Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-08
for the scrupulous sobriety of court


or the scrupulous sobriety of court
,tiquette. .sI5l M ne4
It has been said, that If history were
,nly written by historians, absolutely
would be known of it; but,
luckily, there is such thing as biogra-
ply. e~ %
An extraordinary ambition, sudden
rise to kingly favor, a grand marriage
broken, disgrace, imprisonment, and an
return and pardon, would
be all that the nineteenth century would
know of Lazun, if his adventures had
been solely handed down by the histo-
rians of the day; but st. Simon, Nine.
de Sevigne, and the memories of made
moiselle, have left US truer picture of
q man who was remarkable in many
ways, but in none more so than that he
was the only royal favorite on record
who succeeded in elevating himself af-
ter having lost the support of the hand
which raised him. His pride, his AFRO
gance, his blind devotion and slavery
to the prince whom he loved; his fierce
enmity when that love was turned into
hate; his brilliant qualities, his elegant
vices, form pretty correct picture of
the fame in which he lived, At twenty
he possessed the appearance of man
of mature age, and could twin over q
lend or crush foe with equal facili-
ty. His logic was without flaw, his
genius bent toward intrigue and subtitle
machinations-one of those exceptional
men whom nature has created with an
unstinted hand, but in whose soul are
placed Unsuitable and INSCRIPTIONS de-
sires; one whom posterity cannot APP
plaud, but who cannot fail to win the
interest and admiration of the philoso-
pher, like those wandering stare whose
place in the skies is never distinctly de-
teimined. SCI sAa8 7ains3
The king could no longer do without
Lauzun. His majesty loved perfumes:
Lauzun was perfect connoisseur in
the distilling OF aowers. The king was
curious in precious stones; Lauzun be-
came the most perfect lapidary in the
kingdom. He was a judge of horses,
arms, and devices, because the king
was fond of such topics; and he became
an optician because the king had set
of magnifying glasses Offices about
the court full of emolument were
showered upon him. The court beau
ties smiled whenever he drew near; ten
der chances, approving smiles, tones
pathetic and confidential, met him at
every turn. MadeLaoiselle herself, who
had refused many foreign alliances, and
whose grave and scrupulous conduct
was the astonishment of the ag,, did
not hesitate to make known her par
tiality; and Lauzun was wellaware, even
before the words c'est vous were traced
by royal fingers on the looking-glass,
that the ducty of Montpensier was at
his feet. He was not, however, vet
for demand so audacious:
and it was with no little diplomacy that
he managed to postpone too clear an In
timation of the unexampled honor
which was about to be offered him until
he was satisfied of the policy of either
accepting or declining it. 1t was pleas
anter and more prudent TO employ the
time ID breaking the hearts of maids of
honor, provoking the jealous anger of
Nine. Valentinois, and paying respect
full court, in the absence of his majesty,
to s'la Montespen.' =.
But which the popularity of the IA
vorlte appeared so we'll assured, cloud
no bigger than mans hand was dis
covered to the accustomed eye. Louis
had become jealous of Lauzun. It was
one Of the peculiarities of the grand
that he never could bear
about his person much talent, accom-
plishment or elevation of mind. He
preferred mediocrity, even in his minis
ters. He was once heard to admit that
the death of Seignelay and of Louvois
was, each in its way, a most sensible
relief; and there was found but very
small number of courtiers in whom the
exercise Of mertal superiority was no
bar to advancement.
Lauzun was not long in discovering
that his day was over. The kings
avoidance and averted looks would bear
but one Interpretation. He determined
himself to take the initiative, and, seek.
inc private audience, he overwhelmed
his royal master with tender reproaches,
at least to be made aware of
his fault. Louis, more than ever irri-
tated, was at no loss to find cause of Of
tense in his words. . q
AAuHuu WINS aIT0St6Q ana GHfOWn into
the Bastille. It has been limited by his
enemies that he had schemed for this,
unable longer to endure his false posi-
ton, and in order to increase his general
popularity as undeseryedly disgraced;
and, If it were so, he succeeded, without
subjecting himself to too long martyr
dom, for the woe-begone looks of mad.
emoiselle, the pleading eyes of La Val
here, and, it may be, a fear lest it should
be suspected that the downfall of the
favorite was due rather to his superemi-
nent graces than to his dement's, induced
the king to pardon him. He
was even apparently restored to
double favor. Then came the
project born in the interruptions brain
Of Condo, but which Louis so naiyely
appropriated that he sincerely believed
it to be his own, of putting an end to
Holland, that little colony of rich re-
publicans living in perpetual battle with
the elements, whose very existence is q
triumph of the genius Of man over ma
ture. The DISCRIMINATING spirit of Lou
vols entered full into the scheme, and
the preparations were quite out of