Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-07
KISSED A PRINCESS.
A PHfLADELPHIAN'S FEAT IN THE
DAYS OF GENERAL JACKSON.

He Won a Wager, but Kicked Up an Excit-
ing international Row-Thc Tradition
That Tells How Midshipman Charles Bar
ton Kissed Dom Pedro's Sister.
0f all the rich unwritten annals, polit
fcal, social and moral, OF the third and
fourth decades, no tradition resting upon
memory has come down to our times moro
rcplcte with romantic DASH mcrriment
and broad fun than the incident Of "The
Philadclphian' Famous Kiss" which
evolved three great nations and nearly tho
whole diplomatic world, some with fierce.
hot anger, which threatened for awhile the
staid and decorous Quaker City on the
Delaware with the fate of Hector and old
Priam's doomed city of Troy, while the
balance of the world was conyulsed with
uproarious laughter
Claiming the old mans privilege of
generosity, will give the story of tho kiss
as IL came to me, parly through the gos-
sip within the precincts of tho imperial
palace Of Brazil, partly through the gossip
of naval circles the year after tho occur
renee. This tempest of anger, hot and
fierce, and of fun loud and boisterous, was
created by II bright, handsome, dashing
Philadelphia youth scion Of one Of the
Oldest most powerful and generally be.
loved Philadelphia families, who had lcfS
his native city for the first time in 1929 to
do his dcvoras II midshipman on the Bra
lillian station.
Barton was his name, and under the In
SEPARATION of his first naval uniform he be-
fore sailing had been doing some rather
loud boasting. His sister and n bevy Of
her young associates, rather disgustcd ut
his Mrs, had questioned his ability to re-
alzc his big boasts, among which was his
wild pledge TO kiss II foreign. princess be-
fore he revisited his native city. This ex-
travagant pledge appeared to his sister
about on a par with tho promise Of M.
Paraclcs to recover from the enemy the
captured drum and suggested tho wa
ger of suit of clothes made by the most
fashionable Chestnut street tailor against
the most costly silk dress in the Quaker
City
After year or IS months of inccssnnt
watching for IN opportunity to redeem
his pledge Barton ut last found tho object
Of his long search. Almost within the
precincts of the palace the royal coach o;
state came rumbling along one of Rios
narrow streets, followed Mt II short distance
by II squad Of mounted hussars. In the
coach were the two young princcsscs, tho
sisters of the lnto Emperor Dom Pedro,
who, then about 10 years old, was under
the tutclagc of u regent. Barton saw the
state coach approaching and planned his
alldncious scheme with cool and excellent
Judgment He stood ut n corner where tho
coach would probably turn, out of sight
for moment of the lazy escort, and quick
er than thought he had, regardless of haZ-
ard and peril, rashly jumped up behind,
and through the aperture behind kissed
ono of the royal occupants of tho coach.
OF course tho princess screamed because 1t
was NIL done in open day on ono of the
most frequented thoroughfnrcs of tho city
of Rio Janciro. Having won his wager
with his sister, Barton quietly resumed his
position ut tho banquet as II nothing had
happened. Tho amazcment Of tho hussars
ut such II daring and porilous action was
SO great ms to paralyzc speedy rctribution,
and Barton returned unmolcsted by tho
sunset boat from the palace stairs to his
ship.
But hc was not left long In quiet on his
ship. Tho hot blood of tho Brngnnzas was
up in arms. calling loudly for the death of
the plcboian miscrcant who had soiled
the royal maidcn's check with his hot pie
bcian breath. Tho regent made n demand
for the delivery of tho young offender, to
be held to answer to the offended laws of
Brazil first upon the captain Of Barton's
ship, which was promptly refused, and
then upon the secretary of state mt Wash
ington. Tho evidence of Barton's culpa-
bility left no loopholc open through which
oven Philadelphia lawyer could find es
cape, and Mr.. Forsythc, General Jackson's
secretary Of state, was ut his wits ends
how to avoid making an abject apology to
the inccnsed BrnganZas, tho Portuguese
branch Of that bluebloodcd family having
como into the quarrel to rescue the family
honor from dctcstcd plchcinn's nudacious
dissertation of the check Of their royal
cousin of Brazil
Az n tub to the angry Braganza whale
court martial was appointed to try Barton
for his contumacious familiarity with tho
insultcd Brazilian princess. The sentence
of the court was that Barton should be
cashicrd from n profession he had SO sig
nally outraged. That sentence was sent
by special messenger to- tho Brazilian re-
gent and our government was courteously
thanked for tho prompt rcparation 1t had
made. 1t was n fact not perhaps known
to tho Brazilian regent that the sentence
Of tn. court could only take effect after the
pr~ideuts approval, and when the sem
tcncc WAS laid before the president for APP
prevail he secuted tho idea Of stiginatizing
young gentleman for IN net rash and
pcrilous, but too strictly in limo with hui
man weakness to hc dishonoring.
Summoning Barton to Washington be-
fore final action of the sentence of the court
martial, the venerable president accosted
Barton thus, did you kiss that Brazilian
princess, AZ is charged against your II
did" was tho unhcsitating reply. what
prompted you to such rash, impudont
actY Was she SO ravishingly beautiful
Nc, " replied Barton; she had large, love
j., almond shaped eyes and splendid suit
of dark hair, which hung nearly to her
feet In two heavy plats, altogether u very
pretty girl, seemingly in bad health Why,
general | have kissed tho rosy checks OF
hundred prtticr girls in Philadelphia, and
they never made half the fuss that this
tallow faced brazilian has. 1t was u mo
| mcntary impulsr to win 4 wager | mauC