Sketcher.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 365, 7 May 1903, Page 7

Sketcher.

PBINCE EUGENE ft sfTPjLL the world loves a lover Sg $H® whether he be prince or « *m3K pauper.' But thiß cynical world, while it believes in the kve storyj sheltered under the eaves of a cottage, gives less credence to that which flourishes under.tae "shadow of a throne Public opinion indeed "isa trifle sceptical on the subject of royal love-matches, and thouph always interested is inclined to treatthemas tie property of the poets and novel ists. ? But a recent marriage in high life at St. Petersburgh, and the unearthing of some old letters at Paris, haß served to recall a real romance of a handsome and gallant prince, and a princess beautiful and charming } an ideal of the time of Napoleon: a love story, too, like its hero and heroine, pure and sweet, without stain and above reproach. And accordingly there is in progress in Europe just now a Bort of Napoleon revival, whose interest, however centres not around the figure of the great captain but about that of his stepson, Prince Eugene de Beauharnais.

An Enemy's Tribute The crusty old German historian, Steel, who could see small good in anybody, pauses in his scathing denunciations of the inexorable conqueror of Germany, of his profligate family, and of Lis selfseeking and treacherous marshals before this one youthful figure, whose smiling, dauntless grace appears to discountenance for a moment the vehemence of the right- ous wrath of his honest German soul * His wa3 an upright and truthful nature. Few men can, like him, expose their whole public and private life, and not euffer, by so doing,' is the halfgrudging tribute he pays to the s n of Josephine. 'lf he was an expert and graceful daßcer, he was no less a frank and loyal soldier.' Such was Eugene de Beauharnais, even in the eyee of his enemy. A EOMANTIC CaEEEB.. ' His career reads like a tale out of fairyland. "Ovarhis military victories is the glow of a passionate patriotism for ' douce France;' and an intense loyalty to his treat leader. His brilliant success as a general and an administrator, his modesty in the time of victory and hie, gaity in the glocm of defeat, his heroic attachment to a losing cause, his romantic marriage and dsvotioh tp'iis .princess, and above all his personal" beauty and charm of manner have thrown a mystic glamour over Lis name -It is forty years and more since du Casee published the letters of Prince Eugene, but they are still read, not for their history, although they were v written by: an eye-witness during the stirring transformations of tie Nepoieouic 6popee, but because they reveal, in the exquisite tenderness they breathe, one of the most charming love stories which history has given ua. What woman could help adoring a prince, who on the eighth anniversary of his marriage thanks Haven fori having given him 'the moßt beautiful, the best and most virtuous of wives,' who cannot rest even after having been twenty hours in the saddle until he las penned a few lines to his 'beloved Augusta,' who seads her violets from the field of battle, and who, amid the horrors of the Russian campaign and burning Moscow, yet finds tim-j to send a birthday gift to her in Italy, starting his messenger three weeks before the date lest through the delays incident to war her birthday should pass uaremambered by her absent husband. A Teue Soldiee.

H the. w»rli lores &• l»v«r, it alao worship* a hero. At Marengo his brilliant cavalry charge .won ] for the young lieutenant of Hussars the rank of chief of squadron—at the age of 19! ' Tour son is marching with rapid steps towards immortality/ wrote Bonaparte to Josephine 'He has covered himself with glory in all the battles he has fought' 7V C.T.: Returning to Paris Eugene passed through Geneva and was made the city's guest, and Madame da Stael composed verses in his honour —which, by the way, tbat imperious genius never did for Napoleon. At the early age. of 22 Euerene de Beauharnais had risen- to the rank of a brigadier-general. In the year 1804 Napoleon grasped the imperial crown arid his stepson suddenly found himself on the steps of a throne. ' But this did not in the least detract from his modesty, or change his simple mode of living, although in. the eyes of the ladies of the court he was a veritable Prince Charming, he wore very lightly the honours lavished upon him. He was a soldier and longed for a soldier's active life. On the 26i)h of May, 1805, Napoleon was crowned king of Italy, at Milan, and shortly after returned to France, leaving Eugene to govern the kingdom as viceroy. From that time ,on.,untiL the final shipwreck of the empire, the young man devjted himself to the task of .defending and governing His kingdom He was startled one day by a letter- from the emperor, directing him to,come at once to Munich ' I have for you with the Princess Royal of Bavaria, which, has been publiclj announced,' ran the letter. Princess Augusta is very pretty. You will find a, portrait on a cup accompanying this'" The cup portrait must have been satisfactory to Eugene, for we are told that he set out three hours later on horseback for the capital. The first meeting of Eugene and Augusta is the subject of a famous painting, with Napoleon, Josephine and the King and Qieen of Bavaria in the background. It was a case of lovd at first sight on both sides, and the marriage, although planned jfor political reasons, proved to be an ideally happy one, Fortyeight hours after the marriage Eugene was recognised in public proclamation as ! "Eugene Napoleon of France, adopted son i of the Emptror.'

A Charming Girl. One of the Empress Josephine's maids of honour, Mademoiselle AvilLn, has left ira a pen-pi jture of the vice-queen of Italy at this time. There was an indescribable charm emanating from the personality of the Princess Augusta; she was not yet 1% years old, tall and of sylphlike figure. Her natural dignity commanded respect at all times ; her face was lovely.. "What was more attractive in her was her sweet manner, which won the love and admiration of all who approached. She had been reared with extreme simplicity, and nothing could be. more modest than her ordinary toilette.' No wonder her husband remained her devoted lover to the day of his death, if this charming picture is a true one! History tells us fhatr"ithe; |ieiq,sßen?s popularity in Italy was unbounded, and that, in painful contrast to tbp women of the Bonaparte family, she kept her couit as pure as her own domestic life. And Napoleon, whose disrespect to women was notorious, yet treated his 'daughter' with great respect and affection. The campaign of 1809 put a sudden check upon the happy home life of the viceroy and bia queeu. To Eugene was intrusted the command of the army of Italy, which was compelled to resist at

1 once the invading Austrians. As soon as ' the Austrian army had been driven out of Italy, the viceroy was ordered to march across Hungary and join the emperor in an attack upon Vienna, a march which, perilous as it was, he accomplished with unheard-of rapidity, winning*several important battles on the way. Napoleon grated his son affectionately, and iufoinied his generals that 'he, himself,, could scarcely have done better.'

THOUGHTFUL OF AUUUSTA „.. The moßt brilliant day perhaps in! ihe life of Eugene de Beauharnais was the 14th of June, 1809 It was on that day that, alone and unaided, he gained the famous .battle of Baab, which cost him more than six thousand men; he took more prisoners and captured more artillery than he himself had men and canon. But in the midst of the fatigues of war and the joys of victory, the heart of the lover turned to the far-away fireside. It was the anniversary of bis princess* birth and he wrote her from the battlefield at midnight: 'I offer you on your-birthday what I < ffer you every day, the expression of my deep love." The divorce of Napoleon and Josephine was a bitter blow to Eugene and his sister Hortense. For besides the tender affection each felt for their mother, both were devoted to the emperor, who had been a most loving father to them. Shortly afterwaids occurred the ill-fated Austrian marriage, destined to bring about the fall of the empire and the dynasty. During the viceroy's sojourn in Paris with the vice-queen, attendant upon the second marriage of the emperor, tion of Swedes came to him to offer him the coronet of the heir to the Swedish throne. As the King of Sweden was old and childless, his ministers conceived the plan of Beeking a crown prince among the princes or marshals of France. Prince Eugene was, however, a devout Catholic, and for this and other reasons, refused the honour. Bernadotte became the heir p£ the Swedish house and later ascended the throne as Charles XVI. Ten years later Eugene's eldest daughter wedded the son of Bernadotte and became Queen of Sweden. Loyal to the Last. After tbo fall of Paris, and when the empire cf N&poleon had ceased to exist, the imperial flag of France still waved proudly over the towns of Italy.' For in spite of the glittering promises held out to bim by the allies, and the entreaties of his father-in-law, the King of Bavaria, Eugene and Augusta remained loyal to the, crumbling cause of the empire. Uponthe' abdication of Napoleon he retired to Bavaria; passing the rest of his days as Duke of Leuchtenberg, with his wife and] family.