Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-25
GNOrtester @aiIp Spy.
THE DAILY SPY.
For the Worcester Daily Spy.
THE DUCHESS OF ORLEANS, AND
HER SONS.-A SKETCH.
BY W. S. BARTON.

service, in our behalf, by foreign officers of
high rank and distinction. When the history
of our great struggle for national existence
shall hereafter be written, it will become no
less matter of duty than of gratitude to re-
cord the names of those patriotic volunteers,
who, together with our own brave soldiers,
have declared for the cause of good govern
ment in the time of its sorest need.
Among these instances of dis interested pa
triotism, there are perhaps none more sug-
gestive, or more interesting in. historical
point of view, than that of the young sons of
the house of Orleans, recently serving on
McClellan's staff in the grand army of the
Potomac In the outset, however, we beg to
discaim any intention of giving undue prom
inence to their merits, or of disparagng 9TH
ers who are equally entitled to our respect
and gratitude. We would be the last to with
hold the need Of praise which is due to every
true-hearted volunteer in our country's SER
vice. All honor, says the poet, to the brave
soldier,
''Who with courage of mistaken root
In honor's field advancing his firm foot,
Plants it upon the line that Justice draws,
Aud will prevail or perish in her cause"
Widlout further allusion, r the present, to
the incidents which have suggested this arti-
Gle, we ask to be INDUCED in some brief REM
iniscences of the Orleans family, and, it may
be- to enlist the readers interest in their sin
gularly romantic history.
In one of the German duchies, at the castle
of Ludwigslust, on the 24th of January, 1914,
bt,rF tho DrupnSs TTolano I
beth, afterward to be known in history as the
wife of Duke Ferdinand PHILIPPE of Orleans,
eldest son of Louis PHILIPPE, liking of the
French" Her father was Louis Frederick,
hereditary grand duke of Mechlenburg-
Schwerin; her mother, Caroline, daughter of
Charles Augustus, grand duke of SaXe-W Ell
mar Losing her mother ut an early age, she
was fortunate even in her bereavement, as her
father soon after married the Princess Angus
TIA of Hamburg, in accordance with the diving
request, it is said, of the late grand duchess.
This event resulted happily for the Princess
Helen aud her brother Prince Albert, as their
new mother proved herself entirely competent
and devoted 10 their interests, and by her jul
dicious attention to their early training, exer-
cised salutary influence in the development
oftheir characters. The young princess ever
cherished for her the warmest affection, and
in her subsequent career had many occasions
for proving her love, and receiving from her
needed sympathy and consolation.
The studiouS character which marked her
youth, and the rare intellectual cultivation by
which she was distinguished in after years,
were only surpassed by her simple tastes her
afiectionate and winning disposition, and
piety which was constant and sincere through
out her chequered life. In the community
where she was best known, she was called the
good Helen, ''Unsere CUTE Helene"
\ brief outline of the events most interest
ing and suggestive in connection with her sub
sequent history, is all that we propose to give.
To those who would fully appreciate the many
lovely traits of nina and heart with which this
princess was gifted, who with US would enjoy
the reflected light of her inner life, as dis
played throughout her correspondence with
relatives and friends, we commend the charm
ing memoir by the ''Marquis de H. with
other memorials collected by Prof. Schubert.
her revered friend and instructor, published
by Charles Scribner in 1861. We cheerfully
acknowledge our own Indebtedness to this
work Tor the principal incidents to which we
may have occasion to alude.
For several years succeeding childhood the
princess passed many happy hours in her early
nome, residing for the most part at Ludwigs-
lust, or at the villa of Dobberan, on the bor-
hcIS VI llt bdlllC, OF at IluSuO0, another
Enlistment of the grand duke. Occasionally
she varied the even tenor of her life by a visit
to Weimar, and in 1927 by a delightful Jour-
ney 10 Switzerland. The revolution of 1880
Weakened within her a deep int est in what
ever related to France. French literature be-
came more and more attractive to her, and the
political movements which were to exercise,
unconsciously to her, such an important inhu-
ence upon her destiny, were watched with
emotions at once disinterested and absorbing
Subsequently, the illness of her mother, and
the death of her much-loved brother Albert,
caused her great sorrow, and to some extent
turned her attention from public affairs.
1t was i'll the year 1886 that the Duke of
Orleans and the Duke of Nemours left Paris
on a visit to Berlin, where they were cordially
received by the aged king of Prussia. With
out being actually there in search of a wife,
the young duke was ready to listen to the ad-
vice of his majesty, whose only regret was,
that she had no more daughters upon whom
to confer happiness !" and whose recommends
ton of the princess Helen, as of suitable rank
and rare personal merit, was frankly and
cheerfully given. The suggestion of the king
resulted in favorable negotiations, although
not without some opposition on the part of the
then grand duke of Mechlenburg, a half BROTH
er OF the princess, nor without serious and
LnOuSnlIul ueHDefatl0n on her own part.
In April, 1887, the marriage contract was
signed, and soon after the princess with her
mother departed for France, receiving tokens
of respect and affection from all classes while
en- route from Ludwigslust to Fontainbleau.
Her reception by Louis Philippe and the
royal family was cordial, while her own de-
meanor was marked by youthful Difference
and uncommon grace, as well as by the most
perfect self-possession. A contemporary writer
says, that 'the impression her appearance
made upon the spectators was most hannv
one. She impresses the Imagination like
those princeSses in fairy tales, led by good
genii into brilliant palaces"
The marriage of the young couple, who it
may here be remarked had never met until
the arrival of the princess in France, was SOL
emnized on the 30th of May, and the deeply
impressive services on the occasion, with the
teteS that succeeded, were the subjects of
great rejoicings to the people Of Paris and its
enyirons. The testimony of Il Frenchman of
rank quoted in the work before referred to,
illustrates the feelings of satisfaction which
pervaded all classes. ''What | should en-
deavor in vain to describe is the grace of that
young princess whom we have now the happi-
ness of possessing. Praise to her education.
intellect, and lofty reason, has long since
been accorded; but what no person among us
expected, and the prince less than others, is
the indescribable charm spread over her per.
son and delicate features. Of all the con-
quests we have made in France, this is the
most precious, and God be praised she will
remain to u.s."