Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-06
The mOther of three Kings.

'tSlipped Out of History" is the
title Of a paper in Temple Bar, de-
voted to the life and curious story of
Marie Josephe de SAKE, mother Of
three Kings, and great-grand-mother
of the present Count of ChambOrd.
She died more than a century agO-in
1737-and but for the patient eXplora-
tions by diligent Dryasdusts, such as
the English magazine writer, the
memories of her life and the incidents
of her time, like those Of many other
notable persons, would be utterly for
gotten.
Marie Josephe left her fathers court
at Dresden, in January, Ills, 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 niece, the Duchess de
Laraguais, two women of the nOblest
birth, and ignOble character. At the.
head of the Princess French house
hold they stripped her of her Polish
costume and turned away her Polish
attendants-fOr she came more as the
daughter of the King of Poland than
of the Elector Of SaXOny; and then,
as il to steal her for life to her new
destiny, the elder Duchess presented
her with the fat Dauphin's portrait,
which the younger Duchess took from
her and fastened TO her right hand.
From that moment Marie JOsephe
ceased to be o~fSaxony, and began her
career as Dauphine of France.
On the following night the illustri-
GUS company were supping at Nangls,
when q courier arrived with a letter
from the Dauphin to the Duchess.
The lady feeling sure that it contained
some gallant compliment to the
Princess, handed il to her and prayed
her to open it. Marie JOsephe took,
opened and read the letter. AS she
read her color heightened, her eyes
filed with tears, and then, dropping
the paper, she Withdrew in manifest
trouble TO her chamber. The ladies
looked at each other in beWilderment,
and the Duchess took up the dOcu-
ment, which was addressed to her,
and read it aloud. 1t consisted solely
of an assurance from the sentimental
fat young Prince of his uninterrupted
affection 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 disappeared from the Dau-
phine's eyes, for she had to meet the
whole royal family that day, near Car
bell, and she nerved herself, inexpeTi-
enced girl, as she was, for the purpose,
as well as for her own particular OBJ
ject, which was to be gracefully self
possessed, and TO subdue the uncivil
Prince whom she was about to have
inflicted on her as a husband. At this
interview, King, Queen and Princess
were overcome with the ecstacy
of their affection for the
charming stranger. The young
Dauphine was there too, but the un-
happy fat boy stood apart, staring at
his bride with all the might Of his
lack. lustre eyes. IL was the richest
of ''genteel comedy" to see how the
youthful Dauphine allured her gilt
tering CymOn to approach her, how
she beat down his fixed gaze at her by
an honest and quiet glance which she
and then directed at him. When
abe had won him to her side, and had
stimulated him for frank and Joyous
conversation, the delighted Louis XIV. |
laughed outright, and the whole court
followed his example Is closely as Ell.
quettte would allow. She was really
perfect in her way. Her wit seemed
to brighten and sharpen the more and
more as il seemed the more in peril. |
Al Versailles the young Dauphine
led q blameless life with a wit and
wisdom that warranted the solidity OF
her Judgment as well as the sedate
cheerfuIness of her heart. She was
wary to avoid all the pitfalls which
court intrigued ugf0r her. She affect
ed TO be happyso naturally that PEG.
pie envied her with their whole
While she seemed to live in
The sunshine, and vainly endeavOred
10 draw her husband out Of the cold
shade OF his indifference, she wrote
notes 10 her brother in Dresden, be-
ginning with many thanks that he
had not forgotten his "poor papa"
and ending with "youTs to the very
grave, whittier / am fast speeding"
But q Prince was born In September,
1861, and the rejoicings consequent
upon that event were universal and
The Dauphine never showed more
grandeur Of character than when her
husband was seized with the Ioatb-
,ome and then common disease, small.
pox. DamOulin, the chief physician,
Insisfed bleeding him freely at the
oct. ssThe prince maydie under it"
10 said che will certainly die with
mt if.W This was said to Louis XIV,
Who replied. ssthen let him be bled.D
Il was done: suppuration ensued, and
ne Dsuphin looked hideous. Neither
By persuasion nor force could his VIE
be kept from closely attending him.
When the consequent peril was hint
she answered, "ffa Dauphine dies