The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-05-04
The Duchesse de Berri,

The death of this notable actress in the
public events of only forty and fifty years
ago, now apparently forgotten, calls up with
vividness some of the more remarkable
scenes in her eventful history. The past
starts to life at the mere announcement of
her name The ASSASSINATION of the Duke
at the door Of the Opera House; the har-
rowing scenes of that dismal February
night; the shock, the tears, the blessings,
the confession, the prayers, the impreca-
tiOns; the arrest of the murderer in the
shadows of the Bibliotheque; the glow Of
pleasure on one side of the wall, and the
gloom of hopeless grief on the other
such is an early episode in the turbulent ca
reer of this woman of rare beauty and cour-
age, that makes her figure of weird ro-
nance in modern history. The assassin,
fanatic saddler, in whose gloomy mind, as
| in a caldron, had long been boiling all the
remnants of Bonapartist hate and chagrin,
supposed he had done his bloody work effec-
tually; but the striken wife bore within her
bosom nascent life that still supplied the
stock of the Bourbon family for France.
On the night of the tragedy dreary win
| ter rain was falling. The season of gaiety
was drawing to its close, and it was at the
very end of the carnival. Louvel had
watched his victim so closely that he knew
where he was to be that night. Twice du-
ring the afternoon he had walked under
the garden walls of the Elyssee, where the
Duke and Duchess resided. He had two
tlaggers concealed under his person.. 1t
was already eight o'clock, and the royal
party were driving past Frascatis, in the
rue Richelieu, which was flashing forth its
lights and gay with dissipation. The opera
house presented a cleaning show on the
background of the dark night, The horses
of the Dukes carriage made their hoots
clatter on the pavements before the royal
entrance The assassin saw with a mono
moniac S eye the Duke hand out his youth
full wife at the door. Now, thought he, my
dream of yearstis to be realized. But a
cloud, or a mist, as,of doubt, or pity, or re-
morse, passed across his clear resolution, and
{ when it was gone his golden moment had
slipped by also He stole off alone to reason
with himself and recruit his courage. If
the deed were not done now, be might
never have the coveted chance again. He
came instantly back, worked his way into
the file of carriages, took bis stand like Q
statue at the head of a cab horse near the
entrance, and then remained secure from sus-
( picion until past eleven.
His eager eye then caught sight of the
Duke conducting the Duchess to the car
rage again, which was to return for him al
later hour. The door was securely closed
when he approached unobserved, laid BIZ
left hand on the Duke left shoulder, ant
, while holding him thus, drove dagger in
to his right breast up to the hiit, leaving j
as he ran in the cruel wound. The cry, th'
! alarm, the horror of indignation, the run
ming Of attendants and officers, the frantic
sbrieks of the Duchess that the carriag
door should be opened, the frenzied embrace
the blood stained garments they make
. nicture that would change the life of an,
one whose fate it was to figure in it. AM
then the summoning of physicians and tn
Z Bishop of Chartres, the meeting OF the de
!. voted brothers, the devastating OF VIII
! and husband, the hurried blessings bestowe
on father, brother, wife, and children-th
; repeated prayers that the assassin should b
i promised the royal clemency before his VII
q tim parted with his breath-the coming {
!. the King. fat and wsddling Louis XVII,
e the gray OF the morning, from whom b
t. ministers had prudently kept the tidings
q the nights event-the prayers TO Heave
ir far pardon and peace-and the impetuo,
" burst of revengefnl grief on the part Of Il
o youthful Duchess when the lips of her hu
o band became forever colorless and dumb, i
,e she cut her luxuriant locks and laid the
m on his dead body, calling down curses {
ls the country where he had met his cruel tat
ir What sharp contrast was such harro'
ID ing scene to the festive music, pleasa
is lights, the sparkle of talk, the blaze of di
,ir monds, the glitter and glory Of costume
On the constellation of fair faces, and the ma
to netism OF the warm atmosphere within.
ut. From that cruel SCENE the Duchess
or, Berri went forth changed being as to b
he purpose. What the assassin had intend,
Id to prevent she was henceforth resolved
nd see accomplished. The unborn child 8