The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-05-18
IDAHO WORLD.
4 CHAprER OF FORGOTTEN HISTORY.
STORY OF womAs-rHn MOTHER OF THREE KINGS.

uSlipped out of History" is the title OF
naner IN the March number of Temple Bar,
devoted to the life and curious story OF Marie
.Iosephe de SAKE, mother Of three kings, and
preat-grandmother of the present Count OF
Thambord. She died more than a century ago
jim I767-and but for the patient explorations
of dusty records by different Dryasdusts such
as this magazine writer, the memories of her
life and the incidents of her tinle like those of
many other notable persons, would be utterly
forgotten Marie Josephe left her fathers
court at Dresden in January, 1S47, to wed the
Dauphin of France. The bride was met at
the fr0ntier-says our gOsspping chrOnicler-
by the Duchess de Brancas and her niece, the
Duchess de Laraguais, two women Of~the no
blest birth and of the most ignoble character.
At the head of the Prncess's French house
hold, they stripped her of her Polish costume
and turned away her Polish attendants-tor
she came more as the daughter of the king of
Poland than of the Elector of Saxony; and
then, as if to seal her for life to her new des-
tiny the elder Duchess presented her with the
fat Dauphins portrait, which the young Ouch
ess took from her and fastened to her right
hand. From that moment, Marie Josephe
ceased to be of Saxony, and began her career
as the Dauphine of France.
On the following night, the illustrious COM
pany were supping at Nangis, when courier
arrived with q letter from the Dauphin to the
elder Duchess. That lady, feeling sure that 1t
contained some gallant compliment to the
Princess, handed her the misSive, aud prayed
her to open it. Marie Josephe took, opened,
and read the letter As she read, her color
heightened her eyes filled with tears, aud then
dropping the paper she withdrew, in manifest
trouble, to her chamber. The ladies looked at
each other in bewilderment, and then the
Duchess took up tho document which was ad-
dressed to her, and read it aloud. 1t consisted
solely of an assurance from the fat young
Prince of his uninterrupted affection for the
first wife, whom alone he had loved, and that
he did not care to love any other!
"How very polite?" exclaimed the scandal
lied sisterhoOd.
Next day all traces of tears had disappeared
from the Dauphine's eyes, for she had to meet
the whole royal family that day, near Corbeil,
and she neryed herself, inexperienced girl as
she was, for the purpose, well as for her
own particular object, which was to be grace
fully selfpOssessed, and 10 subdue the uncivil
prince whom she was about to have inflicted
ON her for husband. AT this interview, King, |
Queen and Princesses were overcome with the
ecstacy of their affection for the charming
stranger. The young Dauphin was there, too,
but that unhappy fat boy stood apart staring |
ut his bride with all the might of his lack lustre
eyes. 1t was the richest of "gentee comedy"
to see how the youthful Dauphine allured her
glitterng Cymon to approach her, how she
beat down his fixed gazing at her by an honest
and quiet glance which she now and then di. |
rected him. When she had won him to her
side, and had stimulated him into frank and
joyous conversation the delighted Louis Nv.
laughed outright, and the whole Court followed
his example as closely as etiquette would al |
low. She was really perfect i'll her way. Her
wit seemed to brighten and sharpen and mann
fest itself the more and more. US it seemed the |
more in peril
SIX HUNDRED WEDDINGS.
AT Versailles, the young Dauphine led her
hard, blameless life with a wit and wisdom
that warranted the solidity of her Judgment,
us Well as the sedate cheerfulness of her heart
She was wary to avoid all the pitfalls which
Court intrigues dug for her. She affected To
be happy 80 naturally, that people enyied her
with all their hearts. While she seemed to
live in the sunshine, 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 the Outpouring OF
thanks that he had not forgotten his poor
Pepa," and ending with, Yours to the very
grave, whittier I am fast speeding" But
Prince was born in September, 175l. and the
rejoicings consequent upon that event were
universal and hearty. The most curious Incl
dent connected with the ceremonies in honor
of this birth was that of the six hundred mar
riages of any Partisan couples of lovers who
wanted dress, dowry and everything else just-
flying marriage There was a great difficulty
In finding pairs to match, and there was u run
ming about in search of candidates. Five I
hundred francs formed the allurement to bring
couples together who had no other bond OIL
that sum sixty nine francs were to be deducted
for the cost of wedding dinner, carriages and
minor expenses, but the city found the brides
IN shoes, stockings, caps, gloves, bOquets body
and table linen, and silk and other dresses of
more hOmely material. Paris also decked the
outer man of all the bridegrooms The wed
ding day was ushered in by firing of cannon
The weddings took place at the same hour, in
divers parish churches. The wedding feasts
were held in some of the best rooms that could
be hired for the occasion The priests attend
ed, not as guests, but to wait upon the bride
and bridegroom; and little to keep order
Finally, there was a dance, and an escorting
OF the married pairs to their respective homes,
amid all the jollity that the occasion required
Versailles, meanwhile, displayed prodigality
of costly grandeur that makes the imagination
reel only to think of it, Magnifcence of dress
was insisted on by the King; and day after day
ladies appeared in new dresses, the least
splendid Of which cost f9 yard Diamonds!
Only GOconda could have matched them.
ROYAL NURSE.
The Dauphine never showed more grandeur
at tahan hap hrs nd