The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-25
THE BOURBON DADEM.
Death Of Charette, the vendean General, In
New Orleans.

From the New Orleans Pcayune. July 1861
Few OF the residents III the lower part U the CITY,
OF late years. but are familiar with some OF the Incl
dents we are now relating They have often seen IN
the twilight OF summer evening singular apparl.
ton. suddenly, on the banquette Of Music street.
mas appeared an Old man. with long gray hair, and
clad ia the costume OF haif century ago. The gar.
menls were faded and worn, but revealed u richness
which III earlier days was more fitted for a court
than an American metropolis. He was a very tall
man. although hunchback, and but Tor the
delormily would would have nave 81 been OF gigantic
powerful chest, and long. nervous arms, resided
marvellous strength. while the lower limbs, fasn.
attention and commanded admiration wherever he
appeared. He spoke to no one, looked mt no one
but IN silent abstraction pursued ms lonely walk far
night little children paused IN their play to watch
the receding figure OF the lonely man.
IL must have been forty years ago thai he first
~ came among u.s. lie looked midde-aged then: but
rs years few by the sturdy frame remained flexible
and acuve. but the hair grew gray and lis face was
lie lived In little brick building that set back
from the street. Wild vines crept over the crumbling
piles and wreathed fantastic shapes on the chimney
tops. In the yard beautiful MOWERS bOOmcd all The
year round, aud their rich perfume made the air
sensuous and sweet. At window shaded oy
trelis work, hid IN the bloom oil roses, the Old man
sat OF afternoons and watched the suns decline.
No one else was ever seen IN the house-no ever
crossed the threshold: and so he lived, a smiele
sad Old man, IN u lonely house.
But one day. not great while since, the neigh
bOrs saw :nat the blinds IN the house were closed.
The Old man had not appeared on the street for
weeks, and the grass had begun to grow from inc
chnks vi the marble slabs ~ ms door, and 1. began
tO be whispered ABOUT that the old man was dead.
AT last. one day, the neghbOis went In (tney were
poor people. but kindly ana true). Sure enough he
was dead lie lay pallid ana stark on pallet OF
straw. There were few scattered chairs around
the room and pian IN lle One object only arrested
the eve. Near the body was rich caskct, set IN
mother OF pearl and gold. Jewels flashed from the
cost, I'D, and wreathed lii the dust Of diamonds
were engraved the Lilies OF France in coronet
OF gold. Thcy opened the box anu there flashed on
then eyes the Bourbon diadem. Ii was stolen the
night the 10th or August, 1850, when Charles the
Tenth abdicated the throne OF France In favor OF Tie
Duke ol Bordeaux. Underneath IL was manu-
script, wriuen IN French. IL contained only these
words:--
IL am Charctte. the Vendean General. Maria or
Savoy was to have been my vile. She was taken
from me ana given TO the COmtc dArtoi. could
have forgiven THIS Dut he deserted NE when most
needed his help and assistance i avenged myseil
and procured his overthrow, an1 am happy since he
died IN exile"
This was all. over his life silence now draws a
veil. His maynard passions. his inward CONFLICTS,
none can estimate Lonely ana sad he persisted III
exile: none could appreciate his INJURIES, .et none
Judge too harslily o. his lie.