The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-06
Marie AntOinette.
BY JOSEPHINE ROBBINS FULLER.

Crowns have many thorns, cruel thorns
that not unlrequently pierce the wearer
to death. Marie Antoinette learned all
the bitterness of this sad truth. She first
opened her eyes at the palace at Vienna,
November 9, 1875. She was the young
est daughter of the Emperor Francis, and
the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.
Her childhood was peaceful and happy
amongst her brothers and sisters. She
saw little of her stately m )ther, and her
father died when she was only ten years
old. She had an irrepressible propensity
for fun and amusement, but possessed
not that love and aptitude for the acquisi
ton of book knowledge, without which
teachers are in vain, and opportunities
well-nigh useless.
Italian was the only language that she
could speak and write, although later she
learned to converse in French. She was
ignorant of history, philosophy, even of her
own native German. In after years she
keenly felt her deficiencies, yet she no.
where discovers the weakness, 50 COM
mon to little minds. that of being envi-
Gus or jealous of others more fortunate
than herself in these things.
When she was fifteen Years old she was
married to Louis Charles, heir apparent
aof the French throne. She was at this
time very graceful and lovely, full of vi
vacity and apt at repartee. She was tall,
her movements easy and majestic, aud
there was something in the way she car
ried her head, in the spirited, animated
expression of her countenance, in the very
curve of her stately neck, that told you
,i,o 40 i l.,,o n tt,ae bar.
if occasion required. prominent nose
and cheek bones, though they marred the
regularity of her features, added to the
energetic expression of the face. Her
hair was light auburn color, and her
eyes blue, frank and sparkling. Her
full lips, often parted by merry smiles,
disclosed handsome teeth. Her high,
broad forehead and arched eyebrows
seemed suggestive of the ready mirthful-
ness that oimpled her cheeks, and the
witty sayings that fell like pearls from
her mouth
1t was almost impossible to make
stiff woman of society of this free,
wild, impulsive creature. She Mortified
ceremonious individuals by her reckless
disregard of etiquette, disguised intel
lectual circles by her ignorance, and pref
indeed the mass ofFrench people against
her by excessive trivolity and extrava-
gance. She was, however, sincere and
kind hearted, and would not do what she
considered wrong. Her husband resem-
bled her only in the latter qualifications.
He liked books and retirement yet he
was too.wise TO interfere with his wife s
pleasures; he had too much judgmentiand
delicacy to say, Behold my way of do
ing. act thou right, like myself"
Their marriage had been one of policy,
and such unions have their advantages,
for if the young couple have no opportu-
nifty t. fancy that they are in a grand
passion, they likewise have not the I'M
happiness so often known, that of recov-
ering from their delusion after living to-
gether few weeks. The young husband
kept on in his own quiet pursuits, studied
his wife at respectable distance; saw
that she was lovable, and possessed many
traits worthy of admiration, and he pa
tiently waited for her love.
After she had been married seven wears,
the gay butterfly wearied of her artificial
life, folded her wings and lovingly nes-
tied close to her husbands heart. He
gladly welcomed her, and in return gave
her a strong, honest, manly affection.
Theirs had become the love that beauties
both palace and howell. No element was
In it that could mar its glory. No re-
morse with slow and deadly creep turned
each sweetness into gall as soon as tasted.
No warning conscience forbade pleasant
reveries of the beloved, or the presence
that was bliss. Their attachment was
founded on perfect knowledge of each
other, and respect for the real good in the
character of each. They did not vex and
annoy each other with the many trifes
and shallow jealousies that some couples
are 30 ingenious in finding. Their love
was deep and sincere, a love that met
with Gods approving smile, that emo
bled, purified, and made tit for heaven.
No more indeinable sadness, no more
Loneliness Of heart, no more unsatisfied
yearning was theirs, but fullness, CON-
pleteness, biesscdness that rounded out
Ill their capacities for the enjoyment of