New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16


Dodd Mead CO.
When Marie de Gonzague bride of King
1adislas " of Poland. set forth from Paris to
Join her husband in her new country she took
In her train as maids Of honor number of
pretty French demoiselles. They were TO help
the Queen to form a glittering Court, to play at
political intrigue, and, incidentally, touch good
perquisites and capture prosperous husbands
The youngest and one of the prettest. of these
followers, the four year-Old Marie d'Arquen, had
in her curly head. no doubt, little thought OF
anything but such bonbons that day knew
and the discomforts of the journey; but of all
these French damsels she was destined to reach
the highest place to wear the very crown OF
her patroness. Her father. Henri de la Grange
dArquien, was poor country gentleman of the
Nivernais and a captain in Monseurs Guard;
her mothers family was as modest as that of
her husband. and the fact that she had been
the "gouvernante" Of Marie de Gonzague and
was burdened with many children led the
Princess into the act of charity involved in
bringing up and establishing in life the beauti-
full little girl Beautiful Marie d'Arquien was
and remained and that beauty was the chief
factor Of an extraordinary career.
The Polish Court under Marie de GOnZague
vas the scene of corrupt scramble for power,
money and place. the French Queen leading in
ambitious schemes-and in this atmosphere OF
craft and wire pulling the little d AIquien grew
NJ TO be a witty and fascinating instrument in
the hands of her good mistress. She was the
Queens favorite, and fated to marry some
important person, who, ruled by his wife, would
support the plans and strengthen the throne OF
Marie de Gonzague. out of throng OF ad-
mrers the rich boorish and dissipated young
Price Zamoyski was chosen, and at fifteen
oyH off
assured young lady became a wife The girl
was bewitching but she was hard imperious
and selfish, given to incessant posing and TO
nance of an unedifying sort. Tie spendidly
handsome John Sales.--future King OF the
Poles and hero of Vienna-was Zamoyskfs
neiehbor in the country, and was necessarily
thrown into constant association with the young
lair There had been slight sentimental
passages between SCbieski and the lovely little
Frenchwoman before her marriage to Zamoyski,
and in this country life the flame was hghted
anew in the heart of the man. 1t burned with
the same steadness and ardor to the end OF his
life poor wretch The young wife coquetted
with him land with many others) playing with
him whole comedy of scenes and sentiment
until at the death of her husband, she married
the hero secretly-even before Zamoyski was
hurled And if she had played comedy before,
, widow dethroned and old Poles to this day
1oathe Marysienka, and lament the meeting OF
the great soldier and the selfish Frenchwoman
M Waliszewski does not share in this feeling.
He believes that the two were born for each
other and that the sanguine, ndOlent, vaci-
Iatirg and inpressionable Slav needed the i'm
pact Of the tenacious resolution of the DArquien
wa4 Our author, however, does not show that
they really notable deeds which Sobieski &C
corffplished as champion of Christendom against
the1rurks owed anything to the inspiration OF
Marysenka; and his career politician and
King in which she certainly took hand, was
hardly matter to be proud of, and gave him
little happiness.
Did the wife to whom he was a romantic
love- even in old age make him happy? Per
haps-if it makes man happy to be tormented'
tartalized and fouted with all the caprces that
~ soarkling volatile little frt Invent. She
\ was treacherous and liar, scheming and cold
[ bearted-as incapable of real affection as a hsh
but she was charming by nature and training.
To be charming was her dowry, and most or
the men in the Court crce-kings, princes and
ambassaGor s-were desperately in love with her
| She spent years OF planning and wheeling ana
ccouetting in the effort TO get money from
France for her own purposes and those OF her
patroness, 10 get peerages and promotion ana
estates for her father and other relatives-above
all TO win the privilege Of a 'tabouret' in the
Cont of the Most Christian King In the ma
;oritv Of tbese struggles she failed; but minor
.r,cesses we're strewn along her path, and she
apparently delighted in wes and stratagems
for their own sake. She so busy in charm
ing that she had no time to be generous, loyal
and sncere-even to the husband who adored