The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-21
ESCLAIR MONDE.
A Thrilling Romance Of the Reign Of
Henry Ill.
CHAPTER VII.
THE COURT OF HENRI TRofs.

THE COURT OF HENRI TRors
On the same night that the event preyioual,
narrated occurred, high feStl vnl WIS held with
IN the Louvre, by its eifeminatc and vouptuous
sovereign, who assembled upon the occasion
the whole Of his brilliant court. then without 4
rival in Europe. either for the number and love
iiness OF the danes who frequented it. or for The
bravery and gallantry Of the youthful. ehiyaIry
tighter amusements of the revel. 9 TIL ballet M AID I'D
the masaue, were as captivating as the NOR,
MAJ manly sports Of the chase were to bis brother
memory. His fetes were sumptuous and re-
euent.
Two years before the period Of which we treat.
Henri gave an entertainment 70 his brother, the
Duo d'Alencon. the cost Of which exceeded 4
hundred Thousand france. In December 1876
az We learn from the Journal, Of his reign, he
went en- masque TO the Hotel Dc Guse, accom-
panied by thirty princesses and ladies of the
SQUIRT. richly attired In silks and silver tissue
sraided with pearls and gems Of price: and such
Was the confusion that prevailed, that the more
discreet part were Obliged TO retire. by reason IF
the license of the maskers.
Louise DC Lorraine, or 10 Naudemont his
queen, princess Of amiable but feeble charac-
ter. entirely without ambition Ton which account
sho was selected rs a suitable spouse to her son
by the crafty Catherine DC Medicis ever appre-
hensive Of rival near the thronel. and possess
ing the negative merit of passive submission
offered no opposition 10 the wishes of her royai
husband though she took little part in his fca
tivities Her gentle existence was divided be
tween her oratory, her garden the establishment
ofoonfreries and other religious institutions
and the retirement Of aecludel apartment her
rusal OF her book OF prayer; her attire was If the
simplest material. fashioned chiefly Of WOODEN
cloth and, though her complexion had become
deathly pale she refused the aid of rouge Her
Immediate attendants and ladies Of honor
We're recommended to hor regard, rather by
other dazzling qualifications OF this queen
many pleasing traits are narrated done in par
SECULAR. Of a repir9of conveyed TO the hauntng
the unpretending garb she had adopted. she was
wholly unknown. Buttaken altogether. her ma
tnre was too easy and aeuuieseent. and her frame
OF mind too inflrm. to promote in any way the
welfare Of the kingdom. or to accomplish the re-
iormad2h .of the monarch to whom she, was
piness In her exalted station, can scarce be
Tho position which Louise de vaudemont
Mother. who amply supplied whatever W might be-
wanting IN her daughter -in-law, In her hands |
ss. rSe sss IT, hey ed The
bronze, er Of IRON: Subtle. secret. Machiaveian
her constant study~her poiisy WORKED IN Ti,s tbs
dark: none could detect her movements till they
were disclosed By the resnlts, fnheritinR, many
was implacable as that Of the Borgias: and like
e ss q he'd y any ties q affinity kumor
OF her two elder sons from the path Of the third,
who was unquesticnably her iavorite and ahe
was afterwards, accused Of being accessory to
who perished at Chateau Thierry. frnm smelling
:" hs hsoqaass %nar q d asD rrss 9Eer snmboo,
hundred # the lyeliest and most illustrious
samsels Of the lant; In later times the spark
boast 80 much beauty as that Of Henri Ill
Surrounded by. this fair phalanx. Catherine
tlt herself irresistible. As in the case Of II
unfortunate Domoisellc de Limcuil, she only
punished their indiscretons when c0nceament
was impossible. An accurate Judge of human
nature. she knew that the most inhexible bosom
nLalust female Is nm
she made use of their agency to counteriiet the
plans of her enemies. and by their unsuspected
became acquainted with the most guarded Sc
srets of all parties. The profound dissimula- )
character Of Catherine problem which the his
torian would in vain attempt to solve: ana
equally futile would be his endeavors to trace 10
their hidden sources the sprnas of all her {
actions. Blndly superstitious. bigoted yet Scep-
'ica! and. IL her enemies are Mt all to be believed
addicted to the idolatr2ns Worship of false gods
proud, yet never guilty of meanncss: a fond .
~ife-an Italian woman, vet exhibiting NJ zeal d
pusy OF an ineonstant husband. a tender
sons to her ambitious views: rigid observer pf @
yet not unfrequently Overlooking it, Il
neglect: fiery and yindictive yet never reused ;
. betrny her emotions by any gesture of impa, !
ience. but yelling her indignation under fnask v
u ealmness. her suppasititious character ami
utions were perpetual contradiction to each ;
GATHERINGS wns genius II a high order. No Il
portion Of her rime was left unoccupied She i
-
utIvator OF the arts. and the most perfect v
lorsewomari of her time. -.~ ~ fs.,r -
Ii Catherine was a paradox. not less 80 MAS 4
Ter son, Henri III, whose youth held forth n
'rilant promise not destinedto be renlyrtf IN :
lis rfper years. The victor of Jarnac and IN
lontcontour--the envy of the warlikp youth ~ Il
lis tinle-the idol Of those whose swoI ds.had v
een feshed in many battles-the choser n Mon q,
rch of Poland-a well judging etatesman-aIi
uent and feliciteus orator. endowed with cetir y
ge. natural grace, hne person. universally ei
n all the exercises of the tilting- nj
ard. the menege and the hall of arms this
hiva lrous and courageous prince as soon as he | T
seconded the throne of France. sank int a 1 \,
oluptuous lethargy from which. except upon v,
occasions, he was never after
ards aroused: his powers Of mndAhis resoIu- IA
on-his courage. moral and physical fading "
enesth the eneryating life Of sensuaity III II
hich he indulged ~
Governed by his mother and his favorites who
ere GATHERINGS chief opponents, and Of whose Ia
ver- weening influence she stood most in fear bl
lreatened by the Due de Guise. who scarcely IA
niened to conceal his bold designs upon the Il
lrone: dstrusted by the members of the as
eague of which he had named himself chief III
nd who were for the most part, instruments OF IL
e Guise; dreaded by the Huguenots. to whom z,
9 had always shown himself relentless per sa
'eutor and who remembered with horror his di
uelties at the Massacre of Saint Barthelemy, 81
which dismal tragedy he has ayowed himself
principal instrument. opposed by the Pope. q