New-York tribune., 1912-01-14

sive policies of Metternich. AT the
same time an heir to the French throne
was urgently needed. Louis himself was
childless so was the Duke dAngouleme'
the Count dArtCis's older son. The
Duke de Berry was the only hope OF MS
race. The match was brilliant one TOT
the Italian princess, and on the whole'
a suitable one, notwithstanding a differ-
ence Of some twenty-five years between
the ages of the bride and bridegroom.
OF the three French Bourbons then liv-
ing, the Duke de Berry was far and
away the best. the only one who, II per-
hars he had forgotten but little, at least
proved that he was not above learning.
Marie Caroline made the best of the
fate which high politics had bestowed
upon her. Vivacious, clever. she Won
the affection and admiration of the
lethargic Louis; her father-in-law,
D'Artois, was enchanted with her, and
even the acidulous Duchess d'Angou-
leme so Mr.. Williams assures us, ap-
proved of her and took her TO her heart.
AS lOi iIhSplllub lt was "N
tached to her, and she returned his lik-
ing. the two, Notwithstanding the dis
parity in their ages, having fortunate
resemblance of character, and sharing a
taste for the arts. for the theatre and
the opera and a dislike for the restraints
of court etiquette. All of which did not
prevent the duke from returning after
a while to his old weakness for pretty
women. The author enters, in passing,
into an interesting examination of the
Amy Brown case and the evidence of
her marriage to the duke during his exile
in London.
Amid the confusions and dlssensions
of political opinion in the royal family.
between the weakly liberal tendencies
of the King and the reactionary prin-
ciples of the Count d'Artois and the
Duchess d'Angouleme. the young duch-
ess maintained a tactful neutrality, to
which she adhered also with the men,
bers of the court and the government She
was popular with them all, and more
still with the populace of Paris, which
worshipped her Even the Orleans fam
lily liked her sincerely. 1t was she who
pleaded with the King TO grant the COW
eted title of royal highness" to Louis
Philippe, the man who later intrigued
for the throne that should have been
her sons OF her plan 10 save that
throne for the child by entering Paris In
an open carriage after the abdication of
Charles y the author observes sagely:
Several biographers Of the Duchesse de
Berry seem TO be Of the opinion that. II
the princess. had been permitted to exc, exc
In saving the throne for the Duo de Dor
deaux. But we are inclined TO think
that she would never have been allowed
appear before the Chambers; and that the
moment she recognized she would
have been arrested, and either held as
hostage. or sent back under escort TO
Rambouillet.
So she went into exile with the royal
family to England, wheLce she proceeded
70 Naples. where she began. single
handed. the conspiracy for the rising In
the Vendee that was to end in her
capture at Nantes, after having been
half burned and half suffocated in a
secret room behind a fireplace The
strange romance that followed was
entirely in keeping with the chsrac-
| ter and temperament Of this exception
ally interesting woman. Nothing was
really left for Louis Philippe and his
advisers but either 10 try her, or conduct
her TO the frontier and set her free; she
certainly was no longer dangerous after
her fasco for however real her herolsm.
however inspiring her devotion to the
fortunes Of her son, the attempted In
surrection had proved the hopelessness
of her cause. The very mobiles who fol-
lowed her had advised their peasants 10
stay at home and thus avoid the re-
prisals that were sure to follow. and
that did follow. for the troops OF the
Citizen King acted with feroclty
worthy Of the worst episodes Of the ear
lier rising during the Revolution.
Louis Philippe, the upstart. did not
dare 10 try the daughter Of king. a
member Of the great house Of Bourbon
by birth as we'll a by marriage. for fear
Of offending foreign courts. especially
those Of Spain and Austria. Further
more. her conviction might have aroused
the sympathy of Paris. perhaps Of all