The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-04

to spell out the meaning of the German a
exandrines, took his place with his bride o
the dais, and the orchestra strack up.
! The bah was opened by the queen Of NJ
pies, with prince Estorhazy, and Eugene
yieeroy Of Italy, with the princess SchwarI
zenberg. While the dancing was going on
the imperial couple promenaded the room il
opposite directions, conversed lightly witt
different persons, and gave an opportunit'
for the presentation OF strangers, and thos
Younger members of French and Austrian
nobility who made their debut into society a
this grand fatc. Marie Louise soon resume,
her seat, but Napoleon remained at the 9th
er end Of the pavilion, conversing first will
one then with another. The princess Sehwart
zenberg presented her young daughters Il
him, and received his compliments on thC
magnifcence Of the arrangements. The
princess felt while she listened to them that
all anyieties aud fears with regard TO the en-
tcrtainment might now be fairly Laid aside
never could ban room present a more bril-
liant spectacle, never could f1te promise a
grander success. The hearts Of both host
and hostess grew light rs they saw Napoleon
in the best possible humor, evidently bent
upon being polite after his own fashion. 1t
was now past midnight, the reyelry was at its
height; the wlirl Of the dance had complete
" broken the gsae of the great conqueror's
presence Dukes and dutchcsses, princes
and princcsscs, kings and queens, were all en-
ioying Themselves like ordinary moTals.-
There were silvcry laughter, sweet low vol
ces, and glancos still more sweet and clo-
qucnt; plenty Of whispering and tiirtadon
going on under cover Of the music, especial.
ly in the less throueed galleries among the
younger portion of the assembly. Tiraad
ladies, and bcstarcd and beribboned gentle
men, vergng upon fifty, but successfully got
up to seem some twenty years younger, were
looking forward with gentle anticipation TO
the supper, lying in state Of gold and sil-
yer in suite Of banquetting-room9. Some
cf the guests were proud Of their jewels,
their wit or their grace; some women were
proud Of their own beauty, others of the
beauty Of their daughters; bat not IN Aus
tian present was there who was not proud
Of the BAH, md well they might be. Under
those snowy drapcries, the light fell fnll aud
brilliant on such an assembly as Paris has
hardly gathered since; jewels flashed, plumes
waved, decorations glittered, to be multiplied
in countless mirrors--thc maguifi-
cent pavilion showed like one vast sea Of
splenlor. Vague forcbolings are rife in the
minds Of mon, but why should they enter
here! What room here for a thought Of
broken flith-a sigh for the cast or wis at
should a dark fancy see in
the cold shrinking girl on Tie dais an image
of Iphigonia at the altar! Away with al i'll
timed fincic5! The orchestra strikes mp
waltz; carer, louder is tie music: quick, and
still more quick the measure Of the dance
There is n slight STIR at that end Of the
ball room where Napoleon is standing; the
mcrcst triac-thc flames from one Of the
lamp. has lail hold Of a c-'azc festoon. The
light, Misunderstanding blaze has vanished in
stautly; a few fakes fall, which count Ben
hcim cxtinguishes with his hat. It is quite
,yer now-no, not quite; that is the fire |
;rccping there along that drapcry overhead. |
luicl, rs Thought, Count Damanion, one Of
he Emperor, chambcdains, climbs a pillar, |
cars it down. and crushcs out the flame in a .
moment But look thcre-higher than any
me can rca.h-vhat are those fiery tongues /
lalting out from the futcd muslin straight /
,vcr the orchestra? The music was hushed .
t once; (; the band hunyinr 20 escape by the 1
loor leading into the gardens, at The back Of
he orchestra, gave free passage to the night
ir. \ rising wind blew very freshly in, and
AIMED the flames into instant fury. Wave
tcr wave Of fire surred over the whole roof;
,urniug fragments were falling everywhere
N the light drapcrics below and the ladies'
Ires>os. The Emperor had at once made his
yay 70 the dais; some Of his attendants, be-
,ildcred by the sudden alarm, suspected
Tea.hery, and pressed closely around him,
b .r drawn swords in their hands. lie him
clf was perfectly calm and composed, at
saded by the ambassador, with the En-
ress on his arm, he left the pavilion with no
lorc haste than hc had entered It, exhoriinr
be crowd, as he passed along, to keep order.
IN the first alarm, Prince Schwartzcnbcrg
ad dispatched an aljutant TO order the i'm
erial carriage to a private gate into the gar
ems near at hand; but Napoleon, when this
as nearly reached, turned suddenly round
nd refused, in the most pereInptory man
er, to leave by any but the principal en-
-ancc. His decision was no doubt formed
nder the idea that if this accident were con
ected with design upon his life, the mar
1wncss and seclusion Of the eby-street into
hich the other gateway opened would favor
le plans Of conspTators. The carriage had /
cen ordered back. and thus a cruel delay
rose, for Prince Schwartzenberg, waiting
ith death in his heart beside Napoleon, who