National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-23
REMARKABLE MALLS.
Social Events That Have Left Their
In,preea Uuo,n IfIatorv.

,.... 49,. .s,..
0P"-
III VIC arc to place reliance on the nov
olists who have described the secret ma
cbinerv Of political events both in Franoe
and ItaIv a. "a nlain that from, vorv oarlv
- = p-D'- 80 ~ W e"y
Gays ooWn 10 umes 80 recent as that OF
the second French empire balls aud tho
making of history are to DO closely ALSO
ciated. There Is at least one ball, how
ever, which has an indisputablo claim to
90 regarded as historical, We refer to
the tragic festival at which Gustavus III,
King OF sweden, was killed by Capt. An
karstrom, This gloomy event took place
at masked ball held in tho opera house
on March IT, 1i92. The subject is one
which has furnished materials for tie
operate librettist and two well-known
operas-ono by Auber, tho other
by Verdi-haye rendered tho public
familiar with the occurrence. IL sneed-
less to observe, however, that history has
boon tribe perverted in order to meet
the requirements Of the lyric stage. Both
IN GustaVe and the Ballo i'll hasohera
loVo IS made the pivot on whi9h tho
tragedy turns, and Tho death oil the King
IS aseribed to the yengeanco OF an injured
rover ana husband. In Nordis beautiful
WORK we have, indeed, the klngof sweden
under the stupid disguise OF Richard,
Duko OF BOSTON,, presented to us rs
perured friend and adulteror. Capt.
Ankarstrom, on the other hand, or Coun
Renato, as no is named in the opera,
ilgures as q manly parsonage endowed
with every virtue, whose crime positively
appeals to sympathy. Though, OF course,
there is nothing IN MS story 10 snow that
Gustavus III made love TO capt.
ton OF tho King was connected with
anything more than political motives.
IL IS certain, noVertheloss, that
Ankarstrom showed himself most eager
10 perform tne ioui ueeu' lie was ASSOC
ciated with three other conspirators, KID.
pings, Horn, and Pochlin, and begged
hard that the task oil putting an end TO
the kings life might DO committed TO him.
Inc rest, however, insisted upon lots be-
ing drawn, and by,a remarkable comet
dence 1t Toll TO tho man who was most
anxious ior inc WORK 70 accomplish ~.
That Ankarstrom was animated by some
powerful reason Tor hatred Is tuihGiently
evident from the manner IN when ne met
ms subsequent late Though publicly
nogged on three successive days, ana con.
demned to death, he bore his punishment
with unninching courage ana composure'
aha mounted the scapolu Rejoicing
A pail less terIiole as regards olrcum.
stances conhootea WIN ~ yee quite as
VOL remembered Is that gwen by the
Duchess OF hlchhonn on tne eve OF the
DattIe Oh Waterioo' ms gatnorlng TOOK
place at brussels IN the mouse IN tne hue
hoyale nearest 10 the ola FORT de schaerr
peek ana was Attended by the Duke oil
Wellington, VINO, thouRn presenting on
that OCCASION cheerlui countenance,
knew alone OF the merry throng assem-
pied tnat the scene Oh gaity; whlch ne was
peholaing, would DC speeoiiy changed ior
one OF fearful carnage ana striio on tne
heid OF Dattle; the event ceieprated In
verse py Byron ls, however, 30 iamilisr 10
all That more than the prieiest ailuslon TO
TO Is unnecessary. In the gossiping pages
oil the diary oil samuel fepys several &C
counts Oh remarkapie DaIis are 10 DO
found IN one occasion ~ seems tnat tne
Merry Monarch' startled ms courters
IN the middle OF their dancing py
pundling Lady aerara, wiie Oh oharies,