The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-19

hearted diplomat. When he was VicerOy,
and the Suez concession was asked for, he
gave M. de Lesseps q carte blanche.
-
An Ancient Belle.
One day, in the latter part Of the eighteenth
century, says The Nsw Orleans PScGyume, Q
number Of young men were playing dice in a
fashionable gambling saloon in the Island of
San Domingo. Near a table at which two
youthful players were engaged stood an eld-
erly, handsome man, q marquis Of France.
At a certain stage of the game a dispute
arose, and the point in controversy wa re-
ferred to the gentleman standing by for ar
bitration. His decision enraged one of the
players; hot words ensued, and the gambler
struck the noble in the face. The mar
quis said sternly: "Only blood can
ehface the stain of this insult" The young
man, repenting of his folly, was profuse in
apologies, but the marquis remained obdurate,
and replied: t'Weshall send for two pistols;
one shall be loaded the other empty. We,
blindfolded, shall choose our weapons and
fire."
The pistols were sent for, the fatal choice
made, and the loaded weapon fell to the lot
of the noble. That day the lifeless body Of
the gambler was borne from the dicer's table.
Such was the Cheyalier de Sevre, a marquis
of France, one Of the richest mobiles in the
island Of San Domingo. In those terrible
DAYS Of the massacre the chevalier fell under
the knife Of the Infatuated blacks. The mar
auis escaped in disguise with her daughter, q
child, and found a refuge in Philadelphia,
where she subsequently, married Mr.. De
Breuil, a rich merchant.
There Mile. de Sevre grew up a lovely girl.
At that time there We're many French officers
in America. One Of them, Col. David, be-
came enamored Of the beautiful young creole
married her and took her to France, where
he introduced her at the court Of Josephine.
Of this union were born two daughters, &C.
ella Agnes Gertrude David and Maria Pau
line. The first was born at Tours in 1904,
and christened in the great cathedral of that
city. Her god-gather was the,,Baron de Vau-
blan, and her god-mother the Countess de
st. Leon.
Gen. David served in the Italian campaign
nnder Napoleon as an adjutant commandant.
He was a fayorite Of the Corsican, who, dur
ing the Egyptian campaign, presented him
with a magnificent sword. After his death,
in 1916, Miss David returned to Philadelphia,
married q wealthy American and came
south.
a few days ago the writer had the pleasure
of visiting this lady on Jackson street, in
New Orleans. Though rs years old, she looks
scarcely SO, and retains still the traces of that
beauty which attracted the admiration Of all
who beheld her in her youth. When asked
TO describe some of the scenes she had wit
messed, the lady said:
Eyes, I saw Napoleon /. once. | went
with my father, Gen. David, to the Tuileries,
and he pointed out to me the emperor walk
ing in the garden. was quite a child then
NY father told me to look at the great man,
and to cry, sViye IEmpereur!" When I die
so, he slapped me, and said: I am not mad
with you, but I wish this to make an impress
sion on you!''
ION another occasion, when I was going
to Versailles, I saw Louis XVIII. 7 wat II
a nunnery at Versailles, and afterWard wen
to live at Bordeaux. There / saw the daugh
ter of Maria Antoinette, the Duchess of An
gouleme, who had just returned to France
All / can remember of the scene is that ther
was a great crowd, and that the horses Wer
taken from the carriage, which was pulled b
men. The reins were ribbons, which Wer
held BY young ladies, who were covered wit
feurs de lis.
Zone day when I was girl of fifteen,
hnanfifnI 1adv came in q carriage tn visit m