New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18

FFRtANNCE '1DIrFiNC TIE REsTORATION.
l77sSse TRANSLATED from ne fgenS So by p MId
Mead & Co.
These lively memoirs of the later period Of
Bourbon rule In France partly written.
partly dictated. in 1853. by woman whose eighty
years had rot deprived her Of her feminine
charm and taste Cor sprlghtly gossip nor of her
remarkable memory Nine de Gontauts grand
children besought her to Sc forth for them and
their children the picturesque details of her life
and that tie venerable lady was not averse to
the task these pleasantly rambling pages attest
They bear testimony. moreover to her possession
OF much dignity of character. shrewd ohserva-
ton. kindness Of bear, and gentle humor. Inc
spirit Of old France in the time when The divine
right Of kings not questioned by nobics at
least anmates her rccoectiOns: but though this
sentiment led the Duchess TO omit much that
would have made her story complete. she has
left to the world picture Of the Courts Of Louis
XVIII and Charles more vivid than those 10
be found in more pretentious books.
The charming chr0niccr was the daughter Of
the Comte de Montau.t- Navailles. who al the
time Of her birth, was sixty years Old, while MS
fair wife was but sixteen. He supcI.ntend'd the
education Of the children Of Fl Louis
XVI. Louis XVIII and Charles X-and ~ litie
daughter became pet Of Queen Hafle At
toinette the playmate Of the royal babes N
Guiding those Of the Duo dOrleans, and lVpli
Of Madame de Genl.s. Il was happy enid
hood which ended when the girl was IN her
early teens in the tragedy Of the Revolutions ~
the beginning If the upheava the Connie de
Montault-Navailles then too old and cNciaOie 10
bear the growing tumu,s Of Paris. was urged
by the Comte d'Arto.s t. go t. his country
estate; and there soon after taking this al
mil = tho 81 ~ M
the young widow and her daughter re's.tei
Paris on business connected with the settlement
Of the estate The scorn which devoted roya.sis
began to feel for the Due GOr.eans ffga-itfl.
who was more than coquetting with ~ reV.ln-
tonists is indicated in Madame - Glntaufs
story Of a dance az Be.lechasse t. wnicn ~
girl friend Mile. dOrleans. invited her. and -
which her mother u,;anty TOOK hcr. Ma 'ane
de Genls there. her hair without powder.
though it was still the fashion 70 wear Il. SAr
wore a most extraordinary costume. composed -
the three revolutionary colOls. ana her FAC" was
greatly changed. and seemed - haN" "nurcy
lost its habitual charm. Dancing was going 90.
and am sorry TO say the orchestra was playing
the air. All, ca ira etc. They naI maze tn.s
horrible refrain. which was then being sung an
over Paris, into cOn:rd-Gance. lHcensrl b+
the sound OF this dcath-rnusic ami hy Al the
7 tokens
Madame De Montault- Navailles refused 20 1t her
daughter dance with the Due de CAartres. ana
left the house pursued by remarks on "the
soueamishness Of these artist )crats." Tn Incl
dent alarmed the friends OF the family. and the
widow left Paris never 10 see IL again. i1r ih"
King and Queen were soon after arrested, ana n
all sides the MOBILES fed from France through
danger and suffering The two ladies' were
about to leave Luxembourg when the army o.
the Princes began its retreat I'VE were obliged
to go at a snairs pace writes the Duchess;
1.-The wounded soldiers mounted into the carriage
and crowded the imperial. At the close OF eacn
OF these wretched days we had TO seek shelter
for the night: then barn or pie OF hay was
subject Of dispute: and when a distant sp!re
had given US some hope Of shelter II was hard 10
find on reaching the ga,cs Of the town. ihat
placards had been put up, Announcing 40
Jews or emgres admitted here" Mother and
daughter succeeded in reaching Holland ard
finally England, where they were joined by VI.
de Gontaut- Biron Mademoiselle's betrothed and
their marriage soon took place. Like most other
emigres they were desperately poor, for cJniisca-
ton Of the "arstocrats property was thorough
going in France; but they made many friends
among the most distinguished English famili.s.
and the pretty bride varied her domestic du. and
the miniature painting which helped 70 buy bread,
with visits In delightful old country-houses.
Presently came news from France to our OK
lies that some funds had been made over to them
by a relative. NJ. de Biron-funds which in the
difficulty OF direct communication with England
could not be conveyed 10 them. The names OF
Nine De Gontaut's mother and husband were on
the fatal list Of emsgres end they could not go
TO France; and the brave young wife voun eered
10 take the dangerous journey. She embarked at
4 ,,,ti,,. h,, i,,.
Nine. FRANCOIS. a lace dealer, going to France
on business. Throughout this expedition she
in continual danger-danger which no man could
have faced with more undaunted front. The
story is too long to repeat; but one phase Of 1t
must be quoted since it Introduces a famous
American. On the little boat crossing 10 Calais
supposed Englishman came and spoke to the
young Frenchwoman. and perceiving that she
spoke both French and English he asked her to
| interpret for him. She promised him she would.
land he was very grateful. as he was going TO
France on very important business" Arrived
at Calais trouble began for mime. Francois the
! shopkeeper." The revolutionary authorities sus-
pected her Of being the tmigre Comtcssc de
Montboissier--a mistake which enabled the Com
tesse TO escape. but which nearly proved fatal to
our traveller. She was placed under arrest In
the charge Of the landady Of her hotel, ana as
she left the Office Of the committee with this
woman. the "Englishman" Of the Channel boat
again approached her and told her his name and
business Ia France. 1t Robert Fulton. the
inventor of the steamboat. He had been recon-
mended to N. Bartheemy. then a member Of the
Directory. and his name seemed t. procure him
some consideration. He took genuine interest
In the poor lace merchant" who was detained
at Calais IN fear Of her life for three weeks
Having discovered by some means other
that my condition was growing worse. and that
they were planning 10 send me 10 Paris under
arrest he invented hundred ways Of assisting
me TO escape The which seemed 10 him the
easiest and simplest he came In all haste 10