Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-11
From Trade to Title.


When Francois Hardouin, the son of a
poor matchmaker at Caen, in France, turned
his youthful back upon the workshop OF his
father and enlisted in Hussar regiment, he
certainly had no extrayagant dreams OF
future fortune or renown. Rejoicing IN
peculiarly amiable disposition and proper
tionate inclination to sociability, he disllked
the mechanical apprenticeship on account OF
its monotony and comparative seclusion, and
hose the arms because the latter seemed the
only available means Of variety and extended
association for tradesman's son. That was
many years ago. Not long aftor his enlist
ment the Hussars were ordered to Italy,
where they were quartered in the courts OF
the venerable Palazzo Attempts at Rome !;
and there the sunny disposition and easy
adaptability of the young soldier gained for
him the responsible office Of quartermaster
to the detachment. Nor was professional
advancement destined to be the limitation OF
his good fortune in the Eternal City.
During the years of French occupation
the troops were, of course, popular with the
aristocracy; officers of all grades had the
entry OF the best houses and thus Quarter
master Hardouin became personally known
to the Duchess di Gallese, wealthy noble
woman with an infant son, who lived in
widowed state in the old palace of Altemps.
When, in the course Of social events, the
popular Hussar became an occasional invited
caller at the palazzo, the patrician widow
was so pleased with him that her partiality
soon betrayed itself in manner rather en-
barrassing to its chivalrous subject. Not
long, however, was the worthy young trooper
| fated to be in doubt as to what the high
born lady's fattering demeanor portended (;
for when he evinced disposition to call less
| frequently than before the Duchess frankly
told him that he had gained her heart, and
could have her hand for the asking. Here,
indeed, was romantic surprise of fortune
for the humble watchmaker's son, though
he was too honorable to accept it until sat
isfed that it resulted from no mere whim of
sentimental woman's momentary fancy.
The widow assured him that she was her
own mistress, with no relatives to dispute
her will in such matter, and that her feel
ing towards him was as deep as it had been
sudden he vowed that his whole future life
should be devoted repayment of the i'm
measurable honor she had done him, and
they were married.
Thus beginning an aristocratic career, the
fortunate Hardouin yet preserved his old,
unassuming cordiality with his humber ac-
quaintances and comrades; accepted CRATE
fully the epaulets of sub-lieutenant, which
his General conferred upon him as wedd-
ing gift and did not finally withdraw from
his regiment until the death of his wife's
son by her first husband left the title of
Duke di Gallese to be conferred upon him
self by the Pope. As a prince of the Roman
nobility he could scarcely retain his sub
altern rank in foreign army, and as an
Italian nobleman, only, he was thenceforth
to be known.
Harmonious and honorable in every re-
spect, the marriage was yet fated to have an
early conclusion in the death of the eccentric
but excellent Duchess. She survived her
little son scarcely more than year, and left
to her sincerely mourning husband her whole
fortune. For three years the Duke rendered
lonely tribute to her memory, and then took
q second wife in the person of beautiful
young Roman girl, niece of the Princess
Giustiniani-B andini, who is also Lady New
berry of the English peerage. This union,
too, proved most felicitous, and, with sew
eral scions, remains undissolved to the pres
ent day.
Such is the romantic history of one of the
richest and most popular noblemen of mod
ern Rome; man whose rare fortune in
life may be attributed more to a peculiar
genial magnetism of natural social character
than to his possession of any transcendant
abilities. But not all titled patricians can
show so fair a patent.