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134 NOTICES OF BOOKS.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Mrs Duchess . Austin. Of With Orlean...
prayers to those of ' their good Helen ; '" how , " with that faculty which belongs as much to the character as the intellect , * ' * '
that rapidity of comprehension , that giffc of assimilating to herself by sympathy all that stirred the hearts of men , however far removed
from her , it was owing that in her retirement at Doberan , a princess of sixteen years of age , knowing of France only what her books
and her masters had taught her , she hailed with ardent interest the events of 1830 , and with marvellous sagacity discerned what
distinguished them from an ordinary revolution , " till " this early enthusiasm , kindled by the names of France and Liberty , left deep
traces on her mind , and the family of Orleans had become deeply interesting to her long before she could have had the slightest
presentiment of her destiny ; " how charmingly and simply all this is told we must leave our readers to discover for themselves .
It was during the stay of the Duke of Orleans at Berlin in 1836 , that the idea first suggested itself that he should find a bride in the
Princess Helen of Mecklenburgh ; an union suggested by the King of Prussia , but ratified and consummated , heart and soul , by the
illustrious and unfortunate couple . The princess is thus described at the time of her entry into France as the bride of the young duke .
her " . The If inexpressible no particular feature charm of attracted her face attention was felt , th from ere the was moment so much h you armon saw y
terest and nobleness and could in all hardl her person detach , itself that the from eye her dwelt . Her upon look her at with once livel mild y and inpenetrating , , seemed to y dive into the thoughts of the speaker , . Her refined
tionate and beni and gnan tender t smi , l reflected e , her expression her soul , , and sometimes gave back brilliant to the , some speaker times the affec im - - pression made upon her by every word that he said . Although the rare
distinction ( which never of occup her air ied and her manner own thoug continuall hts , ) we y reminded may safely you affirm of her that rank the , sentiment she peculiarly inspired was that of sympathy . "
The years immediately following this marriage were " marked by an union of all the joys that earth has to bestow . " The extracts
from her letters during this period speak of a full and loving heart , a tender and religious soul , and whether as wife or mother , the
perfect woman shines throughout . No wonder author and translator love so devotedly , respect so entirely , the noble object of this
memoir . In the spring and summer of 1842 , the Duchess of Orleans '
health was such as to excite considerable uneasiness , and , yielding to the wishes of her family , she consented at last to take the waters
of Plombieres . The manoeuvres at the Camp of St ., Omer did not permit the Duke of Orleans to be absent more than twenty-four
hours , but he insisted upon accompanying her , and they quitted " happy Neuilly " together .
the " entrance In traversing of which the exterior there are Boulevards little shop , s they hung passed with funereal "by a cemetery wreath 7 , round s and ornaments for saleI hate these le who speculate on sorrowsaid the
. peop , prince . ' Look , ' he continued , glancing his eye over the different inscrip-
134 Notices Of Books.
134 NOTICES OF BOOKS .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), April 1, 1859, page 134, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01041859/page/62/
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