The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-11-07
Duke of Reichstadt.

There is something exceedingly touch
ing in the history of the unfortunate duke,
Napolean H., Duke of Reichstadt. who
during his final illness, thus composed his
own epitaph: ''Napolean Francois JOS
eph Charles Bonaparte; born King OF
Rome-dicd lieutenant in the Austrian ar
tillery." Handsome, accomplished. brave,
the inhertor OF a splendid name and daZ-
zling glory loved almost to idClatry by
the country in which his childhood was
passed; y magnificent future stretching
ont before him-fate frowned upon his
brilliant prospects, gave him weak con
stitution, wretched health bitter disap-
pointment and was only kind in leading
him to an early grave. He breathed his
last at Schonbrunn, in the chamber once
occupied by his father, and in the neigh
borhood OF the imperial chateau where he
was wont to take his solitary walks.
He seems to have been of so melancholy
y temperament that scarcely anything
gave him pleasure. Everything was done
10 cure him of his gloomy Indifference,
and when all else had failed, he met in
one of hislonely rambes Il beautiful peas
ant girl, with whom he fell in love at first
sight. She appeared to return his at'ec-
ton. 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
dreary emptiness of his being was delight
fully filled Peasant as she was, she was
graceful, accomplished witty, and to his
fond fancy, she was as goddess on the
earth He revealed to her all the sources
OF his discomfort, poured into her conlid-
ING ear the secretest of his thoughts and
the sacredest 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 at
tended the opera. When'the ballet came
on, among all the dancers suddenly flash
ed a form of wondrous beauty and grace,
agile rs fawn, 1.-THE as II spirit, and the
theatre echoed and re-echoed with well
come to the new divinity of the dance.
The pale youth flushed, and his heart beat
quick Was he dreaming or was the
sylph-like creature bounding and whirl-
ing on the stage his beloved Marie, whom
he had preferred before all the ladies' of
the court !? He rubbed his eyes and lean
ed forward, his very soul burning in his
face He could not be mistaken The
lovely and guileless peasant whom he
had worshipped and admitted to the in
nermost sanctuary of his spirit and the
magnificent dancer were one and the
same. The blazing theatre grew dim
the tumultuous applause was no longer
heard; the unhappy prince gasped, strug-
gled, swooned, and amidst much excite
ment was borne to his carriage.
The charming dancer who had fasci-
mated him was the famous Fanny Elssler.
then at the beginning of her eventfu con-
quests and career She had allowed her
self to be used by his relatives qs bait to
ensnare the young dukes affections, in the
hope that through her some interest in
life might be awakened. The ingenious
and handsome boy pleased her, no doubt.
Her vanity was gratified at the expense
of his final faith. He never recovered, il
is said, from this sudden and terrible
shock, and she-was literally paid. Har-
per's Magazine.
Frank Leonard, the cOlored man who was
cut with razor by John Clark on board the
steamer Cambridge some weeks since, is rapid
ly recovering.