The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-07

The Flower of Destiny. By William | Danna Orcutt
 A book ready to the hand of the ! dramatist. None of the many novels | that have been put on the stage have | more good stuff for the drama than has this bright book. \ It is all full of love and the per- | fume of vfolets. The chapters end up \ roundly and fetchingly as for eur | tain' and the characters are fascinat- | ing enough to create many recall be- fore the audience.
 The love story of Napoleon III. and ] Eugenie Is woven into dramatic TO- nance. There is enough history In IL to make it hold interest, yet not enough to maRe it heavy. Heavy?
 No more heavy than a bunch Of violets flung from whizzing carriage in mid-carnival season.
 Mile. de Montijo is most fasci- hating heroine. She keeps us guess ing. And the historic background keeps up asking questions: Did Eu- genie really ride astride in Hyde Park? Did she really love first Duke d'Alba? Was she on her way to the throne "so shockingly unconventional yet so lovable and womanly?' Was Napolen so winning and ardent a lover? Did a heart already given 10 Eugenie steel him against hurt at tne
  Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Germany ana England?"
 Tn the days of imprisonment and did he ever trust to his name ana the flower of destiny to bring him to tha' imperial throne1
 was d'Orsav truly the fascinating fellow our book displays him? A yer itable Beau Rrummel of his time' ln- deed. with his costumes that all the world envied and copied and his tailor bills that kept him lodging.
 The love affair is charming ioyi' leading through blossoming violets to a throne.
 The story of the escape of the Prince from Hone; of his election to the Con- stituent Assembly from four different departments, one being Paris itself; of his refusal to accept; of Persisny quiet, masterful strokes that proush, about a new election, an abrogation oi the decree of banishment, call to Paris. all go to make some enthralllne pages. The interest grows in good dramatic sequence to the story of Louis Napo' Icons coup d'etat on December zhd which gave France it's second empire
 From the first scene where dorsaS and the young nobleman are gaming a' Circkford's, from the announcement t'Prince Louis Napoleon" we have pages dramatic enough to scarcely neec the playwright's hand.
 "A convent for Eugenie!
 "So they say; the report is that wher she entered the nunnery to take hei holy vows a half-witted nun came touched her, stood still, and looked al her with a vacant, idiotic stare, ther suddenly exclaimed, My daughter seek rot for rest within our walls. You ar' called to adorn throne!
 DO you hear that, Louis?' ertec fc nrnnhPSV It must be for your throne in France that she is going to exchange her cas- ties in Spainp
 The matchmaking scheme of Baror Rothschild and Countess de MontiJ' makes a good scene and the Ball a Gore House with Lady Blessington fol presiding deity and Disraile. dOrsay the Prince and Eugenie with the ador ing Camerata for guests Is already nt ted for the footlights, fairly endini with the presentation of the mower of destiny ito the Prince by the bell of the ball, Eugenie.
 There is a pretty love-scene at Baoei over these same violets.
 A grand gaming scene at Circk D ford's, London, with most good sceni possibilities which the novelist bring out with a skill that many dramaus might envy: ,, the king"
 ssrhe king has been in my hand sine 4he Due de Reechstadt died"
 There is the inspiring scene of tn ,nauguration of the President of tn Republic of France. Louis "was dresse' fin black, and wore upon his breast tn badge of the Legion of Honor, bestowe' upon him by Napoleon while yet In m cradIe'-and thereafter the violets tha Napoleon loved again come rom bu genie with their insistent message destiny. , The splendid soiree at the Elysee Pal ace is all aglow and agleam an. S,0rsav's few d'esprit is it to ranl with Beau Brummers noted: "Who l vour fat friend?" that cost him king The President of France greets Lad Blessington and d'orsay just from Lon Ion: s, .oor. Nike old times! Do you remain long il Paris?''
 s'No. Prince: do you?"
 All these gay scenes lead to the in