Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-27
THE BOURBON DIADEM.
DEATH OF CHARETTE THE VENDEAN GENER

DEATH OF CHARETTE THE VENDEAN GENERAL,
IN New ORLEANS.
From the New Orleans Picayune, July 10. I
Few of the residents in the lower part OF
the city, of late years, but are familiar with
some of the incidents we are now relating
They have often seen in the twilight of sum-
mer evening singular apparitior. Sudden.
ly, on the banquette of Music street, has ap.
peared an old man, with long gray hair, and
clad in the costume of half century ago
The garments were faded and worn, but re-
vealed a richness which in earlier days was
more fitted for court than an American me.
tropolis. He was a very tall man, although q
huncliback, and but for the deformity would
have been of gigantic proportions. In the
breadth of shoulders, the deep, powerful
chest, and long, nervous arms, resided mar.
veluus strength, while the lower limbs, fash
Toned in magnificent strength and beauty,
arrested attention and commanded admiration
wherever lie appeared. He spoke to no
one. looked at no one, but in silent abstrac-
ton pursued his lonely walk far into the
night. Years went by, and night after night
little children paused in their play to watch
the receding figure of the lonely man.
1t must have been forty years ago that he
first came among US. lie looked middle
aged then; but as years flew by the sturdy
hair grew gray and his face was scanned will
wrinkles.
He lived in little brick building that sal
back from the street. Wild vines crept over
the crumbing piles and wreathed fantastic
shapes on the chimney tops. In the yard
beautiful flowers bloomed all the year round,
and their rich purfume made the air sensuous
and sweet. At window shaded by trellis
work, hid in the bloom of roses, the old man
sat of afternoons and watched the suns de-
cline. No one else was ever seen in the
house-no one ever crossed the threshold ;
and so he lived, a smileless, sad old man, in
a lonely house.
But one day, not a long time since, the
neighbors saw that the blinds in the house
were closed. The old man had not appeared
an the street for weeks, and the grass had be.
gun to grow from the chunks of the marble
slabs at his door, and it began to be whis.
pered about that the old man was dead.
AT last, one day the neighbors went in
(they were poor people, but kindly and true)
Sure enough he was dead. He lay pallid and
stark on pallet of straw. There were a few
scattered chairs around the room and plain
table One object only arrested the eye
Near the body was rich casket, set in moth
err of pearl and gold. Jewels flashed from
the costly lid, and wreathed in the dust of
diamonds were engraved the '.Lillies of
France" in coronet of gold. They opened
the box and there flashed on their eyes the
bourbon diadem. 1t was stolen the night of
the 10th of August, 1890, when Charles the
Tenth addicted the throne of France in favor
of the Duke of Bordeaux. Underneath it
was a manuscript, written in French. 1t
contained only these words: tHa
Il am Charette, the Vendean General
Maria of Savoy was to have been. my wife.
She was taken from me and given to the
Comte D'Arton. l could not have forgiven
this, but he deserted me when most needed
his help and assistance. l avenged myself
and procured his overthrow, and am happy
since he died an exile" It|G 80
This was sll, Over his life silence now
draws veil. His hayward passions, his in
ward conflicts, none can estimate. Lonely
and sad he persisted in exile none could appre-
ciate his injuries; let none judge too harsh
ly of his life. &