Page:The Lady's Book Vol. I.pdf/56

50 MASKED BALL AT VIENNA. the birth of his grandson, Marie Louise was satisfied, and consented that the child should undergo vaccination. The virus was taken from a fine healthy child, the son of a farmer residing at Garche, a hamlet near Mont Saint Valerein.

THE TEETHING. At that period when children are cutting their teeth, the infant King suffered more than usual pain, and his health was so much impaired by frequent convulsive fits, that fears were entertained that he would expire during one of the paroxysms; the greatest alarm prevailed among the immediate attendants, but strict injunctions were imposed upon them not to give the slightest intimation of his declining health. Madame de——, who gave me this and the preceding anecdotes, was present when the infant had one of its severest attacks; every remedy generally employed proved ineffectual— the convulsions continued one of the ladies told the medical attendant that she was acquainted with a person who possessed a soothing syrup, which in these cases produced almost always immediate relief. ”Un charlatan, probably,” said the doctor, but the Empress instantly interrupted him, by desiring her to procure immediately some of the medicine. In half an hour she returned with a small phial containing the syrup, and to the extreme joy of the mother, and the still greater astonishment of the professional gentleman, the child fell into a gentle slumber and gradually recovered. Whenever it was attacked in a similar manner, the same specific was successfully applied. The individual who had been instrumental in relieving the infant, and perhaps in saving its life, was a Mrs. Reilly, the widow of an Irish officer, who at the time was living in the Rue St. Honore, and was gaining a comfortable subsistence by vending this syrup for the use of children. It was analysed by M. Cadet de Veaux who found its ingredients were simple herbs and, I think, a small quantity of opium. Mrs. Reilly received a present of 12,000 francs, and although by the Code Imperial it was strictly enjoined that no person should sell or administer nostrums or quack medicines, she was permitted by the police to carry on her trade in syrup undisturbed, and when I knew her some years after, she had acquired a small fortune by the sale of an article which then bore the high sounding appellation of Syrop du Roi de Rome.

From the MS. Notes of a Foreign Nobleman.

ROYAL MASKED BALL AT VIENNA,

DURING THE CONGRESS.

I NEVER witnessed any thing equal in splendour and picturesque effect to the scene presented by the Apollo Saal on the night of the Masked Ball and Supper it was absolutely the world in miniature. The whole, formed by a union of various and incongruous parts, exhibited a most extraordinary coup d'œil; and it might truly be said, that, in this instance, disorder was the highest effort of art.

All the amusements which took place at Vienna during the Congress were on a scale of grandeur worthy of the exalted individuals in whose honour they were prepared. The masked ball was a perfectly unique entertainment, and in point of splendour it fully realized some of the most brilliant descriptions in the “Arabian Nights.”

The spacious building in which the entertainment took place exhibited the most ingenious diversity in fitting up, & c. There were illuminated saloons, fragrant groves, Turkish kiosks, and Lapland huts. In the centre of the principal supper room rose an immense rock, from whence, amidst clusters of flowers, issued cascades, which fell into basins containing fish. On the adornment of this room every possible variety of decoration seemed to have been lavished, and hundreds of variegated lamps and wax lights, sparkling in the chandeliers of crystal, diffused their radiance on every surrounding object.

When we arrived the chief portion of the company had already assembled. I was told that there were not less than eight or ten thousand persons present; but when the company gradually betook themselves to the various amusements of the evening, the assemblage, numerous as it was, did not prove too great for the space allotted to their reception.

I joined Baron Tettenhorn, and we seated ourselves near one of the doors a situation in which we could observe the whole of the company as they promenaded the vast suite of rooms. The freedom attached to the incognito observed by the Sovereigns at public balls, led them to prefer these entertainments to the formality of private court parties. They gladly changed empty demonstrations of respect for sincere testimonies of affection. Consequently they were affable and communicative, and seemed even thankful that they could, for a while, lay aside the burthen of exalted rank. Besides, the habit of continually seeing them for several weeks, had considerably exhausted curiosity, particularly in a place like Vienna, where every individual may approach his Sovereign, as he would his father.

The King of Bavaria and his two sons were among the latest arrivals. His Majesty was attended by his Chamberlain, Count Charles von Rechberg, who stepped up to me and engaged me to sup with him after the King should retire. While he was talking to me some one came behind him, and gently pinching his ear, said:—— “Well, gossipper, what are you doing there?“ This was no other than the King of Bavaria himself. On perceiving him, Tettenhorn and I immediately rose, and the King, turning to us,