The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-06-15
A CHAPTER OF FORGOTTEN HIS
TORY.
The story Of u WOmnn"-ThO Mother
OF Three Kings.

Of Three Kings.
"SlIpped Out Of History" IL the title
of new paper in the March number
OF Temple Bar, devoted to the life and
curious story Of Marie Josephe de Sake,
the mother of three kings, and great
grandmother Of the present Count or
Chambord. She died more than q
century ago--In 1737-aud but for the
patient explorations of dusty records
by diligent Dryasdustus, such as the
English Magazine writer, the memo
ries Of her life, and the incidents of her
time, like those Of many other notable
persons, would DO utterly forgotten.
Marie Josephe left her fathers Court
at Dresden in January, in 174S, to wed
the Dauphin of France. The bride
was met at the frontier--says our gos-
siping chronicler--by the Duchess de
Brancas and her neice, the Duchess de
Laraguais, two women Of the noblest
birth and most ignoble character. At
the head of the Princess French
household they stripped her Of her Po-
lish costume and turned away her Po-
lish attendants--fOr she. came more as
the daughther of the Elector of Sax
ony; and then, as il to steal her for
life to her new destiny, the elder Ouch
ess presented her with the fat Dau-
phin's portrait, which the younger
Duchess took from her and fastened
to her right hand. From that mo-
ment Maria Josephe ceased to be of
Saxony, and began her career as Dau-
phine Of France.
On the following night, the illustri-
Gus company were supping at Nangis,
when a courier arrived with letter
from the Dauphin to the Duchess.
The lady, feeling sure that it contained
some gallant compliment to the Prin-
cess, handed her the missive and pray
ed her to open it. Marie Josephe took,
opened, and read the letter. AS she
read her color heightened, her eyes
filled with tears, and then, dropping
the paper, she, withdrew, in manifest
trouble to her chamber. The ladies
looked at her in berwilderment, and
the Duchess took up the document
which was addressed to her, and read
it aloud. 1t consisted solely of qn as
surance from the sentimental, fat
young Prince, of his uninterrupted af-
fection for his first wife, whom alone
he had loved, and that he did not care
to love any other!
"How very polite !" exclaimed the
scandalized sisterhood.
Next day all traces of tears had dis
appeared from Ithe Dauphin's eyes,
for she had to meet the whole royal
family that day, near Carbeil, and she
nerved herself, inexperienced girl as
she was, for the purpose, as well as for
her own particular object, and to sub
due the uncivil Prince whom she was
about to have inflicted on her as her
husband. At this interview, King,
Queen and Princesses were overcome
with the ecstary of their affection for
the charming stranger. The young
Dauphin was there, too, but that un-
happy fat boy stood apart, staring at
his bride with all the lack-lustre eyes.
1t was the richest Of genteel comedy
to see how the youthful Dauphine al
lured her glittering Cymon to approach
her, how she beat down his fixed gaz
ing at her by an honest and quiet
glance which she now and then direc-
ted at him. When she had won him
to her side, and had stimulated him
into, frank and joyous conversation, the
delighted Louis XIV laughed outright,
and the whole court followed his eX-
ample as closely as etiquette would
allow. She was really perfect in her
way. Her wit seemed to brighten
nd sharpen and manifest itself the
more and more, as it seemed the more
in peril.
SIX HUNDRED WEDDINGS.
At Versailles the young Dauphine
led her hard blameless life with q wit
and wisdom that warranted the So
lidity of her judgment as well as the
sedate cheerfulness of her heart. She
was wary to avoid all the pitfalls
which court intrigue dug for her. She
affected to be happy so naturally, that
people envied her with all their hearts.
While she seemed to live in the sun
shine, and vainly endeavored to draw
her husband out of the cold shade Of
his indifference, she wrote notes to her
brother in Dresden, beginning with an
outpouring of thanks that he had not
forgotten his "poor papa" and'ending
with "yours to the very grave, whith-
er am fast speeding" But prince
was born in September, 175l, and the
rejoicings consequent upon that event
were universal and hearty. The most
curious incident connected with the
ceremonies in honor of this birth was
that of the six hundred marriages of
any Partisan couples of lovers who
wanted dress, dowry and everything
else justifying marriage. There was
great difficulty in finding pairs to
match, and there was running about
| in search of candidates. Five hum
dred francs formed the allurement to
bring couples together who had no 9TH
er bond. OF that sum, sixty-nine
francs were to be deducted for cost of
wedding dinner, carriages and minor
expenses; but the city found the bride
In shoes, stockings, caps: gloves, bou-
quets, body and table linen, and silk
and other dresses of homely material.
Paris also decked the outer man of all
the bridegrooms. The wedding day
ushered in by firing of cannon. The
weddings took place at the same hour,
in divers parish churches. The we'd
ding feasts were held in some Of the
Il L< l.. e. I.,