Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-28

Napoleon H., Duke of ReichstndG
From Down the Danube" by Junius Henri
Browne.l
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 Bonaparte
born King Of Rome-died Lieutenant il
the Austrian artillery" Handsome, &C
complished, brave, the inheritor Of a
splendid name and dazzling glory; loved
almost to idolatry by the country in
which his childhood was passed; a mag
ni6cent future stretching before him
fate frowned on his brilliant prospects;
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-
brun, in the chamber once occupied by
his father, and in the neighborhood 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 so
melancholy a temperament that scarcely
anything gave him pleasure. Everything
was done to cure him of his gloomy in.
difference, and, when all else had failed,
he met in one of his lonely rambles a
beautiful peasant girl, with whom he fell
in love at FIRST sight. She appeared to
return his affection. Her society aroused
him from his lethargy, and endowed him
with new life. She first taught him, it is
said, the nature Of happiness, and by
her presence the droary emptiness of his
being was delightfully."- filled. Peasant
as she was, she was graceful, accom-
plished, witty, and, to his fond fancy, she
was goddess on the earth. lie revealed
to her all the sources OF his discomfort,
poured into her confding ear the
secretest of his thoughts and the sacred
est of his feelings. She was the single
break of blue in his clouded sky, and in
that blue was set the star Of hope.
One evening he was in the city, and
attended the opera. When the ballet
came on, among all the dancers sudden
ly flashed a form Of wondrsus beauty
and grace, agile as a fawn, 1.-THE as
spirit, and the theater echoed and re-
echoed with welcome to the new divinity
of tho dance, The pale youth flushed,
and his heart beat quick.
Was he dreaming, or was the sylph-
like creature bounding and whirling ou
the stage his beloved Marie, whom he
had preferred before all the ladies of the
court2
He rubbed his eyes and leaned for
ward, his very soul burning in his face.
He could not be mistaken. The lovely
and guileless peasant whom ho had wor-
shipped and admitted to the innermost
sanctuary Of his spirit, and the magnif-
cent dancer of the opera, were one and
the sane. The blazing theater grew
dim; the tumuituous applause was no
longer heard; the unhappy prince
gasped, struggled, swooned, and amidst
muph excitement was borne to his car
riage.
The charming dancer who had fasci-
mated him was the famous Fanny Els
sler, then at the beginning Of her extra,
ordinary conquests and career. She
had allowed herself TO be used by his
az bait to ensnare the young
Dukes affections, in the hope that
through her some interest in life might
be awakened The ingenious and hand
some boy pleased her no doubt. Her
vanity was gratiied at the expense of
his fnal faith. he never recovered, it
is said, from his sudden and terrible
shock, and she-was literally paid.