, 1873-05-11
mademojsel1e dc moutpen4ier.

Mhdemolaell6. and not untTequently 6paken OF
as La Grande Mademoiselle, was Of the most
royal birth 10 Franco, being the only legitimate
granddaughter of Henry w., and the Wealthiest
heiress in Europe, succeeding as Ehe did, even
IN the lifetime OF her father, CASTOR, Duke Of
Orleans, to the vast possessions Of her u,Sther,
the representative Of the house OF Montpensier-
AZ such, tho arrangement OF 3 marriage for
her might naturally have been expected to hare
been among the first objects Of sollcitude. not
only to the relatives Who could guide tha
clsposal OF her hand, but still more to those who
might hope to obtain it and never has SO va
rled and royal list Of candidates been offered
to any lady's acceptance An Emperor. three
Kings, aud Kings' brothers and cousins almost
favor snccessirely discussed; but, chiefly
through her own caprice or Indifference, all
The great matches which were proposed for
her came to nothing. Though FOR moment sha
favored one or two Of the suggested connections,
she admits! frankly that in those instances she
was attracted by the position OF her intended
husband rather than BY himzelf, and tho frat
person who ever awakened her serious liking wa8
no Prince Of y any ;,t nation, but only younger
she eventually married. Even apart from her
rank and wealth her personal charms ware
sufficient to attract suitorB enough,
i her own description Of. them, may
be believed; for she undertakes to de-
and Is much fidelity as her actions. In her de-
acription, she certainly does not seem greatly to
disguise her defects, md, aa candor on such a
subject is, perhaps, more trying to female vani-
errors OF conduct, and is certainly at least "a
rare, our readers may probably not ba unwilling
to see this portrait Of the first lady Of the French
Court in its most gorgeous age, drawn BY her-
self: - -:
|. II am tall, neither .fnt nor thin; Of very
fne and graceful figure. NY neck Is to1erably
Bhapely; my arms and lands arc 1ot good, but
my skin is fair. My legs sre straight; my feet
are well formed; my hair light, Of pretty ash
color: NY face is long, ita contour pretty; my
nose large and aquilina my mouth iH neither
large nor small, but symmetrical, aud with q very
agreeable expression h1y lips arc rosy; my
teeth not good, but not very bad my eyes blue,
neither large nor email, but bright, soft, and
lofty manner; without being conceited. AZ
civil and familiar; but in way rather to gain
respect than to allow any one to fail in it, am
very Indifferent about my dress, but never
untidy; bate s1ovenlineas. am always neat
1ese1y, all I put on Is in good taste. ]
do not mean that do not look incomparabl3
better when carefully got up; but carclcssnese
is less injurious to me than to others, because,
without iattering nyaelf, while I do inJuatica
to ali I wear, everything put On becomes me-
talk great deal without talking nonsenss OF
using bad expressions, and ] never speak OF
what do not understand"
In other passages she gives us little sdd;.
tastes Of her youth, and also into her disposition
Bhe hated cards; she was very fond OF dancing
and Of hunting; still moro Of laughing
at people, though SO far Was she, from
thinking ridicule i mark Of ill-nature,
that ahe would rather bo laughed
ut heraeH than pitied- She liked the company OF
all brave, honest men, especially soldiors; she
was fond of conversation on military topics A.
| for reading to which she was addicted, in prosa
ehe preferred books On serious solid subjects;
! Of poetry she liked all sorts, good, bad, and In
| different. Her disposition, AZ she paints Il. "as
! pretty equal and not unusual mixture Of good
/ qualities, with others not altogether commend
able. Bhe piqued herself On nothing 80 much
us On the warmth and steadiness ct hex
rather IN conferring great benefits
than in paying petty attentions. She was an
| admirable keeper Of secrets, and uas incapable
OF anything base. She WAS temperate in eating
and drinking, and Qhough it vas certainly not
the virtue of that age) she was free from any
fu1 person in the world. Aud if these are espe-
cially feminine virtues, she MAS not without
those which commonly are rather tho attributes
Of the Bterner se1. Shewa ambitious courage
GUS, decided, resoluto, and possessed
OF the most perfect self-command.
On the other hand, she was
hot-tempe1ed, passionate, and spitefu rs an
opinion she had OF herself, and her contempt for
every one else, that she would rather spond her
life in solitude than put the slightest restraint
on her humor, even II her fortune depended on
it. It will hardly be denied that such frankness
OF self -portraituro is go unusual IS OF itself to
give favorable impression Of the artiBt, and the
more 80, aince the chief events Of her career, IA
related by others besides heraelf, provo it to
have been very fairly sccurate and impartial -
Re71rdrin