The Ravalli Republican., 1898-09-21
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BAZAlNE'S MARRIAGES.
romantic Corrtsh!ps Of the Mar
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romantic Cnrrtsh:ps Of the Mar
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In The Century there is.an article
on 'Maximiljan Empire by Mrs.
Sara Y. Stevenson, who was in Mex
leo during the entire period OF the
French intervention. Mrs. Steven
son says Of a romantic character IL
French history:
General Bazaine was at this time
the most popular man in the army.
Hitherto eninently successful III all
his military undertakings, he had
risen from the ranks, having won
his honors step by step upon the
battlefield, at first by hise courage,
later by his remarkable military
ability.
He was a plain looking man, short
and thickset, whose plebelan fea-
tures one might search in vain fo'' 4
spark OF genius OF {; ray OF lmag1na-
ton, and yet under the common
place exterior dwelt a kindly spiri;,
All intelligence Of no mean order,
and, despite certain coarseness OF
thought and expression too com
mon among Frenchmen, q soul upon
which the romance of life had i'm
pressed it's mark in lines Of fire.
The story went that, when q colo
mel, ho had in Spain come across
little girl Of great beauty and per
sonal attractions who seemed tc
him out OF place amid her surround
ings. He picked up the little wil(
rose as it grew on the roadside an(
conceived the notion of transplant
ing it into good, rich soil, and o
giving it its share Of sunshine II
took tho child to Paris, Whero h
left her III 4 convent to be educated
The soldier continued his brillian
career in the Crjmea, Italy, Syri;
and Africa, and when, after som
years, he returned to Paris he fount
the little girl had grown into
beautiful, and attractive woman
whose heart was full of warm grat
itude for her benefactor. He fell i
love with her, and, breaking throug
all rules OF French matrimonif
usage, married her.
Her charm won for her man
friends in the circle which his pos
ton entitled her to enter, and he
death, which occurred under pecu
iarly distressing circumstances
soon after his promotion to tn
command of the army in Mexico, WE
cruel blow.
The news Of her death reached IL
general while away from the capt.;
on the brilliant campaign Whic
added the greater part Of tho cou7
try to the projected empire (Nover
ber, 1863. After a funeral mas
which he heard with his officers,
retired to his tent, and, alone, foug]
that hardest Of all battles and CO
ouered his own heart In a fe
days he returned to his duty, al
no one ever knew what had pass'
in his innermost soul.
Two years later ball was giv'
at. the quarter general. Bazain
who had lately been promoted
the rank of marshal (1SG4), h
stopped for a moment to say a fe
words, when one of his guests,
young Mexican girl who was wall
ing by, suddenly stopped near
having torn her dress. Pins we
produced, the damaged ruff1o W
repaired, and the girl passed {
'Who is it," asked the marsh
evidently much struck with her
pearance 1T is extraordinary
lie muttered, chow much she
minds me Of my wife. He look
distrait, and shortly after eNcus
himself and wandered off in the
rection Mile dc Ia Pena had taxi
The courtship was a short o
Maximilian, in order to facilitat
union which he deemed to be i'll
interest of his government, gave
young girl as dowry the palace
San Cosme, valued at 500, 900, {
thus was May united to Decent
Two children were born to the m
shal, one of them in Mexico, {
never was father prouder Of
young wife and Of her offspring tt
was the marshal.
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