The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-22

| 1t would have been better for Napoleon had III
allowed her TO make the Enghien affair {
womans business.
1t Is we'll known that after Napoleon had de-
cided upon divorclnR Josephine he long hest
tated as to the selection Of second wife
Should he take Saxon Princess, a Russian
Grand Duchess. or q daughter Of tho Haps-
burgs2 We can now sec that the fate OF the
empire hung upon his choice Cambaceres
one OF his wisest councillors. was strongly In
favor OF an alliance with Russia. and had his
advice been followed the fatal Russian cam
paign OF 1919 would in all likelihood have not
taken place. But the Corsican adventurer.
who had known what 1t was to stand within a
hairs breadth OF starvation. and whose OBJ
scure youth and young manhood had been
passed in sight Of the pageant OF the ancien
regime. was inabriated at the thought OF mar
rying grandniece OF Marie Antoinette.
Marie Louise, the daughter Of her Emperor
Francis ii. by Marie Th6rese. q Neapolitan
princess. was little more than IS years old
when she was married to the Emperor Napo-
leon In 1910. AS she told Gen. de Trobriand
long afterward at Venice. she considered her.
self sacrificed to the political interests OF her
family, and the fact must be borne in mind
when we recall the facility with which she con-
soled herself for her first husbands misfor-
tunes by a second and third marriage. Meter
mich has accounted the brief interview in
which at the bidding OF the Emperor Francis
he laid before the young Archduchess the
French Emperor's proposal Marie Louise
listened calmly, and after q moments reflec-
ton asked: What are my fathers wishes?"
Tho Emperor" replied the Minister.
has commissioned me to ask your
imperial Hghness what decision she means
to take In matter concerning her whole life.
Do not ask what the Emperor wishes: tell me
what you yourself wish" But the Hapsburg
princesses are too well trained to avail them
selves OF such ostensi5le Difference to their
predictions. Il wish only" answered Mario
Louise, what my duty commands me to wish.
When the interests OF the empire are at stake
they must be consulted, not my feelings. Beg
OF my father to regard only his duty as q SOW
ereign without subordinatinR 1t to my personal
interests" This was certainly a remarkable
answer to marriage proposal from n girl OF
49, II we can accept it as having been literally
reported by Metternich
Now let us look at the portrait OF Marie
Louise drawn at the date OF the betrothal for
tho benefit OF Napoleon by the French Ambas-
sador at Vienna: Every one agrees that the
Archduchess combines with q very amiable
disposition sound sense and all the qualities
that can be given by careful education. She
is liked by all at court, and Is spoken OF as q
model Of gentleness and Kindness She has
fine bearing. yet it Is perfectly simple: she
is modest without shyness; she can converse
very we'll In many languages. and combines AZ
liability with dignity. As she acquires familiarity
with the world, which is all very new to her.
her fine qualities will doubtless develop fur
Their and endow her whole being with even
more grace and interest. She Is tall and well
made. and her health is excellent. Her
features seemed to me regular and full OF
sweetness" There Is too much caution and
restraint in this official dslineation. We get
more vivid impression OF the young Arch
duchess from a description by Baron do Meme
val: Marie Louise had all the charm OF youth
her figure was perfectly regular: the waist OF
her dress WAS rather longer than was Renor-
ally worn Mt that time, and contrasted favorably
with the short waists OF our ladies': her color
Ing was deepencd by her journey aud her
timidty: her fine and thick hair OF light
chestnut set of fresh full face. to which her
gentle eyes lent u very attractive expression;
her lips, which were little thick. recalled the
type Of the Austrian imperial line, Just as
slightly aquiline nose distinguishes the Bour-
bon princes; her whole appearance expressed
which she lost after the birth OF her son. indi-
Gated good health" AS to her bearing at tho
court OF Napoleon we have the following testi-
mony from the same witness: Tho Empress
was affabe. simple, and unpretentious. Posi-
bly, the memory OF Josephine's charm
and earnest desire to please was
misfortune TO Mario Louise. Her reserve
might have been attributed to German
family pride, but that would have
been mistake: no ono was ever simpler or
less naughty Her natural tlmidlty and her
with the part she had TO play
none gave her an air Of stiffness" II is n Gu
rious fact that NAPOLEON with all his AFRO
Gance, could never forget that his second wife
was an Archduchess. and treated her with in
stlnctive Difference. This did not escape Marie
Louise young and timid as shc was. Shortly
after hor marriage she told Metternich: Il am
sure that in Vienna people think great deal
about me, and imagine that live In continual
anguish. The truth often seems improbable.
am not afraid OF Napoleon, but am Begin
ning to think that he is afraid Of mo-"
Particularly interesting is the comparison OF
Marie Louise and Josephine made by Napoleon |
himself AT ut. Helena. One" no said, " was |
art and grace; the other, innocence and simple |
nature. My first wife never. at any moment OF |
her life. had any ways or manners that wcro |
not agreeable and attractive 1t would have !
Deon impossible to find any fault with her in |
his respect; sho tried to make only u favor
able impression, and seemed TO attain hor end !
without study. She employed every possible !
art to adorn herself. but so carefully that one |
sould only suspect their use. Tho other had
no idea that there was anything to be gained .
by these innocent artices. Ono was always a .
title ineXart; her first idea was to deny every
IL = m / la tod ,J hatn
everything roundabout My first vile never
asked for anything, but she ran NJ debts right !
mi left; my second ALWAYS asked for more
when she needed it, which was seldom She
lever bought anything without feeling bound