The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-09


d provided with a fine, fat chop, was gnaW
n ing it with such gusto as to provoke a
e involuntary look of disgust from his com
mander, who was particularly delicate il
I his diet. Col. Murat replied 10 the in
/ situation = truthfulIy enough non
P doubted, +" know why YOU no eat d,
: pork; because he eat Indians but
: Just as soon eat Indian as pork-if h,
: well fried. .
: In religious matters, Prince Mura
many years expressed himself an Athe
: ist. While student at the University
) so he used to tell-he was first exer
cIsed concerning the existence of a Su
preme Being. He confessed so much tc
his priest, who, with pious AYES and
Paters," endeavored to remove his
want of faith. He went through the
prescribed course, but without benefit.
A more rigid system of prayer was inau.
gurated, and yet the result was equally
unsatisfactory; then Murat withdrew
from the pale of orthodox faith and hope
in the immortal and unseen.
That he was more sincere in his lack
of belief than many who similarly express
themselves, was tested on the occasion of
his fighting a duel. The parties had
taken their position on the ground, when
he beckoned Gen. Call, his second, to
his side, and said to him, | may be dead
the next minute, but | declare to you
that am an entire disbeliever in any fu-
ture state Of existence"
Age and disease subsequently brought
a revolution Of thought and feeling, and
for several months previously to his
death he found his greatest comfort in
| the prayers and conversation of the
| Catholic priest whom he had caused to
be called to his sick room. No religious
! fervor, however, could make him forget
his wife i'll an act of contritiOn giving
his estate to the church. For more than
twenty years had endured the married
life of the born Prince and the gentle
ard refined Virginia girl She had borne
his eccentricities and intirmities with af-
lection and patience, and he was not I'M
mindful of the same. Had Prince
Achille lived two years longer he would
have witnessed the day for which his
eyes had SO longingly watched-the res
toration Of the Napoleonic dynasty to
France.
1t came too late for him, but while he
slept quietly in shade of mrytle and mag
nolia, when the family were gathered
together at Paris, Nine. Murat was sum-
moned and received with appropriate
honors by the Emperor, as Princess of
France. He bestowed upon her at the
same time 125, 900 francs, together with
the privilege of using the royal livery,
which she did ever after, even in her
Floridian home. Louis had not forgot
ten those pleasant days in the RENDEZVOUS
in London, nor the promises then vaguely
and jestingly made, and as lightly re-
ceived.
Nine. Murat was invited to dine with
the Emperor, and, although somewhat
accustomed already to the etiquette of
courts, she afterward described her ag-
itatiOn as extreme when handed by the
Chamberlain to an elevated seat in the
royal drawing-room. Greater still my
trepidation, she declared, "when the
approach Of His Majesty was announced
by the increasing murmur, 'L'Empe-
reur! LEmpereur until his entrance
and rapid advance toward myself. ex-
tending to me most cordial and relation
like reception"
Dinner was announced, and to the
meal the Emperor escorted her. Euge-
ME was represented as indisposed. The
tedious court dinner ended, the monarch
invited his guest to the reception-room of
the Empress, whom she found in perfect
health, and only absenting herself that
the honored cousin might occupy the
place which etiquette demanded for the
Empress if present. Then all restraint
was set aside, and they laughed and chat
ted of old times, with the freedom and
nhol Df "a 20 D,iIx, h..
ing. The Emperor kindly pressed his
cousin to remain in France, but her duty
as mistress to 200 slaves, claimed serious
precedence of all predictions, if she en-
tertained any, for royal pageantry. The
embarrassment of debt had obliged her
husband to mortgage most of his negroes,
for a support she would now return
home, and employ the Emperor's munif-
cent gift in cancelling these mortgages,
and making her dependents more com
Portable than she had been able to in
some time past.
Several years of uninterrupted happi-
ness followed-years of genial and ele-
giant hospitality, making her residence,
now Bellevue, near Tallahassee, a very
centre of social attraction. The stranger
there, led by curiosity to see the Prin-
cess, remained fascinated by the perfect
simplicity and refined cOrdialitv of the
American matrOn.
Ever mindful of the pleasure of 9TH
ers, with an experienced knowledge of
the world and human nature, she pos
sessed a most happy tact in bringing par
ties together, considering the time, the
manner, and equally important personal
characteristics. Long will be borne In
mind her recherche breakfasts, cosy little
suppers, and, above all, the beautiful
open-aIr entertainments, for which the
climate of Florida is so favorable.
1t was not merely the gay, the young,
the votaries of fashion who found well
come at Bellevue, but the poor, the mis-
| cradle; the prosecuted instinctively turned
| hither, certain of relief of heart where
| true. practical sympathy was never de-
MED nor charity unbestowed.
1t was her frequent expression, 81 am
always for the dog that's down, and this
was no mere boast, but an actual text
for a living sermon.
ANY cause which Nine. Murat es-
poused she upheld most earnestly and
| independently. Always prominent in
public charities, her private donations to
| the NEEDY were so unoStentdtlously De
slowed that scarce her most intimate
friends took cognizance of them, save by
the effect.
AS Vice-Regent of the Mt. Vernon
4 Association for Florida. she succeeded in
raising in the State nearly $4,000, and
was heartily devoting time and energies
to the prospective purchase of the home
of her distinguished uncle, when 10! the
war-note sounded, proclaiming dissolu-
1