Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-25

in his public or private relations, is not ne
cessary in this place. Suffice it to say that in
public life his uprlghtncss of purpose and his
honest efforts to reconcile, the various con-
tlicting elements in French politics are gener-
ally admitted even by his enemies. On the
other hand, his course may have been justly
subject to criticism, in some instances as too
arbitrary, and in others as wanting in pru-
dence and good judgment in important crises
Of his personal courage there can be no
doubt, when we remember his conduct at the
barricades in 1882, and the 'sublime exhibi-
bition of ntrepidity," as the London Quarter
ly has it, on the occasion of the Fieschi ex-
plosion in 1885, as well as in subsequent at
tempts upon his life. In the family circle he
was all that could be desired-''a devoted
father who wished but the happiness of his
children"
OF the various members of the royal family,
we can only enumerate tine more prominent;
the queen SO well known as the good and pi-
Gus Amelia; the kings gifted sister Adelaide,
who was wont to regard the young duchess
almostaS an ''angel sent from heaven to the roy
al family" and the several children. These
were the princes, Duke Ferdinand PHILIPPE
dOrleanS, Duke Louis de NemOurs and their
young brothers Duke Henri d'Aumale, Duke
FRANCOIS tie Joinville and the Duke Antoine
uc NlOulpCIoltl tiic pilHCCoSCS 1>UulSc, MIA
RE and Clementine. In regard to all these
and their subsequent careers, history has pre-
served many interesting "reminiscences. We
will only say of them, in the words OF another,
''If Louis Phillipe's horizon was often Ger
clOuded, the members of his family were like
SO many stars, whose friendly light reminded
him that above the region of clouds there was
still a world of light, and that beyond the con-
test ofpassions and parties there was horizon
of peace and unalterable love"
Letus turn now to the married life of the
Duchess Helen 1t was at Neuilly that the
royal family resided during the pleasantest
part of the year, and it was in that neighbor-
hood that the young couple established their
new home, at the charming chateau of Viii
Tiers. Here in the midst of friends, enjoying
the beauties of nature and watched over by
her husband with the most tender solctude,
the duchess passed many of the happiest hours
of her life. Both in these peaceful days and
ever atterward, she proved herself an affec
tionate and devoted wife. As has been well
said by her biographer, ''the duchess who had
given all her heart to her husband, rendered
him as happy as it is possible for one to be on
earth; she was, one might say, the better half
of his soul"
After spending several months at Neuly,
we find their home alternately at the Trianon
in Versailles, at st. Cloud, and at Paris. The
correspondence of the duchess with her moth
er, and with her esteemed friend, the profess
sor, dating at these places, becomes more in
teresting at this period, not only from the
many pleasing glimpses we have of her pr-
waite life, but from the numerous public incl
dents referred to, which have since become
matters of history
Without INDUCING in many tempting selec-
tons from this correspondence, we pass rapid
ly along through these eventful years, making
brief allusonto some of the principal incidents
recorded.
On the 9th August, 1888, occurred the
suspicious event of the birth of the Count
de Paris" The delight of the duke and
duchess unbounded; that of the royal
family, and especially of Louis PHILIPPE, was
not less manifest, and it seemed to all, that
upon that child rested ''the hopes Of France"
The letters of the duchess after this joyful oc-
casion, are full of heartfelt aspirations in be-
half of the young count, and the most exalted
sentiments in relation to her new duties to-
wards her adopted country. The education
and religious training of her son received her
constant attention, even in early childhood,
more especially as the duke was much of the
time absent in the service of his country. One
circumstance respecting the religious faith of
the duchess, deserves to be mentioned. AL
though herself consistent Protestant, and
regular attendant at the Lutheran church in
Paris, she cordially acquiesced insthe desire
of the king, that his grandson should be edu-
Gated as Catholic. In every other respect
the religious principles and sentiments of the
duchess, in whom the king had perfect conf
dence, were fully nculcated upon the mind
of the young prince.
In the following year the Duke of Orleans
was in inn, A ln,a Hoi,,o
accompanied during his journey, as far as the
beautiful Pyrennes, by his faithful wife. This
excursion to the south of France was the oc-
caSion of many manifestations of pleasure on
the part of the PrOtestants, whose ''legitimate
hopes" were awakened by her presence, and
whose confidence in the duchess as their de-
voted friend was only surpassed by their sat
isfaction Sin having such a mother to educate
the heir to the crown, and to inculcate firm
principles, noble sentiments, and love for his
future subjects
During the absence of the duke his wife re-
manned in retirement, and upon his return,
in 1910, their ''calm, sweet, domestic life"
was gladly resumed. With the exception of
excursions to the chateau d'Eu, near the sea,
to Treport and st. Cloud, with the royal fami-
ly, they remained with their young son at
Neuilly. About this time the duchess writes
to her 'dear pro-" in reference to home mat
tiers, to her literary pursuits and her affection
ate concern for her new country, and thus al
ludes to the young count ''He is a dear child,
gay and happy; he has my features and his
fathers eyes; he is gentle, yet nevertheless
has his own will; he is very sensible, yet
Independent enough; may God guide him
He only can. place my whole confidence
in Him."
On the 9th of November, 1910, the birth of
a second son, Robert duke de Chartres added
to the happiness of the parents and of the
royal family. From this time the duchess
devotion to her young children was worthy
of "bourgeois" mother To friend she
writes, in reference to her own experience,
and thus alludes to her views on the subject of
early education :-'"lhe minds of children ex.
pand more freely when alone with their pa
rents. You know that nature has always a
great influence over me. / think it
good to cultivate a taste for it in the minds of
children; in admiring nature they learn to
adore the Creator. You are right in believing
that | do not allow fine sunset or moonlight
to pass by without leading the hearts of my
children to Him who made these wonders of
nature. The emotion of the beautiful must
be developed in these young minds"
1t certainly seemed, at this period, as if the
happiness and prosperity of the duchess and
her family would remain uninterrupted by
misfortune and adversely. The popularity of
the duke was increasing. His interest in pub
lie affairs was, if possible, greater than ever,
ana the confidence placed in him by the king
gN4nNgs,