The weekly Butte record., 1862-09-27
Marie Antoinette and the-Composer.


! 1t was at the midnight hour of the l9Ih Of
| April, l1I4, that the opera-ho at Paris sur
rounded with shouts of applause, such as had
never before been heard in that building the
opera, lptigsHiG in -iaiis by Giuck, the great
est German composer, had just been finished,
The audience had applauded every member,
most warmly The magnificent grand aira of
Achilles, however, had raised the enthusiasm
to the highest pitch the noble officers had
unwittingly grasped their swords the effect
was unprecedented. The public excitement
caused by the masterpiece deded description.
Tears flowed, smiles of the highest fascination
| beamed, signs were audible, Gluck's name was
shouted by thousands of lips, iunumerable
| flowers were thrown upon the stage.
/ Upon the velvet balusrade of the royal box
/ leaned Marie An,oinette, attired in most costly
dress. celebrating the splendid triumph of her
honored teacher with streaming eyes. Louis
WI. highly excited, stood near her; his usual
pale face was slightly flushed. He gazed in
lively sympathy upon the bois,erous. enthusas-
tic multitude. God of heaven . be suddenly
exclaimed turning to the queen what II the
bright flames of JOY of this so easily excited
people, this feverheat of the agitated mass
should be changed TO fiery rage. What if
the angerwaves of such multitude should roll
as high as now rolls the sea of their transport
What 4 horrible, hideous picture" Marie
Antoiuette could not command syllable 10
reply; she gazed in amazement at the king.
but involuntarily shuddered, aud seized timidly
the arm of her husband. Where can Gluck
be ?" she whispered, restessly, and in scarcely
audible tones
At that moment the great master tearing
himself from the sitting embraces of his ad-
mirers in the side scenes, sought TO rid himself
of the praising swarm of his vanquished enc
mics, pressed in friendship the hand of the
passing, deeply moved, subdued opposer Picci-
nj, and followed with unsteady steps, half
unconscious Of his own existence. nearly broken
down by the great weight of his emotions, an
impatient servant, who conducted him TO the
royal box. As Gluck entered he involuntarily
bowed his head before the figure Of the king /;
but the glimmering Of the wax-lights blinded
his eyes; everything swan before him his
breast heaved in violent agitation be easped
convusively for breath. The queen approach
ed the staggering man, and quickly placed,
with a joyful smile. laurel crown upon the
sunken head of the great master.
The master hastily raised himself erect; his
eyes flashed with strange expression He
repeatedly pressed bis slender hand to his pale
forehead, and gazed at the queen with frightful
horror. An-merciful God :" he at length
exclaimed, in q shrill voice" what horrible
sight. Noble lady,-quick, quick wipe away
with thy white hand, that hideous stripe of
blood which encircles thy dazzling white neck
Who gave thee such an ornament? Destroy
him. Oh haste. haste with every respira-
ton the frightful purple band increases thy
head reels the band is now a stream too
late too late, Heavenly Father :" With
this exclamation he sank fainting to the floor
" Gluck probably sees visions murmured the
king, while death-like pallor overspread his
countenance-" the powerful excitement was
too great for him the victory too sudden and
too brilliant for body and soul y Marie An
toinette shuddered and trembled in every limb;
timidly. and sobbing like child, she hastily
tore off the glittering costly ruby necklace
which adorned her snowy neck, threw it far
away, confded the unconscious master to the
care of her physician aud attendant, and, lean
ing upon the arm of the king, hastily left the
box
Thou didst not probably think. great Or
pheus of the New World, that thy prophet
eye looked into futurity in that moment
of great excitement, when thy mouth spoke
those dreadful words of horror. That thy
powerful mind flew over space and time in
that superhuman state, and foretold what,
some day. would or must accur.
The never fading laurel tree Of thy fame had
already entwined its luxuriant branches into
thick bower over thy quiet grave. Thou didst
rest after the bate of life thou didst rest af-
ter thy victories, and the songs of praise of thy
fellow men reached thy ear no more ; cheru-
bin and seraphim listened in blessed world,
to the glorious tones of thy pure love when
thy prophecy came to bloody ful6llment,
nineteen years from the evening of the glorious
triumph, the purple band around the neck of
thy beautiful but unfortunate princess became,
in reality, flowing stream. Marie Antoin-
cites head sank in the month Of October, in
the year 1898, under the axe of the guilotine.
a WISH you would not smoke cigars said
plump little black eyed girl, to her lover
Why not | smoke as well as your cEim-
neys."
Because chimneys don't smoke when they