The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-07
THE MARECHAL-NlEL ROSE.

Pittsburgh Dispatch.
THE MARECHAL-NlEL ROSE.
One OF the Hitherto UDwrittsn Romances
of the Second Empire.
The Marechal Mel is one OF the
loveliest roses OF its kind, the noiSeiLc,
and in its name and origin there Is one
of the hitherto unwritten romances OF
the court of France liz the Second en-
pire. In 1853, when the French army
was sent To help King Victor Emman-
uel drive the Austrians out OF Italy,
the Third Army Corps was commanded
by General Mel. This officer, Us his
name implies, came of one of those
Irish noble families who emigrated 10
France after the battle of the Boyne
in 1000. as did the MacMahons, the
FitZ-.Jdmes and others. who are now
Irish in nothing but their Names.
General Mel had commanded and
fought his corps with such eminent
ability and distinguished courage. that
when peace was made, with his coun-
tryman and friend. MacMahon. he was
created a Marshal of France. 1t was
well nigh autumn before General Mel
was able TO return to France. He had
been terribly wounded, and had suf-
fered besides from the dreadful fever
of the Italian marshes. For months
he was between life and death, with
only his surgeon. who was his con-
slant companiG II. and soldier servant.
who proved To be ali admirable nurse
in his illness and convalesccnce.
One day a peasant woman brought
him a whole basket OF Wild roses from
the Campa"na region. General Mel
had always been extremely fond OF
roses, and most of these We're new 90
him, and thus served 20 amI>" hiEs un-
til they were witlcrcd. H.. observed.
however, that one particular shoot had
not faded and died like the others,
but had grown into beautiful green
plant of perhaps ten inches in length.
When he looked TO see why this one
had grown and the others faded, he
found that a bit of the root had been
cut away with the flower. which was
of Il palish-yellow hue. Scarcely know
ing why. Mel determined To keep the
shoot so curiously preserved. When
he returned 10 Paris lac placed the
young shoot with an expert floricult-
urist, and next spring it bore four of
the loveliest buds in the world, OF q
pale-lemon tinge, AT that time Cen
eral Mel was sent for 20 receive the
highest military rank then known in
France, the Grand Cross of the Legion.
and his commission a. Marshal of
France, in presence of three Emperors
and all the Kings In Europe worth NAM
ing. After the solemn ceremony was
ended, and he wore for the first
time in that day the Grand Cross of
the Legion of Honor. he went to the
reception of the Empre>s-who was
splendid in her perfection az beauty
and presented To her curious yellow
ish rose of perfect form and perfume,
but different from any she had ever
seen, and told her IFS story.
"And so you haze proved the truth
of what the OIL able used TO say in
his dreadfully tedious sermons at Pau
about casting the bread on the waters"
said the Empress (whO, like Queen
Elizabeth Of blessed memory. loved
a fine man, to tie handsom"-t and
most daring. as well a. one of the
ablest of the Murshals OF the :;.cond
empire. Dear me, but he was &c. lious,
that good able" continued ~ Iiajes-
ty, with the softest loo, of ret.,,snec-
ton in her lovely d;.r.; eyes. Now,
Monsieur lie Marcchal." said she. viva
ciously, al shall christen this rose for
you"
'DO So" said the FrancO-Trish SOL
der, bowling very low. but flashing
at her a glance OF profound admira-
ton SO warm that it deepened her
color a little a. they stood alone,
for, though the great salon of
the place was crowded. no one dared
interrupt a tcte-a-te;e. which she her
self had allowed, between the Empress
and the hanlsomcst General OF his
day.
Lightly putting the rose 10 her lips.
she said: 1T l. named the Marechal
Mel, for the soldi.r sans pehF Ct SdSH
Us gallant in the salon as he
is on the battlefield"
This gracious speech went straight
to the great soldiers Irish heart.
You will wear il tonight. Your
Majesty, will you not. and afterward
give it 10 ne TO keep, this happy
rose?"
Monsieur lie Marechal-' said the
Empress, with great dignity.
81 pray your forgiveness" he an
swered.
81 Il