The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-05

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lbLN WILLIAMSON

NO bride ever had more
weddings, nor more
climatic meeting with her
bri d e groom, than had
Marie Louise of Austria
when she became Napo-
Icons empress.
1t is March 13, 1910, in
Vienna. There is a process
sion of SO carriages. They
carry Marie Louise and 300
personages. All Vienna is
at the sidewalks, cheering
their archduchess as she
leaves to be the bride Of a
man all Austrians hated at
heart. All through t h
countryside in the long
journey to Branau, at the
Austrian border, are more
cheering throngs.
Four days before she left Vienna
Marie Louise had been wed, by
proxy. Her uncle, the Archduke
Charles, had stood for Napoleon
as bridegroom, the Archduke
Charles who, less than year be-
fore, had bitterly fought Napoleon
at Aspern.
Now she is off to France to
meet the Great Conqueror. At
Branau there is an elaborate car
riage, the gift of the man she never
has seen. And there is MS sister,
the beautiful and domineering
Caroline Nurat. Now on through
Bavaria to Munich, Augsburg,
Stuttgart and Strassbmg. More
crowds, more cheering, more gifts.
And there are letters from Ma
pOleon, brought by fleet horsemen,
letters that will be revealed for
the first time soon in The Indian
apOliS Times.
There are moments Of sadness,
too. as when Caroline Murat sent
back to Austria Marie Louises
closest friend, Frau Lazansky, and
when Caroline sent back to Aus
tria Marie Louise's lap dog. (Na-
poleon once had been bitten by
JoSephine's lap dog
DUT Napoieons letters are a
II help. She writes to her father:
I am relieved concerning my fate.
I am convinced that / shall be
happy. I wish you could read the
letters Napoleon has written me,
and he has already shown me so
much attention. For, at nearly
every stopping place on the long
journey are gifts, letters, flowers
from Napoleon.
The last Of the journey brings
a romantic climax. Napoleon had
been waiting three days at Com
piegne, where a richly decorated
tent had been set up for an elabo-
rate ceremony. But word comes
to Napoleon the caravan is in
Rheims. He will wait no longer.
Io will i1tarooYNt NHoy;o O,,;co o,,l
surprise her. He will be a mes
senger with a letter from Ma
poleon.
1t is raining when he steps to
Marie LouiSe'S carriage. A lackey
Spoils his surprise by bawling, His
majesty, the emperor The pre-
cipitate Napoleon takes Marie
Louise in his arms and kisses her.
She says, Sire, your picture does
not flatter you"
Napoleon directs all speed in
getting to Compiegne. There is
no stop at the elaborate tent,
where great preparations had been
made. 1t is 10 o'clock at night
MHCH lIle emperor ana Marie
Louise reach the chateau. There
are more giftS-Marie Louise's
lap dog and canary, and a piece of
neeolework she'd left behind in
Vienna, many jewels and a mar
VelOuS piano.
There is dinner for three, with
Caroline Murat as the third. Then
Caroline retires. And nothing is
heard from Napoleon and Marie
Louise until next day.
That day Napoleon writes to
Marie Louise's father: please al
low me to thank you for the beau
tiful present you have sent me.
and may your fatherly heart rest
assured of the happiness of his
dear daughter"
But The Austrian dignitaries
who came out from Paris for the
expected elaborate tent ceremony
are Mortified when they learn Ma
poleon has anticipated the we'd
ding ceremonies