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Leader (1850-1860), 5th February 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 136

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    • dtymi Cmraril.
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      Untitled Article

      hovers between the blond cendrS and the sunny auburn ; the red of rich and sumptuous beautj ; the red of the waving harvest , on which the sun-ray lingers like a willing captive ; the red of massive gold ; the " red" of imperial blood . "NW this peculiar colour is as changeful as the beauty to which it ministers . In certain lights it looks as fair as the finest sand ; in others , a rich brown or a golden auburn ; while massed broadly on the temples , it is as dark as night , with blue-black shade . As to the Empress Eugenia , of whom we desire to speak with all respect arid admiration , we can only say that while she has been

      variously described to us by those who have seen her ( and all who have seen , admire her ) as light-haired , darkhaired , brown-haired , auburn-haired , we may fairly be allowed to believe that our correspondent , who speaks altogether so favourably of her , meant nothing offensive in this imputation of red hair . But we must not incur the jealousy of the numerous and influential class of " artists in hair " by trespassing too far on their domain of knowledge . The fact is , history is , after all , nothing but a " story-teller ;" and contemporary chroniclers , who see the same objects so differently , are only story-tellers , whose credibility belongs to the next generation .

      Recognising the Emperor ' s taste and experience in these matters , we give Mm the benefit of the doubt , and declare from our hearts that we believe he knows a pretty woman when he sees her , and would not have made a parvenue Empress except out of an " accomplished " beauty . We must , however , observe that our singularly fastidious contemporary probably makes a slight mistake as to the cause of that displeasure which we regret it should have so needlessly incurred , but which an awkward but sincere apology will doubtless have appeased . The Emperor , like other people , is liable to the human failing of concealing hia own motives from himself , and attributing to an ostensible cause actions which have their rise in a concealed

      one . The real sting of the extract which the Sun took from us , was not the statement of a fact concerning" the Empress , bufc the statement of a fact concerning the Emperor , which , in truth , involved a compliment , though at his expense , to his bride . "As far as aristocratic blood goes , Mdlle . de Montijo is of higher birth than Bonaparte , who ( as we know well enough ) is simply the bastard son of a French Creole and a Dutch Admiral . So much for origin . " It was easy to ride off upon the outrage of calling " golden" hair red , if golden be the term which courtiers are henceforth to apply ; as also it would have been easv for the Imperial secretaries to

      supply our contemporary with an authentic and , to us damning confutation of a libel apparently so offensive , if it were false . But the truth is , that this was the pretext and not the reason , and that the objectionable part of our Paris iLetter was not its giving a fact capable of instant contradiction , but its revival , quite en passant , of a matter of family history , which thcEmpcror , Uving on a name and under an alias , would of coursowishconsignedtospeedyandeternal oblivion . The first mistake of the Suit , for which wo hope the Imperial Patron will grant forgiveness , was the adoption for the sake of its readers of a paragraph which must have annoyed the object of its adulation , —the Emperor . The Becond , and tho worse of the two , for which , however , wo

      pardon it , was the excuse that the extract had been inserted , not as an article of reliable nows—as which it appearedbut in a spirit of irony , and to create amusement ( among pooplo who had no possible previous knowledge on the nubjorfc treated !) by its utter and obvious fiefcitiousness . The Ernporor nlno has been in error . IIo confesses him-Bolf a parvenu ; why not acknowledge himself a bastard ? William tho Conqueror did not claim to bo born of a " lawful wife . " Why should not Louis Napoleon , who , wo know , is coming to I Castings Home day , acknowledge Undo Tom as the real original man oncle , and having arrived hero with Inn army , like a man , endeavour to ohow us that he can also bchnvo liko a ( " big" ) brothor P

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      THK BUN DA V AT BYDKNHAW . In our News of the WVok will ho found a brief notieo of tho meeting of working men who assembled on Wednesday overling to give expression to their reasons for desiring that , tho l ' alaeo at . Sydenham should ho kept open on Sunday afternoon . Tho delegates present represented the convictions of upwards of !)^ , 0 () 0 of our artisan population in favour of nil innocent , mi elevating , and therefore a religious manner of occupying ' ho afternoon hours of Kundny . An ottering the first public protest against , tho opinions of Mioso who nt , ill persist , in declaring a bastard Jewish observance of each Hoventh day in Mio week to be obligatory on a Chrmt . ian nmimtuiity , tho assembly of WoiliuiHihiy evening in assuredly u very remarkable onethough it , were only in virtue of t . lio uumber and quality of the protoMlei-H pnvicnt , or repivsenled , at , il ,. Finding by the report , of ( he im-Hin ^ r in the Ihtil , / Nrrrs that il , stands adjourned until \ V , mIiU ,, «| 1 iv M ) . | , ai " ,, | unit " tho social consi-€ l «! mt . ii ) iM , ni . oH ,, hje ,. | . " ( l , y no nu . an . M llm least , important

      part of it ) is postponed to that occasion , we prefer abstaining from comment on the speeches already delivered till we Can notice them in conjunction with others yet to be spoken , which will fairly continue and conclude a very important expression of popular opinion , as yet but half completed . Next week , therefore , we shall resume the subject , giving it all the attention which a topic of such vast social importance demands at our hands .

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      A CONVERT'S OPINION OF THE EMPEROR . ( To the Editor of the " Leaders ) Sie , —The Emperor is married . What is that to you ? A political fact . What is that to me ? An occasion of honest pleasure . I was present at the ceremony . I will tell you some of my impressions from it , and I solemnly avow that all my remarks are meant to encourage faith , hope , and charity . By the kindness of one of the most intimate personal English friends of the Emperor , I mingled with the splendid crowd at Notre Dame , at a solemnity unparalleled in its imperial magnificence , in its dazzling array of beauty , valour , rank , and wealth . In that sacred church , over which centuries have passed , whose memories are as awful as any in all the cities of the world , I saw Louis Napoleon married to one of God ' s fairest women . A tender ,

      lovely , confiding , adoring woman ! As this great sovereign , hand in hand with his bride , walked up tho nave , I took occasion to markedly observe them both . Slie , pale , sad , modest ; , yet self-possessed ; he , easy , smiling , chivalrous , and content . I am not going to journalize the rich uniforms of the Ministers , the Court , the soldiery ; tho dignified inarch of the priests , preceding their Archbishop , with his golden erozier . I will not take up your time with neat and full description of tho hangings of ermine , of purple , crimson , and green velvet , emblazoned with golden bees , N ' s and We , —I will not rhapsodize about as grand a musicnl service as ever instruments or voices performed , nor dwell with a

      wondering delight upon the diamond-like illuminations which lit up the great hall in a blaze . No , I am to npeak of richer and more priceless property than these gorgeous yet barbaric attributes of rank . I want to toll you what thoughts came into my head on that eventful Sunday in the noblest edifice of the most refined city in tho world ; I thought I would loam what of the future concerned my nation and myself from this great present solemnity . I helievo tho French Emperor to havo as generous a heart as ever filled a human breast . Mind , I am not lotting out my fouling ! * for hire , when I candidly yet earnestly avow that J believe the French KinjMiror to have as gonerous n heart us ever filled a human breast . I know

      that when he wuh in London , under the cursu of poverty , one of the holiest women who over existed relieved his waiit , n by her bounty . I know that tho sainted Queen l ) owuger admired , — aye , mid re . spceU : ( l Louis . Napoleon , and , as delicately iih she could , administered to his pressing necessities . I know that he has not a debt unpaid , nor one in honour or good feeling that ho will not houio day Hot himself free from . 1 know that even to paramtc'H and fallen , unhappy people of both sexes , ho has been a hounleouH friend . Where did ho get his money from ? As the head of a nation who ban over Hiipported her rulers with unsparing munificence , lio was perfectly justified to take what he pleased . Ask any honest tradesman of I ' uris how much this adventurer , as they scolllugly call him , has Hiivcil to France . Hud Jio been twenty limes

      more lavish than he . is , the salvage-money would have been well earned . Called to the throne by a people who adored a great memory , Louis Napoleon took his place as President of the Republic amid factions who panted only for power and place . The Bourbonists , the Orleanists , the Communists , the Red Republicans , the Imperialists , hated each other like fighting-dogs . When a master-mind came amongst them , they ridiculed its owner , they belied

      his intentions , they calumniated his private habits , they obstructed his plans for the people ' s welfare , they denied him a sufficient revenue , they caballed against his ministers , —finally , they drove him to the December fight . Let's have no paltry , effeminate nonsense about this slaughter . It was wise , just , and a necessity . 'Twas but a question of degree whether all France should be open to anarchy and spoliation under one name or another , or whether a

      bold , clear-headed , and honest ruler should keep his reins of authority for the benefit of those who put him there . Would not the Orleanists , on that memorable day , the news of which shook all the thrones of Europe , have carried their creed by the sword and fire ? Did not General Cavaignac , for his barren pedantry of a Republic , batter down houses , break up barricades , and slay thousands , who well deserved their fate ? Are the Bourbon race and their adherents renowned for mercy

      when they have a cause to fight for ? I think I hear Louis Quatorze exclaiming , " Spare my people and I will abdicate . " Bah ! We men of the world know that selfishness has nursed every one of the rival parties wh . o would dominate France . So , when matters came to their ripeness , Louis Napoleon , as President of the Republic , knowing that the nation at large preferred an unflinching , determined , responsible individual ( who should be thoroughly master of his situation ) to a timid

      herd of princes , who left their wives and children to the mercy of a populace—Louis Napoleon , I say , as President of the Republic , knowing himself to be an abler and better authority than a half-crazed , weakly prince— -than a stern theorist ( whose dreams of equality were all smoke)—than a fanatic Communist Skhnpole , ignorant of responsibility , —Louis Napoleon , I avow , was perfectly justified in keeping his seat , and chaining Or shooting all who would stand in his way .

      I believe , if God shall give him life , and save him from the assassin ' s blow , he will regenerate France . The army turn their eyes to Belgium and Hollandthe Emperor has promised , and will try to open up the long-neglected territories of France by railways , canals , and roads . He even thinks to essay a conscript service for field labour , which the State shall lend to land proprietors . He will caiTy free trade through the length and breadth of his land . He will colonize in the Canadas , South America , Australia , California , China , and Japan , after the fashion of Imperial Rome . 'Tis thus lie earnestly prays to employ tho restless and active soldier . His riflemen will compete with the Kentucky marksmen in killing deer . His chasseurs will scare the wild beasts of

      Africa ; his dragoons will range tlie Australian savannahs ; his regiments of the lino will fertilize mother earth where she is barren and unproductive . Tho coldness of the populace will melt before the genial fullheartedness of their present ruler . Franco shall be prosperous and rich to pverflowing ; fiho shall havo a court that shall vie with all the glories of Versailles , and yet the people shall be smiling and contented ; she shall have a venerated church . Her noble seminaries

      of education shall bo replenished and enlarged ; her moralities shall be made fair and pure by the sweet modesty of the angel who is to share tho Emperor's throne ; and when , in tho fulness of time , tho Ruler and his wife go to their long rest , I solemnly believe , with all my heart and soul , thoir true epitaph will be , " They lived for France alone . " C . L . E . London , Ifob . 2 , 18 G 3 .

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      Morning IN Lonjwn . - *—London was rousing everywhere into morning activity , as I . passed through tho streets . The Hhuttci'H were being removed from tho windows of public-houses—the diink-vampyres that Hiielc tho life of London , were opening their eyes betimes to look abroad for tho new day's prey ! Small tobacco and provision-shops in poor neighbourhoods ; dirty little eating-houses , exhaling greasy-smelling steam , and displaying a leaf of yoHtcrday' . s paper , stained and

      fly-blown , hanging in the window * -worn already plying , or nuiking ready to ply , thoir daily trade . Here , a labouring man , late for his work , hurried by ; there , n hale old gentleman started for bin early walk beforo breakfast . Now a market-enrt , already unloaded , passed me on its way buck to tho country ; now , a cab , laden with luggage and carrying pale , » loopy-looking people , rattled by , hound for the- morning truin or tho morning steamboat . —CoLLlNH ' S Jfastt ,

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      There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , has senses awakened , and nis judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Miltoit .

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      Qltf THIS DEPARTMENT , AS ALL OPINIONS , HOWEVER IXTBEMB AEE ALLOWED j 4 N EXPEESSION , THE EDITOE NECBSSABIXY HOLDS HIMSELF BESPONSIBLE TOE NONE . ]

      Dtymi Cmraril.

      dtymi Cmraril .

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      136 THE LEADER . [ Sa * o * . dA * , ¦ ' . '" ' : — — ' - ¦— ' . " » " ' . . ¦ ' ' j " .... _______ ^—— —^^ - —

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 5, 1853, page 136, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1972/page/16/