The Shasta courier., 1867-04-20
COURIER.
WOMEN AT THE SCAFFOLD.
MARIE ANToINETTE.

Marie Antoinette was the daughter of
Marie Teresa, Empress of Austria in her
own right by inheritance from her father
Her descent was from the most illustrious
house in Europe, but could Marie An
toinette only have traced her descent further
than her mother she might we'll have boast
ed of her lineage, Marie Teresa being one of
the very brightest examples in the annals of
princes and potentates.
Do not weep that I am mortal" said
the Queen, weep rather that the power
had Of doing good to all, is not immortal but
dies with me like mortal sovereignty" were
the last words she uttered.
Of this noble and tender woman, Marie
Antoinette was the youngest child. Previous
to her birth, many conjectures had been
formed as to the sex of the expected scion Of
the royal house. The Empress, who had
established in her court the intimacy of pri.
vate life, passed her evenings in manufac-
turing embroideries for the expected infant
conversing Jas even royal mothers Will on
the future prospects of the yet unborn child.
1t was thought her majesty rather desired
a son, though she had already a goodly
array of 10th sons and daughters, SO, of
course, everybody predicted a son. Among
the company was the poet Metastano, he too
propheSied a prince; when Marie Teresa,
turning laughingly towards him, bet two
dollars with him that it would be a girl.
The birth of Marie Antoinette settled the
wager in favor of the Empress
Metastano was greatly puzzled. How to
give two dollars to an Empress? The poet
however, had lived at court and had studied
the human heart. He felt that both as an
l. 1
aattery would change the aspect of every
he enclosed them with the following lines in
Italian to the Empress:
Ho perduto, laugusta fgia,
pagar mika condagnato,
Ma Sc yer chez vol omiglia,
Tutto il monde ha guadagnato,
I've lost my bet, your royal pet
My cash to pay constrains,
But if It's true she is like you,
Then everybody gains.
The young arch-duchess was from her era
die destined for the heir of the French mon
archy. Maria Teresa had moulded the ed.
ucation of each of her daughters according
to the court over which she was destined
to preside. Marie Antoinette was therefore
educated to suit the state of society in
France.
As far as outward appearance the courtly
circles of France were the models of refine
ment and elegance. Nor were the mere
splendor Of wealth or the pride of high
ancestry sufficient distinctions in a circle
where all were rich and nobly born. Wit,
talent, grace, beauty and accomplishments
were the distinctions which LED to position
favor, and. fashion.
Maria Teresa desired, therefore, that the
young arch duchess should be especially
educated, so as to obtain the Difference and
admiration of the fastidiously refined circle
by which she was to be surrounded.
She had consulted more the taste of the
court of France than the taste of the Dauphin,
who, educated under the influence of his
maiden aunts, the daughters of Louis the
Ky, bad been taught to look with distrust
on all that was brilliant and beautiful.
1t is certain then that the few first years
of Marie An.oinettes married life were
unhappy. The young and beautiful bride of
fifteen was coldly received by her husband,
there was neither love nor confidence be-
tween them, and an utter dissmilarity of
taste in their pursuits, promised long es-
arrangement. The detractors of Marie An
toinette, have, however, never been able to
trace one single thought or action that
could, during this most perilous period, sully
the purity of her character.
Yet she came TO a court where to speak of
virtue, reserve and duty, was insulting the
sovereign who then governed France-Louis
Nv, and the woman who governed him, the
famous and infamous Countess Du Barri.
Although educated for the world, the
young arch duchess appears to have pre-
served a simplicity and innocence Of mind
suited to her age rather than her to her sta
ton. The old King having so far forgotten
his selfrespect as to present his favorite to
his granddaughter, Marie Antoinette in
quired What were Madame Du Barri's
duties at court? ~
The lady whom she questioned, somewhat
embarrassed by the question, replied at
length
ITO divert and amuse the King"
"Oh," !" responded the Dauphiness, that
henceforth shall be my office.''
But if the young arch-duchess was coldly
greeted by her husband, France welcomed
her with enthusiasm. The somewhat exag-
gerated JOY at her arrival can scarcely be ac.
counted Tor, unless that the people had
grown weary of succession of degraded
favorltes, who contaminated all that class to
which the whole population vet looked with
o"N, onA .h"t ~ lhc yOuiip anu Dedutl1ul,
high-minded princess, fresh from the charm,
ed circle of pure and happy home, they
welcomed return to virtue and moral rec
titude.
We all know the catastrophe which at.
tended the magnificent illumination voted by
the city of Paris, when by fall of a tempo
rary scaffolding and some misunderstanding
hundreds were mangled, or killed, or wound.
ed.
1t is said that this catastrophe. as well as
the circumstance of most terrific thunder
storm, which occurred during the celebra-
ton of the royal marriage ceremony at Yer
sailles, were looked on even then as fatal
omens; but who could have forseen that
on that very spot where amidst the shouts of
love and loyalty, roared the brilliant flames
and rockets, that head, on which every bless
ing was invoked, should fall beneath the
hand of the common executioner, and amid
the execrations of the people.
But time passed on, Louis XIV. was laid