The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-06-07
A Chapter of Forgotten History.

Slipped out of History is the title of paper
in the March number Of Temple Bar devoted to the
life and curious story of Marie Josephe de SAKE,
mother of three Kings and great grandmother OF
the present Count of Chambord She died more
than century ago-ia 1767-and but for the patient
exploration of dusty records by diligent Dryas.
dusts, such as this English Magazine writer the
memories of her life and the incidents Of her time,
like those Of many other notable persons would be
utterly forgotton Marie Josephe left her fathers
court at Dresden, in January 1871 TO wed the Dau-
phin of France. The bride was met at the frontier.
saws our gossipiug chronicler, by the Duchess de
Brancas and her nece the Duchess de Laraguais,
two women of the noblest birth and the most igno-
Bile character. AT the head of the Princess French
household, they stripped her of her Polish costume
and turned away her Polish attendauts-for she
came more as the daughter of the King Of Poland
than of the Elector of SaXuny and then as il to seal
her life to her new destiny the elder Duchess pre-
sented her with the fat Dauphin's portrait, which
the younger Duchess took from her and fastened to
her right hand. From that moment, NlGrie Josephe
ceased to be of Saxony, and began her career as
Dauphine Of France.
On following night, the illustrious company
were supping at Nangis when a courier arrived
with letter from the Dauphin to the elder Duch-
ess. That lady, feeling sure that it contained some
gallant compliment to the Princess, handed her the
mssive aud prayed her to open it. Marie Josephe
opened the letter and read it; as she did So 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 each
other in bewildermeut, and the Duchess, to whom
the document was addressed, took it up and read it
aloud 1t consisted solely OF an assurance from the
fat and sentimental young Prince, of his uninter-
rupted affection for his first wife whom alone he
had loved and that he did not care to love any 9TH
erl
"How very pOlitel" exclaimed the scandalized
sisterhood.
Next day all traces of tears had disappeared from
the Dauphines eyes, for she had to meet the whole
royal family that day, near Carbeil so she nerved
herself inexperienced girl as she was, for that pur
pose, as well as for her particular object which
was, TO be gracefully selfpossessed and subdue the
uncivil Prince whom she about to have inflicted
on her for husband. At this interview, the King,
Queen and Prncesses were overcome with the costa
cy of their affection for the charming stranger The
young Dauphin was there too, but that unhappy
fat boy stood apart, staring at his bride with all the
might OF his lack lustre eyes 1t the richest of
"genteel comedy" to see how the youthful Dau-
phine allured her glitterng Cymon to approach her
and how she bent down his fixed gaze at her by
an honest and quiet glance which she now aud then
directed at him When she bad won him to her
side and had stimulated him into frank and iovous
conversation, the delighted Louis XIV. laughed out
right, and the whole court followed his example as
closely as etiquette would allow. She was really
perfect in her way. Her wit seemed to brighten
and sharpen, and manifest itself the more as it
seemed the more in peril.
AT Versailles, the young Dauphine led her hard,
bameess life with a wit and wisdom that warrant
ed the solidity of her judgment as well as the sedae
cheerfuness of her heart. She was wary to avoid
all the pitfalls which court intrigues dug for her.
She affected to be happy naturally that people
envied 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 indif-
ference, she notes to her brother in Dresden
beginning with an outpouring of thanks that be
he had not forgotten his "poor Peppa,' aud ending
with, Yours to the very grave, whittier 1 am fast
speeding" But Prince was born in September,
l75l, and the reocings consequent upon that event
were universal and hearty. The most curious Incl
dent connected with the ceremonies in honor of
this BIRTH 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 a running about in search of caudi-
dates. Five hundred francs formed the allurement
to bring couples together who had no other bond
OF that sum, sixtynine francs were to be deducted
for the cost of the wedding dinner carriages and
minor expenses, but the city found the brides in
shoes, stockings, caps, gloves, boqueis, body and
table linen silk at n MA
material. Paris also decked the outer man Of all
the bridegrooms. The wedding-day was ushered
in by the firing of canon. The weddings took place
at the same hour in divers parish churches, and the
wedding feasts were held in some of the best rooms
that could be hired for the occasion. The priests
not guests but to await upon the bride
and bridegroom, and also to keep order. Finally, /
there dance, after which the married pairs
were escorted to their respective homes, amid all
The joity that the occasion required. Versailles,
displayed prodigality of costly gran
ieur that makes the Imagination reel only to think
Df Magnifcence OF dress was insisted in by the
King, and day after day ladies' appeared in new
iresses the least splendid of which cost IS yardl
Ind diamondsl which only ColeOnda could have
matched.
The Dauphne never showed more grandeur of
character than when her husband was seized with
he loathsome and then common disease the small
box. Dumoulin, the chief physician, insisted on
bleeding him freely at the foot. "The Prince may
lie under it" be said, "but be will certainly die
without it." This was said to Louis XIV Iwho re-
1lied, Then let him be bled." 1t was done; su-
,eration ensued, and the Dauphin looked hideous.
Neither by persuasion nor force could bis wife be
lept from closely tending him, and when the conse-
Iuent peril was hinted, she answered: "If Dau-
,hine dies, you can easily get another, but the lost
ife Of a Dauphin cannot be made good; besides"
he added % l am, for the present, no longer Dau-
)hiue; am only an ordinary nurse" She had ten
lines tie courage of the man over whom she watch
d so brayely and so tenderly. 1t not etiquette
o tell him the nature Of his complaint, nor did he
want to be told; yet he had a fearful curiosity to
lnow. And here comes story Of wifeiy love and
idelity, which is thus related:
"One day he asked for the Gazette de R1ris, pa
yer in which the nature of his malady and the bull
et1 Of his health were sure to be printed. BQt-
ee what care was then taken of the nerves Of
'rinces Ia copy Of the paper printed in anric
'ation Of his request in which the ugly quality Of
lis malady was not alluded to- still, his suspicious
endered him uneasy. On another occasion, he
sked for a silver plate and napkin. When these
Fere presented to him, be feebly polished up the
late and gazed into it as if it was mirror, for
Il