The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-12
Madame George sand and tlsc
Empress Eugenie.
From the Pail NAL Gazette.

Empress Eugenie.
From the Pal NAL Gazette.
The story. under the title of "Malgretout,"
which Nine George Sand has just brought
to a close in the last number of the ReDUe des
deup Mondes has caused some excitement in
the literary circles and salons of Paris. One
of the episodical characters, n beautiful
Spaniard, Madlle dOrtosa, is made to trace a
portrait of herself, which mauy readers assert
was intended for the Empress Eugenio.
Rumor has gone even so far as to say that, in
spite of some very unflattering touches, the
Empress had, on the whole, been so well
pleased with the portraiture that she meant,
in return to exert all her influence to obtain
the election of Nine. Sand to one of
the FIVE seats now vacant in the
French Academy. 1t is we'll known
that the Empress-like most women
at heart, whatever they may say to
the contrary-would like to see the talents
and merits of persons of her own sex obtain
the same public recognition that is awarded
to the labors of men; and it may be remem-
bered that some years ago she took advantage
of her temporal regency--during the Empe-
ror's visit to Algeria-to bestow, contrary to
all precedent, the cross of the Legion of
Honor on Madlle Rosa Bonheur, the eminent
PAINTER Considering, however, that Nine
Sand characterizes Mad'lle d'Ortosa as ''uue
ambitieuse extravaganza, who mistakes pomp
and glitter for glory, and does not even rightly
understand the brilliancy of the part he has
to play, we think it would show some humility
on the part of the Imperial lady if she we're
as fattered as some people say at having in
spired such portrait. The reader shall, how
ever, Judge for himself; here is Madlle dor
tosa, with her ambitions and her hopes,
painted by herself
81 mean to marry man rich, young and hand
some, who shall be madly IN love with me. He must
ever subject influence. ne at
bear with honor an illustrious name. He must,
moreover, possess power; he must be king, an en-
peror at least an heir presumptive a reigning
prince. All my care will be directed henceforward
TO find him out and, when | have discovered am
sure TO take possession OF him. for my education is
aow complete. have no fear OF being captivated
myself, for have now acquired all that was want
erudtion and political scence know the histories
Of dynastes and peoples l know the secrets OF
diplomacy and all the naivetes OF every sort OF
bition. know all the men Of note, all the women
ofpower in the past aud in the present l have
none. The day will come when can be useful to
sovereign as l could be to-day to q woman who
might ask my advice about her dress. Iseem to
pie little guess what serious thoughts occupy
my mind; they will know it later, when am
queen, q cZarina, o grand. duchess. Lastly,
intend, after having played brilliant part In the
world, to shine for ever In history. / will not dis
appear, like any common actress, at the same time
as my youth and my beauty; viii wear a crown
on my white hair. woman is always beautiful
who can dazzle men with the splendor OF a crown.
am eager for great struggles, or great pers; even
the scafoId has strange fascination for me- will
never accept exile; win never resort to flight;
will never be caught brought back the road OF
Varennes will not lose my senses In the midst of
disasters will have the most tragic destiny and
fight face to face with the popular lion; win not
quail before him, ana more than once will chain
him at my feet. II, after all, the populace grows
So be 1t! that win be the day OF supreme spiendor
and my pale head, doubly crowned by martyrdom,
will remain for ever stamped In the memory OF
mankind"
considerable stretch of imagination is
required to recognize the Empress Eugenie
in the Intellectually powerful Mdlle. d'Ortosa
as she is here depicted; nevertheless, there
are, no doubt, some traits in the picture
which might with a little effort be made to
apply, and which would, probably, fatter the
Empress secret pretensions. The last para
graph, especially, seems to embody her we'll
known admiration and sympathy for Marie
Antoinette. The portrait we have quoted is
contained in the number of March l, where
curious readers can also find description of
the personal appearance and manners of
Mdlle. dOrtosa, the Spanish a0enturSere-for
such she is. We plead guilty to having
'Malgretout," in the number of the 10th
of March. 1t is one of those half-improper,
half,preachy stories in which Madame Sand
delights, but under which, personally, we are
impatient. But we think we have discovered
that Mad lie d'Ortosa becomes insane from de-
feated ambition, and the pangs of hopeless,
disgraceful passion. So, on the whole, we do
not think that Madame Sand, should she
aspire to academical honors, can reckon on
the support of the Empress. 1t is difficult to
imagine any influence powerful enough, any
revolution sufficiently radical, to obtain ad-
mittance for woman into the French
Academy but it is still more difficult to sup
pose that (were the thing possible) the most
popular and the most gifted writer of France
would think her fame enhanced by seat
among the Immortal forty"