Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-04-09

Is still Il subject of grave dis
pute. 1t Is perfectly clear however.
that the good people of the early md
die ages knew all about 1t. The folk
lore of that period makes frequent ref
ercnce to the part played by the egg
in Easter doings and there have been |
handed down numerous entertaining |
stories about II. One of them tells |
how very beautiful young woman |
secured noble husband through Its
agency.
Her name was Margaret. and she
was n royal princess. the daughter OF
the Emperor MaXimilian Of Germany.
She was born at Client In 1880, and.
although that Is n long time ago. her
fame rs an attractive young person
still survives When one looks on her
fair face as the old time painters have
depicted her 1t seems Incredible that
she should have found 1t difficult to
provide herself with Il suitable hus-
band. Yet 1t happened so.
When she was still an infant Marga
ret was bctrothed to Charles VIII. OF
France OF course the tiny princess
had no opportunity to say nay. and
she grew to Taidenhood in the belief
that her matrimonial affairs were all
settled Her royal lover proved faith
less. The charms Of Anne Of Brittany
made him Indifferent to the fact that
he had promised to become the son-in-
law OF the German emperor, and he
married her Margaret was only elev-
| oil
beauty sleep over the matter. Her IA
thcr was exceedingly wrOth. but moth
ing dreadful came Of 1t. He waited
until his heiress was seventeen and
married her to Don Juan Of Spain, son
I Of Ferdinand and Isabella.
Almost before Margaret had made
her new husbands acquaintance, even
before he had had an opportunity to
introduce his bride to the Spanish
: court. he fell sick and died. Under
l the circumstances Margaret was not
t inconsolable, but she waited another
t four years before she began to sean
: the matrimonial horizon In search Of
No. 2. Her experience had taught her
: one thing-in future she purposed do
J. ing her own selecting. with no aid
y from anybody except Providence.
s Finally, at the age Of twenty one,
more beautiful than ever, the young
e widow put off her weeds and notified
i Providence that the game was on. In
|, order that she might enlist the services
e Of her patron saint she set out on a
l. pilgrimage to n shrine In the south of
France That Providence was taking
d a lively interest in the business Is evi-
, dent from the sequel
d 1t was not even required Of her that
$ she should complete her pilgrimage
d Midway Of the journey the princess
r and her party halted ut the little vii
d Iage of Bourg for n few days rest. II
r was a charming spot in the mountain
d region Of the Cevennes. with great
dark forests on every side.
,e 1t happened to be the Eastertide. Or
r Easter Monday the ehatelaine Of th'
O. castle Mt which the princess was {
guest proposed that party should b,
a. made up to attend the village games
,e Margaret accepted the proposition will
enthusiasm. For long time sh'
" watched the varying scene with tn
Of liveliest interest. The day was per
n feet. The afr was soft and genial, ant
O. Nature was in her most amiable mood
I'd Luncheon was served In the open, ant
c- afterward the great persOnages pu
%. aside their state and Joined in tn
dance.
n. Toward the middle Of the afternoon
90 came the great event Of the day, tn
ur famous egg contest Of Bourg. Severa
le- men in holiday attire advanced. eac
with a basket on his arm containing
ID. the gayly colored eggs which were t
zee be used In the contest. There wer
twelve dozen OF these In all. and on