The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-23
STORY OF A QUEEN.

A book bearing on bourgeois family
Of Marseillcs has just sppcarcd-a fam
ily Of whose daughters two became
queens. another a duchess. and fourth
tho wife Of n marshal Of the empire.
The recent death Of Count Francois
Clary. ex-senator Of the empire, nat
urally brings up remembrances OF this
Gary family. whioh-erccpt. Of course,
the Bonapartcs-was, on the whole, the
most distinguished Of tho new families
created by the French revolution. Its
founder was also Francois Clary, n
wealthy merchant Of Marseilles, who
died in 1914, before the social fortune
Of his family had been dreamed OF. lilo
had two sons. one Of whom succeeded 10
the business. and four daughters.
OF these. one married Baron Antoine
de St. Joseph. n remarkable economist
who belonged to n family Of magistrates,
and had distinguished himself by travels
and commercial combinations. Ho lived
at Constantinople for ten years as head
OF n commercial house, and finally PFC
1ccted n commercial alliance between
Russia. Poland and France. to develop
French commerce with the Black sea
The idea was warmly taken up by Catha-
rine the Second. and was adopted. Tim
Der and other merchandise were brought
by the Dniepcr, the Black sea and the
Mediterranean to Marseilles in three
months, which. by the old route Of the
Baltic and the ocean, would have taken
three years TO arrive. Antoine amassed
large fortune, and in 1856 was made
baron.
One Of his daughters married Marshal
Suchet, Due d'Albufera; the other, the
Admiral Due Decres. NapOleon's minis
Ter of marine. Francois Clarys third
daughter. Julie, married Joseph Bona
parte, and was queen of Naples ana OF
Spain. The fourth daughter, Deslree,
married Bernadottc, and died queen OF
Sweden. His nicce-the sister Of the
lust deceased Count Francois Clary-
married the Prince de Wagram, son OF
Marshal Berthier; and since then the
Clarvs have become. allied with the
Murats the Siels, the TURBINES, the La
Croix.lavals and other distinguished
families, both Of the lmperialist and the
Lcgitimist aristocracy.
Baron Hochschild has recently pub
lishcd a little book, "Desrec. Refine de
Suede ct dc Norvege" paris: Plon, 1889.
AS the author had seen much Of tho
queens circle at Paris when he was
boy-his father being Swedish minister
there under the Restoration-and, as he
was subsequently for many years her
chamberlain. he is able from her con
vcrsations and letters to tell us much
which is new and interesting.
Bernardine Eugene Desiree Clary was
born in 1871. and was early sent to a
conventual school. but her education
was arrested by the suppression Of the
converts. and soon after herretum home
her father died. She had but slight
recollections of her child life at home,
except when chance brought up some IN
cident. On one of these she liked after
her fathers house a quartermaster ser
geant, with billet for quartering sh-
diers As her father hated the row and
disturbance which soldiers generally
made. he sent1im off with a letter TO mis-
colonel asking for an officer or two in
stead The sergeant thus turned off was
Bernadotte.
In 1894, after her fathers death, her
elder brother was arrested. Her sister
in-law was in despair, for the revolution
airy tribunals were terribly expeditions.
She resolved, therefore, TO so and see
the Deputy Albitte, and not wishing to
be alone, took Dcsreo with her. There
was a crowd Of people in the waiting
room, and owing TO WEAKNESS, heat and
emotion, the little girl fell asleep. When
she woke up at the noise Of a door being
shut, she found herself in total darkness
except for lantern shining from the ad-
Joining room. As it turned out her SIS
ter had hesitatcd 10 awake her when she
went in to see the deputy, and then, be-
ing in a great hurry to deliver the order
for her husbands release, had left her,
thinking she could easily find her way
home.
Meanwhile, was somewhat fright
ened, not understanding at all my situa-
ton. when | perceived that i was no
longer alone. At the movement which
j made, man who came out Of the
deputy's room, approached me- and, look
ing at me with surprise, asked how /
came to be there all alone at that hour.
When / explained TO him what had hap
peucd. he treasured me about the fate of
my brother and added. a little lady
like YOU cannot 50 alone IN the streets at
night, 50 | will walk home with you.
On tho way homo we talked 30 much
that we became very good friends. As
ne went away, | said that my mother
would certainly like to thank him her
self for the care he had taken of me, and
begged him TO call upon her. Then you
will present me to your family one OF
these days. he said With pleasure
replied; meanwhile | should like TO tell
them the name Of the gentleman who
has protected me this evening. That l.
perfectly right-you may tell them that
my name is Joseph Bonaparte.
The call was made the next day; Bona
parto soon became intimate with the
Clary family. and before many weeks
had passed was engaged 10 marry Dcsiree
30 soon as she should reach the age Of 10,
she being then only about 10. Joseph
often spoke about has brother Napoleon,
who had just drawn attention TO himself
at the siege Of Toulon. When soon after
he came TO Marseilles he was taken e.
see the Clarys. Napoleon was at that
time full Of noisy gayety and quite
good fellow.
"His arrival" Queen Desiree related,
"soon brought about change in our |
plans for the future We had not known /
each other long when he said: In good
household one Of the married pair ought |
10 yield 70 the other. Now, Joseph. you
have an undecided character, and 1t Is
the same with Dcsiree, while Julie and !
know what we want. You would do