Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-27
A WIFE FOR A POEM.
The Reward Napoleon Ill Gave a
Sycophantic Verse Writer.

When the Emperor Napoleon Ill.
was writing his Life of Cesar" and
was casting ambitious glances at a
chair in the Academy, a poet, whose
name 1hall be unknown to fame, wrote
few verses on the Emperor's work,
referring to him as the "Great C3s sar
Of these later years"
1t was absurdly sycophantic in spirit,
says Paris correspondent of the CHI
cago Tribune, but it was SO exquisitely
phrased that it attracted wide atten-
tion. The writer sent copy Of 1t.
engrossed on parchment. to the EN-
peror. In return the Emperor sent
him splendid diamond ring and an
invitation to call at the Tuileries.
When the poet came the Emperor
received him affectionately, and after
some conversation asked him if he was
married.
mo, sire."
"And why don't you get married.
See here. Would you marry a lady,
young, beautiful, of ardent disposition,
and with a handsome dowry, If you
met such one, who was willing to
have your"
Yes, sire, I should be only too
happy"
"Well. then, come here tomorrow
night at 10. L will present you to
herr
at the appointed time the poet agrin
presented himself at the palace and
was admitted to the Emperor's pres
ence. The Emperor was in street dress,
and at once put on large cloak and d
hat that concealed his identity, and led
! bA tn eli
/ entered a coach and were driven to a
bijou villa that stood in the midst oi
| spacious grounds in a retired part OF
tie city. Tney entered and the EN-.
peror said:
''Wait here until 1 prepare her fol
your coming"
SO saying he assembled the stairs
leaving the poet in a small reception
room. In Il few minutes he reappeared
and beckoned the poet to follow him.
They went upstairs and in luxurious
boudoir found the lady. She was all
that the Emperor had said, young,
beautiful and charming.
"My dear Marie" said the Emperor,
''allow me to present M, who
comes as a suitor for your hand"
Then he abruptly left the room. The
poet did not repent his bargain. He
found the lady ready to accept his
wooing, and, knowing that the impe-
rial favor depended upon his discretion
he did not seek to learn her past his
tory,
They were quietly married a few
weeks later, the BRIDES dowry being
100000.
The poet was never again invited to
the Tuileries, however, nor did he ever
again have a personal interview with
| the Emperor, but he soon received, to
| his surprise, an appointment in the dip
! lomatic service in a distant part OF the
world. This he accepted and went
there to live, his wife, of course, &C.
companying him.
His career there was prosperous
one. and he remained there until his
death, which occurred six or seven
years ago. His widow then returned to
Paris, and became the wife of Rus
sian nobleman.
| On the occasion or the poet-diplo-
mats death remark was made by
General Fleury, the confidential friend
and business agent of the Emperor.
HE was lucky chap" said Fleury.
''to get such wife; and it was hard
bit of luck for the Emperor to have to
pay such price to get rid of SO charm
ing an incumbrauce.
"IIad she,n was asked, "sincum-
bered' His Majesty long?"
NO" said Fleury, ''the Emperor
had not known her month. But the
Empress had got on her track, and you
know Eugene was a regular Tartar
when she was jealous.