Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1891 — Granddaughter of a King. [ARTICLE]

Granddaughter of a King.

The grandchildren of Charles X. of France, the little Duke of Bordeaux and his sister, are described by their governess, Madame de Gontaut-Biron, as bright and winning litt e people Their society must have been a welcome distraction to Charles X. during that trying time when it was becoming evident that he could not please the French people and must abdicate the throne. An instance of the strange intuitions which children sometimes have is the remark of the little princess when she was told that her uncle, Louis XVIIL, was dead, and that her grandfather wai king. “Dear grandpapa is king,” she murmured; “so much the worse for history. ” She once overheard the King sav to Madame de Gontaut, “Everywhere, especially in Paris, there are intrigues against my authority. I assure you I cannot endure it. I shall leave h( re and put the key under the.door.” This somewhat figurative expression had no sooner escaped the King than the little girl asked the question which an older person would hardly have had the courage to put: “And after that what sha’l we do, grandpapa?” The King left the rcom without replying. A few minutes later a crowd gathered before the Tuileries, under the window of the King’s room. They were looking at a placard which the "litt'e princess had written and hung out. With some difficulty they made out the childish handwriting, and read: : HOUSE to let. : The King had been taken at his word. The King was amused by the wit of his little grandchild It was not long before the royal family was compelled to flee from the palace. On one of the last days of July the palace of St. Cloud was filled with soldiers, wounded and dying of hunger. In reply' to the addresses of the Duke of Angouleme they cried, “Give us bread. We have had no bread for three days.” The little Duke of Bordeaux and the princess took a leg of mutton from their table and went down among the soldiers. “Take this, friends,” they said; “it is our dinner; take it all, even the side dishes ” The next evening the royal family had taken refuge at Rambouillet, The little princess could not sleep for hunger, Madame de Gontaut having been able to find her only a fragment of bread to eat On the next day Charles X, abdicated the throne. When raids are frequent, “coppers” are active.