New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02

was absolutely necessary with public affairs.
and married to a woman whose temperament
was in no way calculated to assist her to a last
ing dominion over his heart. readily adjusted
himself to that course of prOiigacy into which
the complaisant morality of his time and the
selfish wishes of his cOurters steadily Iured him
The resentment of Marie Leczinska only served
to confirm him in his modifying conduct III at
Metz he was without much difficulty persuaded
by the Bishop of scissors to repudiate the
DucheSse de ChateaurOux, but with reviving
health he was soon prepared to resume his old
ways and the death Of the favOrite shortly after
Ter rehabilitation only paved the way for
other whose empire was destined TO remain
shaken, though not UnchaIenged. for twenty
years. If any portion of the Marquise de Pom
padour's biography excites compassion. il is
that which relates to her childhood OF dubious
paternity. and provided with a mother appar-
emily destitute of all principle. she was trained
from the start for the position she ultimately
filled. In her ninth year Mime. Poisson took her
to the house Of a fortune teller. who predicted
that she would one day become the mistress Of
king, and every effort made to keep fresh
the impression made upon her mind by this
cruel prophecy. The mother knew very we'll
and allowed her daughter to know. that the
kings Of France did not choose their favOrites
from the ranks OF the bOurgeOisie. but from the
wives and daughters OF the nobility" Yet this
their campaign.
In the first place Nine Poisson took pains to
see that her candidate made good marriage.
one which not only-aceOrding to the practice
Of that time-gave her more eligible status
but supplied her with plenty Of money, tho
necessary sinews Of war. Nine. dEtOles.
the young Antoinette became. then proceeded
to play the game with her own hand In a
phaeton drawn by magnificent horses and
ing train in the forest Of Sdnart. and, though
the Duchesse de Chateauroux put a stop to this.
it was not long before the death of the latter
made it possible for her rival to press her cause
At a masked ball she attracted Louis not only
by her beauty and the charm of her disguise
she appeared as Diana-but by her audacity.
She dropped her handkerchief at his feet after
brief coIIoqUy, ne picked it UP and threw it after
her with all royal galIantry and her fate was
sealed as she wished it 10 be kinsnan OF
hers, Binet. first valet de chambre TO the
Dauphin. paved the way still further. and pres
emily she supped with the osject of her chase
in his private apartments at Versailles En-
veloped as she was in what seemed TO her
kindIins lover the most romantic glamour. she
nevertheless acted with cold blOOded judS-
ment that makes the reader vince. Her hus-
band deeply loved her. and she knew it; but
far from allowing consideration for his feelings
to give her pause. she deliberately made his
woe serve her purpose Resolved that she would
not permit herself be taken UP by the King
and lightly thrown away, she put her fate to
the touch" as Mr.. Williams expresses it. in the
following manner:
She repaired TO the Kings apartments. and.
throwing herself at his feet represented 70 him
all she had risked for loves sweet sake she
spoke of her husband-that husband who WOr-
shipped the ground upon which she trOd and
whose suspicious were already aroused she
could not. she dared not she declared return
home and face the first Outburst of his resent
ment. grief. and shame. With voice almost
her with u dagger. or a cup of poison. to avenge
his honor In short. she played the part OF the
terrified wife to such perfectiOn-fOr, as We
have said, she COnSunTnate actTeSS-tnac
Louis was almost much alarmed as he mag
ined her to be. and offered her an asylum ar
Versailles until NJ. d'EtiOlesS wrath should
have had time TO abate.
The King seems to have had a constituencies
which she herself lacked. When she read I'M
moved the despaiFing letter sent TO her by NJ
dEtioles. and CareIessly handed it TO Louis. he
glanced over the document and handed it back.
saying cOIdly. You appear. madame. to have a
very honest for a husband" But he did
not carry criticism further; he was too much in
love- and perhaps he realized even then how
sympathetc companion this lovely siren would
prove to be. A judicial separation of husband
and wife was in due course procured. the for
ler being COMPENSATED by a rich appointments