The Portland daily press., 1900-03-09
NINE. BAZAINE'S LIFE
As wife of tae French MarshaI-A
Career of Adventurous Ups and
Downs.
(From the Philadelph'a Times. }

(Fron the philadelphia Times.)
PATH OF and comedy. romance and ad-
venture are strangely mingled In the
career which came to an end when Mime.
Bazaire died recently at private hospi-
tai in the suburbs of the city of Mexico
During the last 80 years she twice passed
from one extreme Of life to the ether.
Every experience from q palace to Q
prison was hers. She was among the
most brilliant figures at two great courts
in two great continents. Each time she
saw the throne about which the oourt
was.gathsred swept away, and each time
the fortunes OF herself and her husband
went down In the ruins. Once they
were raised again to even gTandsr heights
of power and influence. but the sscond
time the wreck was complete, absolute,
final. Instead of bsing first among the
COUP sellers Of an emperor. her husband,
Marshal Bazaine, became . convicted
criminal, condemned TO 1eath, but finally
reprieved and sent TO spend the remain
dsr of his life in a castle dungeon. From
this living death he was rescued by the
Ingenuity and courage Of his wife. WHO
tied with him into exile, and was his
faithful helpmate until death came to end
his ruined career. Surely no woman ever
lived q more romantic life or gave
stronger proofs of that devotion which
enduIss even until death.
In 1865 the Austrian Archduke Maxi
MILAN was seated on the throne of Mexi-
90. His court was almost NJ splendid as
those Of the monarohies Of Europe, after
which it was modelled. and by which it
was supported. But already there were
many indications of troubles ahead. The
rsvolutionists were gathering In the in
terror. The ohurohmen were plotting in
the capital itselI In this junoturs Mar
shall Bazaine, q veteran French soldier
Of many wars In Europe and Africa, was
made oommsndsr-in- chief Of the armies
of Macmillan. He Was already Wid-
over, having buried his young wife tive
years before his appointment. In his new
position be showed himself a strong man,
andling the complicated qI Q stions which
arose with tirmness and discretion. In
personal appearance he was q typical SOL
disr, sturdy in figure and martial In
bearing, carrying his Il years like q boy
Of 20.
One night in 1866 Emperor MACMILLAN
gave grand ball at his palace. Marshal
BaEAine was foremost among the guests.
As he was passing In state through the
ballroom. a young Mexican girl, who
had been waltzing, tore the skirt Of her
lace dress and stopped to repair It. The
gallant French soldier was the fist TO
come to her rescue. Whsn the rent had
been mended the youIg GIL thanked the
great man and walked away with her
artner. But Marshal Bazains had for q
second time loRt his heart.
"Who 70 this" he asked Of his attend
ants.
He was told that the young woman
wss Mile. De Ia Psns, the daughter OF an
ancient Mexican house. Then he sx-
oused himstlf, followed her through the
crowds and begged the honor Of an Intro
duetion.
Their oourtship was short. Bazaine
was a soldier, accustomed to taking for
trszses by storm. Alls. De Ia PeBA had
all the tropical warmth Of nature. Their
engagement was announced to the en-