clerk
of the FlOrcntinc bank, had dISgraced her
family! For this she waS'diSOwncd, tranplcd
on and dcSpiScd. For becoming the bride of
shame in the person of Francisco, she was
exalted by her kindred and the whole aris-
tOcracy in the most cXtravagant terms. Now
she became, in the words Of Napier, 1.-THE
pride of her family, the glory Of her order,
the hope of her country; and was immrdi.
atcly adopted by public decree as the true
and particular daughter of the republic, in
consequence Of tiusc most singular and iiit,st
excellent qualities which rendered her worthy
Of the most splendid fortune
| The bells of st Mark responded to this de-
cree; the churches took up the note, and illu-
limitations and rcjoicinGS followed. The Ca
pclli father and son, were proclaimed "most
illustriouS," the order of knighthOod being
conferred upon them, they taking the prcCc-
dcncc OF all the Venetian aristocracy. In the
palmicSt days Of Venice, nothing was moro
splendid than the cercmonials connected with
this marriage. "lhc venetian Iryilrgiu' Of
adoption was takcn,' says Napier, "to Flor.
cnce by Santa Xiorc. followed by two ambaS-
sailors, charged to invest Blanca with the pre-
negatives Of her new rank, and assist at her
nuptials.'
The twelfth of October, 1879, saw the
grand conclusion of the crrcmonialS, at the
hall Of the old republican palace Blanca was
again declared the true and legitimate damgll-
ter of the republic, her uncle, the Patriarch
of Aquilca, pronounced discourse On Me
UHiity # this marri0yc, and the dignity OF
being adopted by Saint Mark. The corona.
ton took place, and was followed by high
mass at the cathedral, whittier the whole as
scmbly proceeded.
Bianca'S father and brother remained ut
court with high honors-perfcctly satisfied
that the daughter and sister had not tliSgraced
herself by this connection!
The end had not yet come, but was fast ap-
proaching. The grand duke had been taking
violent exercise, and while yet heated he sat
down by the water.sido to rest. Cold and
fever ensued, which, with his usual Obstinacy,
he insisted on managing himself; and on the
nineteenth Of October, eight years after the
grand ccrcmonials Of Banca's coronation, he
expired. Eleven hours after the grand duke
was taken i'll, Blanca was seized with similar
symptoms. Rumor attributed both attncks
to poison /; but probably there were other in
fluences Of air and the life which both led in
imprudentlv eating and drinking.
From the moment Blanca was taken, she
seemed assured that they should both die, and
that only Il few hours would intervene between
her husbands death and her own. When he
had passed away, the attendants Strove to con-
ceal it from her; but she was convinced that
all was over.
, A"u j, TOO must uIe win my l0rd!' was
the one calm sentence with which she turned
her face to the wall and exactly eleven hours
after her husbands death, the graceful, beau.
tiful, frail, erring Blanca CopcllO, the bride of
Tuscany and daughter Of Saint Mark, was no
more.
Her remains were denied the right Of bur-
inl with that Of the grand duke, and his sue.
ccssor caused her nrmorial bearings to be
erased from the cscutcheon of the Mcdici aud
replaced with those of Austria, in honor OF
the amcntcd GiOvanna of Austria. Nor
would he allow Blanca to be ever spoken of as
the grand duchess, but always as ia Pcssi-
ma Bianca.'