Vol. I. 'With youthful fancy, or with matron taste, 'We cull the meadow, and explore the waste,'-Paine. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1828. No. 3. THE QUEEN OF THE ROSE. THERE is still a part of the world | those virtues by which it is obwhere simple genuine virtue re- tained, the affectionate friendship ceives public honors. It is in a of the rivals, who, in heightening village of Picardy, where an af- the triumph of their queen, confecting ceremony, which draws ceal in the bottom of their wortears from the spectators, a so- thy hearts, the timid hope of lemnity, awful from its venerable reigning in their turn; all these antiquity, and salutary influence, circumstances united, give a pleashas been preserved notwithstand-ing and affecting pomp to this sining the revolutions of twelve cen- gular ceremony, which makes eveturies; there the simple lustre of ry heart to palpitate, every eye the flowers, with which innocence to sparkle with tears of true deis annually crowned, is at once the light, and makes wisdom the obreward, the encouragement, the ject of passion. To be irreproachemblem. Here, indeed, ambition able is not sufficient, there is a kind preys upon the young heart, but of nobleness, of which proofs are it is a gentle ambition; the prize required; a nobleness not of rank is a hat, decorated with roses. and dignity, but of worth and inThe preparations for a public de- nocence. These proofs must incision, the pomp of the festival, clude several generations, both on the concourse of people which it the father and mother's side; so assembles, their attention fixed that a whole family is crowned upon modesty, which does itself upon the head of one; the triumph honor by its blushes, the simplici- of one is the glory of the whole; ty of the reward, an emblem of and the old man in grey hairs, VOL. 1 5 who sheds the tears of sensibility from age to age, Saint Medard, on the victory gained by the daughter of his son, placed by her side, receives, in effect, the reward of sixty years, spent in a life of virtue. born at Salency, was the institutor of that charming festival, which has made virtue flourish for so many ages. He had himself the pleasing consolation of enjoying the fruit of his wisdom, and his family was honored with the prize which he had instituted, for his sister obtained the crown of roses. By this means, emulation becomes general, for the honor of the whole; every one dreads, by an indelicate action, to dethrone either his sister or his daughter. The crown of roses, promised to This affecting, and valuable festhe most prudent, is expected tival, has been handed down from with emotion, distributed with the fifth century to the present justice, and establishes goodness, day. To this rose is attached a rectitude, and morality, in every purity of morals, which from time family; it attaches the best peo-immemorial, has never suffered ple to the most peaceful residence. the slightest blemish; to this rose virtue brings with it; this rose forms the amiable and pleasing tie of a happy marriage. Even fortune is anxious to obtain it, and comes with respect to receive it from the hand of honorable indigence. A possession of twelve hundred years, and such splendid advantages, is the finest title that exists in the world. Example, powerful example, are attached the happiness, peace, acts even at a distance; there, and glory of the Salencians. the bud of worthy actions is un- This rose is the portion, frefolded; and the traveller, in ap-quently the only portion which proaching this territory, perceives, before he enters it, that he is not far from Salency. In the course of so many successive ages, all around them has changed; they alone, will hand down to their children, the pure inheritance they received from their fathers: an institution truly great, from its simplicity: powerful under an appearance of weakness; such is the almost unknown influence of honors; such is the strength of that easy spring, by which all men may be governed: sow honor, and you will reap virtue. An important period for the festival of the rose, was when Louis XIII. sent the Marquis de Gordes, the captain of his guards, from the castle of Varennes to Salency, with a blue ribbon, and a silver If we reflect upon the time the ring, to be presented from him, to Silencians have celebrated the the queen of the rose. It is from festival, we find it is the most an- that honorable epoch that a blue cient ceremony existing. If we ribbon, flowing in streamers, surattend to its object, it is, per-rounds the crown of roses, that a haps, the only one which is dedi-ring is fastened to it, and the cated to the service of virtue. If young girls of her train, wear over virtue is the most useful and esti- their white robes a blue ribbon, in mable advantage to society in the manner of a scarf. general, this establishment, by In 1766, Mr. Morfontaine setwhich it is encouraged, is a pub-tled a yearly income of 120 livres lic national benefit, and belongs to France. Madam De Genlis says, according to a tradition, handed down upon the girl then elected queen. This income to be enjoyed by her during life, and, after her death, each succeeding girl, who should his place, the queen of the Rose steps forth from her dwelling, escorted by twelve young girls dress be crowned queen, to have one year's income on the day of her election. This noble generosity can only be rewarded by the hom-ed in white, with blue scarfs, and age of the public, and honor alone is the worthy recompense. Some days before the feast of St. Medard, the inhabitants assemble in presence of the officers of justice, where this worthy company deliberate upon the important business of making a choice; in doing which, they have no object in view but equity. They know all the merits that give a title to the crown; they are acquainted with all the domestic details of their peaceful village; they have not, and cannot have, any other intention, but to be just: enthusiasm, and respect for the memory of the holy institutor and the excellence of the institution, are still in full force among them. They name three girls, three virtuous Salencians, of the most esteemed and respectable families. twelve youths who wear the livery of the queen; she is preceded by music and drums, which announce the beginning of the procession!She passes along the streets of the village, between rows of spectators, whom the festival has drawn to Salency, from the distance of four leagues. The public admire and applaud her; the mothers shed tears of joy; the old men renew their strength to follow their beloved queen, and compare her with those whom they have seen in their youth. The Salencians are proud of the merits of her to whom they give the crown; she is one of themselves, she belongs to them, she reigns by their choice, she reigns alone, and is the only object of attention. The queen being arrived at the church, the place appointed for her is always in the midst of the people, the only situation that could do her honor; where she is, there is no longer any distinction of rank, it The nomination is immediately carried to the Lord of Salency, or to the person appointed to represent him, who is free to decide be-all vanishes in the presence of virtween the three girls, but obliged to choose one of them, whom he proclaims queen of the year. tue. A pew, placed in the middle of the choir, in sight of all the people, is prepared to receive her: her Eight days before the ceremony, train range themselves in two lines the name of the successful candi- by her side, she is the only object date is declared in church. of the day, all eyes remain fixed When the great day of the fes-upon her, and her triumph contintival arrives, which is always the ues. 8th of June, the Lord of Salency After vespers the procession bemay claim the honor of conduct-gins again; the clergy lead the ing the queen to be crowned. On way, the Lord of Salency receives that grand day, she is greater than all by whom she is surrounded; and that greatness is of a nature which has nothing in common with the usual distinctions of rank. The Lord of Salency has the privilege of going to take virtue from her cottage, and lead it in triumph. Leaning upon his arm, or the arm of the person he has substituted in her hand, her train join, the people follow, ard line the streets, while some of the inhabitants, under arms, support the two rows, offering their homage by the loudest acclamations, until she arrives at the chapel of Saint Medard, where the gates are kept open: the goodly Salencians do not forsake their queen at the instant when the reward of virtue is going where. It is intended to encourto be delivered; it is at that mo-age virtue, by bestowing public ment in particular, that it is pleas- honors, and for such a purpose they ing to see her, and honorable for ought to be boundless. Where her to be seen, virtue reigns there is no rival; and The officiating clergyman blesses whoever wishes for distinction in the hat decorated with roses, and her presence, cannot be sufficientother ornaments; then turning to-ly sensible of what is due to her wards the assembly, he pronoun- triumph. ces a discourse on the subject of The distinguished characteristic the festival. What an affecting of this festival is, that every part gravity, what an awful impression of it is referable to the queen, that does the language of the priest every thing is eclipsed by her pre(who in such a moment celebrates sence; her splendor is direct, not the praises of wisdom) make upon reflected: her glory borrows noththe minds of his hearers; he holds ing from distinction of rank; she the crown in his hand while virtue has no need of any one to make waits kneeling at his feet; all the her great and respectable; in one spectators are affected, tears in word, it is the image of virtue every eye, persuasion in every which shines, and every thing disheart; then is the moment of last- appears before her.-Lon. Mir. ing impressions; and at that instant he places the crown upon her head. After this begins a Te Deum, during which the procession is resumed. The queen with her crown upon her head, and attended in the same manner as she was when going to receive it, returns the way she came; her triumph still increasing as she passes along till she again enters the church, and occupies the same place in the middle of the choir, till the end of the service. She has new homage to receive, and, going forth, is attended to a particular piece of ground, where crowned innocence finds expecting vassals prepared to offer her presents. They are simple gifts, but their singularity proves the antiquity of the custom; a nosegay of flowers, a dart, two balls, &c. &c. From thence she is conducted, with the same pomp, and led back to her relations, and, in her own house, if she thinks proper, gives a rural collection to her conductor and her retinue. MARIAN. How transient and worthless are all those feelings which look not in the first instance for the mental perfections of its object! it is only in virtue we desire no variety; in contemplating it, we can trace the hand of the Creator, and at every glance discover some new perfection; but personal beauty, what is it?—a thing of mere opinion, and loses all its loveliness, when separated from those noble qualities which elevate the soul, and endear it to the observer: but when we can see mental and material beauty united, when we can look on a fair face merely as an index to a fine heart, oh! this is perfection! to adore it is natural, and we honor the Creator, in cherishing the being, thus formed by his hands; and there was one whom I fondly thought was all this, and I chose her from all the rest, to live in my bosom, to share my pleasures, and to administer consolation in the hour of adversity. The village of Dcounty of K in the has been my This festival is of a singular kind, of which there is no model else-place of residence for nearly thirty years; it was there the ties of hus-siness, the blessing of a father on band and father were formed, and their marriage was still withheld. it was there those ties were brok- At length, to complete their felien. I am alone in the world, my city, which on this account they peace of mind, and all the energy had always thought imperfect, a of character necessary for the suc-letter arrived, dated from the adcess of my worldly speculations, joining village, requesting an affecdestroyed, and deserted by her tionate son to hasten to a father, whom I imagined as fond and vir- who would not hesitate now to protuous as she was beautiful,-whose nounce his forgiveness. I have smiles should have cheered me, met with an accident,' he said, when all else was gloomy, and who' and I may never recover from the should have sustained my droop- illness is has occasioned; should I ing heart, when all beside had for- die, it will console me to breathe saken me. Enough of this,-the my last in the arms of a son whose smile of an all-gracious God will worth I never properly valued, efface the remembrance of all and from whom I have been so earthly sorrows, and console a long estranged, come alone, to-day heart which, sometimes unguided William, for I have much to say, by the dictates of religion, still but to-morrow you shall introduce clings around the sepulchre of hap- your Marian, whom I am prepared piness. to love as a daughter, and cherish as the wife of my son.' catching his arm, 'consider William, there is no moon to light you on your return, and if your foot should slip-oh! I can't bear to think of it.' Returning to my solitary home, I paid my usual visit to one of my 'I must be gone instantly, Mapoorest neighbors: I entered the rian,' said William, as he threw neat dwelling; my old friend, dame down the letter and walked to the Langdon, sat industriously knit- door of their cottage. I think,' ting near the door, and her daugh- continued he, as he looked around ter Marian, as usual, with her pale him, my shortest way will be cheek resting on her hand, and her along the cliff.' 'Do not come child on her knees, whose little fin-home that way,' said Marian, gers entwined her dark glossy curls, and sometimes his attention was caught by the glitter of the wedding-ring which decorated the hand which supported him; but as the lip of the mother pressed the And is it Marian, my Marian,' rosy cheek of her boy, I observed interrupted William, as he looked her eyes looked beyond it with the tenderly on her, and thought her fixed gaze of vacancy, or filled face never had appeared to him so with tears, which she had but too beautiful, as when anxiety for his much reason to shed. Poor Ma- safety was so eloquently expressrian! four years since she became ed there, and is it my wife,' he the wife of an amiable young man, said, who, by infecting me with whose love for her overcame his these idle fears, would keep me obedience to his father, and, quit- from my dear little home an hour ting the haunts of comparitive longer than necessary? nay, why luxury, was contented to work for so pale Marian? late and dark has the means to support a wife, am- it been sometimes when I have ply rewarded for all his exertions been far from you, and you by her smiles and affection, and would beguile the hour of my abonly anxious to see her happy; yet sence with a song, and think of they had a lurking cause of unea-nothing but my return; and to |