The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-16


was impossible for him to introduce a
single word of politics during the thirty
minutes that the interview lasted. o..
81 am obliged to leave you, sir" said
the Minister; "the half hour is pas" :"
"The die is cast" thought the Marshal
II have nothing more to do but to return
to France" ,l.. - 49,.
Suddenly a thought struck him, M
de Metternich was on the point Of leav-
ing the room. -..
II have message for you from M. de
Talleyrand."
"What is it ?" . . ...,f .
The Marshal hesitated.
"What isitG repeated the Minister.
"Peccadille," said the Marshal, in des-
peration. ......
At these words M. de Metternich let
90 the door-knob, which he had already
grasped, and quickly retraced his steps.
"Peccadille, did you say ?"
"Yes, M. lie Prince, from M. de Talley-
rand"
"Oh, then, that is very different. Why
did you not say so before? To-day it is
impossible for me to remain with you,
because, as l have already told you, the
Emperor is waiting for me, but to NOR
row 1 will receive you, and we will con-
verse long and seriously; and believe me,
sir, l will do all that's in my powert to aid
the success of your negotiation"
The Marshal remained utterly bewild-
cred by the mysterious effect of thename
he had pronounced.
That evening there was a ball at the
court. M. de Metternich approached the
Marshal, humming as he did so an old
opera air
Peccadille
81 gentille, etc.
He seemed in high good humor, and
conYersed for long time with the French
envoy. The next day the promised in
terview took place. Shortly afterward
the Marshal returned to France, having
accomplished his mission in the most
satisfactory manner possible. .s.,. .n-
1t now only remains to us to solve this
riddle. which is wnat we are about to do.
In 1914 three statesmen, namely, NJ.
de Talleyrand, de Metternich and de Mes
selrode, were met together in Paris and
were engaged in settling the grave ques7
tions which had arisen out of the fall of
Napoleon and the entrance Of the allied
powers into France r..r
Those grave interests took up nearly
all their time, and yet they occasionally
found means to escape from the preoc-
cupations of diplomacy, saying among
each other; "Let us put off serious mat
ters till tomorrow" ..- ...... 80
One day the three diplomats were as
sembled at gay dinner. Toward the
end of the repast they dismissed the SER
wants in order to talk more freely; and
certainly no one could have recognized
in the jolly comrades, saying merrily all
the foolish things were inspired by the
fumes of wine, the grave men who that
very morning had been occupied by the
affairs of part of the world. '' .'N
The conversation, after rowing from
one frivolous subject to another, finally
turned upon women. ta1 m ,G
"Oh," said Prince Talleyrand, II know
a marvel of beauty to whom nothing is
comparable" d ''i, I.a 1yh :. I
1d a." said M. de Metternioh, "know a
woman whois fairer than the fairest p
Sand l." said M. de Nesselrode, the
envoy of Russia, "can cite person who
certainly has no rivalW sEaFaur.
"There exist apparently three incom-
parable beauties, then" said NJ, de Tai
ieyrand, who had spoken first "but / do
not doubt that mine is the handsomest
of the three" r..r-a.s 90
mo; it is mine" aalr
"No; mine."
at is easy to see that you do not know
the person of whom speak"
"Nor you the one whom / mean"
''If you had seen mine you would not
talk SO enthusiastically OF the beauty of
the Others" ud
Thus commenced, the conversation
gradually grew animated, and finally de-
generated into quarrel.
"We are absurd, gentlemen" said at
length M. de Talleyrand; "there is very
simple means of solving the difficulty;
let us bring these three mysterious beau
ties together"
"An excellent idea, but difficult of ex-
ecution." -sm aalsrt.a .,.I
"Not in the least. This is opera night;
| offer you my box. Each of us will
write to his goddess, and when the three
are met together there, we will arrive
"Bravow n sgsr ua...el.,r 4
Talleyrand rang, and sent for pen, ink
and paper. Each of the men wrote
note and gave it to footman, ordering
him to take a circuitous route when he
left the hotel, in order to battle the Curl
ous in case he was followed. gi
Another hour passed, and then the
three guests set off for the opera.
Arrived at the door of the box, M. de
Talleyrand motioned to M. de Meter
Mich to enter first, who in turn went
the same ceremony with NJ. de
Nesseirode, Each of them repeated.
"After you, sir"
IN. le Prince, / could not think of it."
At last Prince Metternich entered.
In an arm chair at the front of the box
sat solitary lady, but one, we must say,
ofthe most dazzling beauty. lfy
"What does this pleasantly mean, sir Z"
asked M. de Metternich, brusquely, OF
Prince Talleyrand, who followed him.
Il was about to ask you the same ques-
ion" said, at the same tiIue, NJ. de Mes
,elrode.
"And l was about to address it to you,
gentlemen" replied Talleyrand.
"Why did you send off my note only2"
SIT was mine."
uVnu nnaan minaD