Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-23
NAPOLEON RI, DUKE OF REICR-
STADT.

There is something exceedingly touch
ing in the history of the unfortunate Duke,
who, during his final illness, thus composed
his own epitaph: Napoleon Francois
Joseph Charles BoRaparte; born King of
Rome-died Lieutenant in the Austrian ar
tillery." Handsome, accomplished, brave,
the inberitOr of splendid name and daz
zling glory; loved almost to idolStry by the
country in which bis childhood was passed;
a magnificent future stretching before
him-fate frowned upon his brilliant pros
poets; gave him a weak constitution,
Wretched health, bitter disappointment,
and was only kind in leading him to an
early grave. He breathed his last at Schon-
brunn, in the chamber once occupied by
his father, and in the neighborboOd of the
imperial chateau, where he was wont to
| take his solitary walks.
He seems TO have been completely blase
| from his childhood, and of go melancholy a
temperament that scarcely anything gave
him pleasure. Everything vas done to
cure him of bis gloomy indifference, and,
when all else had failed, he met in one
of his lonely rambles beautiful peasant
| girl, with whom he fell in love at first sight.
| She appeared TO return his affection. Her
society aroused him from his lethsrgy, and
j endowed him with new life. She first
! taught him, it is said, the natare Of hsppi-
ness, and by her presence the dreary
emptiness of bis being was delightfully."-
| filed, Peasant as she was, she was grace
full, accomplished, witty, and, to his fond
fancy, she was as goddess on the earth.
He revealed TO her all the sources of his dis
content, poured into her confding ear the
secretest of bis thoughts and the sacredest
of his feelings. Size was the single break
of blue in bis clouded sky, and in that blue
| was set the star of hope. .,--...s ...
One evening he was in the city, and at
tended the opera. When the ballet came
on, among all the dancers suddenly flashed
form of wondrous beauty and grace, agile
as faWn, 1.-the as spirit, and the thester
echoed and re-echoed with welcome TO the
new divinity of the dance. The pale youth
flushed, and his heart beat quick. e..
Was he dreaming, or was the sylph-like
creature bounding and whirling on the
stage his beloved Marie, whom be had
preferred before all the ladies of the court?
i He rubbed his eyes and leaned forward,
his very soul burning in bis face. He could
not be mistaken. The lovely and guiIeless
peasant whom he had worshiped and ad-
mitted to the innermost sanctuary Of his
spirit, and the magnificent dancer OF the
opera, we're one aud the same. The blaz-
ing theater grew dim; the tumultuous ap-
plause was no longer heard; the unhappy
prince gasped, struggled, swooned, and
amidst much excitement was borne TO hi:
carriage. .....
The charming dancer who had fascinated
him was the famous Fanny Elssler, then at
the beginning Of her extraordinary COZ.
quests and career. She had
allowed herself to be used By hi
relatives Jas bait to insnare the young
Dukes affections, in the hope that through
her some interest in life might be awaken
ed. The ingenious and handsome boy
pleased her no doubt. Her vanity was
gratiied at the expense of bis final faith
he never recovered, it is said, from hi
sudden and terrible shock, and she-wa'
literally paid From "Down the Danube,
by Junius Henri Browne.