Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-26
WOrrester 4ailp Spp.
THE DAILY SPY.
For the Worcester Daily Spy
THE DUCHESS OF ORLEANS, AND
HER SONS.-A SKETCH.
(concludod from Yesterdays PaporJ
BY w. S. BARTON.


of her children. This occupation proved a
fortunate and consoling resource, in the midst
OF her loneliness. As another has written,
''She mingled her life with that of her sons,
and the slightest circumstance drew her
thoughts nstnchvely towards them =
The absorbing influence of her mind was the
education of her sons as their father would
have desired them to be educated, and to work
Tor the happiness of France, which she could
only do through them"
In 1913 the duchess secured the services of
M Regnler as preceptor to her children, and
mad ample occasion to acknowledge his rare
qualifications for that office. Throughout
most of her correspondence, at this period,
we md numerous accounts of the satisfacto-
~ progress made by the young princes, and
some interesting illusions to their peculiar
traits OF character. We venture to quote from
one or two letters. April, 1914, she writes
II measure time by the development of my
children they advance, particularly Paris.
re Is truly an amiabe boy tall, rosy, grace
) tnl, and above all very studous and brave:
z ne mas good heart, with trankness and we'll
= balanced ardOr." Again she writes: ssParis
and Robert have their little conversations to-
gether, in which the character of each is dis
played in strong light; one full of reason
ana depth: the other, of intelligence and vi
yacity"
y The quiet and unostentatious life of the
duchess was undisturbed by public events dur
! ing the few years preceding the revolution of
4S. When the signs of the times at last grew
omnouS and threatening, she could only re-
greI' though unavailingly, the loss of that
master spirit, whose clear vision she believed
would have wisely scanned the political hori
zon, and by his prudence and sagacity, would
have safely conducted the shpof state through
n all impending u1nUarS and diffinultiae
The disastrous occurrences which culmina-
ted IN the exile of the Orleans family from
france are already familiar matters of histo.
ny. we nope to be pardoned for referring
hrleny TO the principal events of that period,
III which the duchess and her children bore a
prominent part.
The 23d February, 1S4S, was day of in
tense excitement, particularly so to the royal
1amliy. All attempts at conciliating the
leaders OF the ''Reform" party seemed to be
OF no avail. Numerous bands from various
quarters of Paris were in arms, and several
collisions with the troops had occurred, add
ing to the already embittered state of public
feeling. The morning Of the 24th February
brought no favorable change in the aspect of
aha t Even the latest 0y s 9f the king
unavaiIing, and at last the troops themselves,
! to great extent, proved unreliable. Abdca-
ton was demanded, and at length became
necessary, even to save the lives OF the royal
family 1t was then that the king, Gin the
midst of the noise of the insurrection," wrote
tShese memorable words: 81 abdicate in favor
u of my grandson, the Count of Paris; desire
that he may be more fortunate than l."
At this juncture, had the young duchess
been appointed regent instead of the Duke of
Nemours, how different might have been the
destiny Of France, and the fortunes of the
IA
from being partisan of this dynasty, gives
{ the following remarkable testimony in his his
Z &ory of this revolution 1.-THE fault Of the
King and of NJ. Theirs, in tearing the regency
from the young mother Of the infant king,
weighed fatally on this last hour of his reign.
If there had been offered to the imagi
nation and heart of the nation young widow
and young mother reigning through her
grace and popularity, under the name of her
son; if this beloved princess, unassailed amid
all these recrimn atons, had herself appeared
i'll the court of the palace, and presented her
child for the adoption Of his country, there is
no doubt but that nature would have triumph
ed over the people, for it would have found
response in the heart and glance of every
comhatant."
The hasty flight of most of the royal family
q from Paris and their ultimate arrival in Eng
land succeeded the kings abdication. Mean
while, the duchess and her sons remained at
tine palace, surrounded by number of friends
and advisers, and protected, then as well as
afterwards, by the Duke of Nemours, whose
, diSinterested devotion could not have been
surpassed. In short time she proceeded
with the Young princes to the chamber Of dep
uties Her noble bearing in the presence of
that assembly, and her courageous conduct
during the excited debates that followed her
arrival, have beeu highly eulogzed. Even
when the proceedings were interrupted by
armed men, and her life and that of her child
rem threatened her GOODNESS and presence of
mind never deserted her.
AT length the deliberations of the delegates
were brought to a close. Even to the last,
there were some staunch friends of the pro-
posed regency, but they were destined to be
disappointed. A provisional government
was finally determined upon, and the duchess
with her young sons were no longer safe IN
Paris. In the midst of tumult and violence,
and in imminent peril of her life, if recog-
n2ed, her children thrown down in the crowd,
and for a time separated from her, she at last
escaped from the Assembly, and fled to
temporary place of refuge. By the assistance
of several faithful friends, she was at first
conducted to the Hotel DIES Invaldes, after
wards to deserted chateau near Paris, and
subsequently, by various routes, through the
country, until she was enabled to cross the
frontiers with her children, never again to re-
visit her much-loved France.
J = While enduring misfortuneS most grievous,
her noble and unselfsh traits of character
were more than ever apparent. Her thought
fulness for others, under circumstances so
discouragng to her prospects, is tavorably il
Illustrated in letter to her 'dear professor"
in April following -''In the midst of the i'm
measurable disaster which has fallen upon our
family one of my most bitter cares is the
disability hereafter to recognize the services
of SO many faithful servitors. That affects
me most, after the thoughts of my sons fu-
ture But God, who has dispensed to us so
great affection, will still be our support and
guide"
We cannot forget to add in this connection,
as fact highly credtabe to the authorities
then in power, that most of the personal effects
of the duchess, particularly works of art and
articles of vertu, were sacredly preserved, and
eventually restored to her. Many of her most
valuable paintings and family jewels, as ap-
pears by her published will, were afterwards
beoueathed to her sons, having served, during
her lite time, as a pleasing reminder of her
former happy home.
Her subsequent years of exile were passed
at different places in Europe and England.
She resided occasionally at Ems in Germany,
where she was consoled by the society of her
mother and for long time at Eisenach near
Weimar In after years her home was in