New-York tribune., 1902-07-13

throne itself. obviously the presence or a woman
like Madame Elisabeth should have been o,
benefit to the court, and that benefit il it had
been bestowed where it was most needed. might
have filtered down to the people. The King
himself was aware of his sisters Importance to
him. Becoming uneasy at the frequency Of her
visits to her aunt Louise. the Carmelite nun at
Saint Denis, he said to her: Il very willing
that you should go and see your aunt but only
on condition that you viii not initiate her. Els
abeth. need YOU" She knew it. and she con-
stituted herself his friend in the truest sense OF
the term. Unfortunately. she does not appear
to have been able to render him the services
which might, in the troublous years preceding
the Revolutionary crisis. have helped him to
avert the storm. The court took what We
might call triangular form. Honest men
were near Louis XVI. politicians near the
Comte de Provence. the frivolous and volatile
near the Comte d'Artois." and the group al
each point cultivated a detachment from the
others which made it impossible for Elisabeth
to bring about the common understanding on
which some Improvement in existing conditions
might have been based. All she could do was
to wait In patience for the moment at which
her help would be not only needed. but de-
manded, and in the interval she prepared her.
self for the trials of which even in her girlhoOd
she would seem TO have had certain vague
apprehension. We may quote passage Illus
trative OF the line she adopted on being freed
from the control OF her gOvernesses. with one
descriptive OF her person at this critical period:
Madame Elisabeth was now. at the age Of If
teen, to find herself mistress or her actions.
surrounded by the spIendOrS OF fortune invited
to share all pleasures and observed BY every
eye. What is liberty at that age If not release
from study, amusement, toilet, jewels ana Ietes.
Such was not the programme or the hlhSs
young sister. Her conscience took upon itself
the duty of exercising the same control anu
watchfulness over her conduct that her gov
erneSSeS had Just laid down. My education is
not finished" she said: Il shall continue II IN
der the same rules; / shall keep my masters,
and the same hours Will be given TO religion.
the study of languages. belleS-lettres lnStrue-
tive conversations. and TO my walks and rdes
on horseback" And she kept to all that sns
thus planned
Her appearance at this time has been de-
scribed and painted. although she herself had
great repugnanCe to sitting for her picture
Her figure not tall neither had her bearing
that majesty which was SO much admired IN the
Queen; her nose had the shape which is char
acteristic Of the Bourbon face: but her forehead
with its pure lines giving TO her countenance
its marked character of nobleneSS ard candOr.
her dark blue eyes with their penetrating sweet
ness. her mouth with its smile that showed her
pretty teeth, and the expression OF intelligence
and goodness that peryaded her whole person.
formed q charming and sympathetic presence
For some years this bright spirit enjoyed re-
pose and happiness. We read Of her concern
over the experiences of the French troops in
America, of her lively pleasure in her brothers
attitude toward us. but. on the whole. public
affairs are in allegiance Madame Elisabeth
was born for private intimacy" says her bios-
rapher. and she is exhibited TO the reader de-
lighting in the little domain at MOntreul TO
which she retired daily from the distractions
Of the court. There she interested herself IN
her farm and in the people Of the neishbOrins
village. She gave the products of the estate 10
the poor and sick. and. indeed. to help her hum
BILE friends she practiSed economies in her own
life. Sincerely piOus, well aware OF the CoTrup-
ton of her time. but herself as spotless as
child. she passes across the rapidly darkenins
scene like a vision of sweetness and goodness
In October. 1IS9 she was torn from her joyous
quietude never to know it again The demand
of the mob that the King leave Versailles Tor
Paris inspired only resistance In her clear anu
courageous mind. She knew that acquescence
was a mistake. 1T is not to Paris. sire. thaI
you should 60" she protested to the hlhs-
You have still devoted battalons and falthiu1
guards to protect you. 1 implOre you. my
brother, not TO so to Paris" She did her best
to dissuade him. but when her efforts proVeu
futile she was ready to so with the unhappy
monarch. Are you bowling to MOntreul'. 50
ter?" he asked her, as she bent forward IN 'He
Carriage to look at her beloved retreat sire
she replied. Il am bidding il farewell Mo'9
than once In remarks like this. she d'ScIoSeu
her intuition of the disasters to come he'
FFl