What! That socialist commoner! What on earth is she thinking!? We need to introduce her to some Spaniards right away! Not to mention the undue influence this will likely have on local politics!
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Exactly what is Prince Victor cooking up? There has been little mention of Princess Beatrice's shortcomings thus far, so I must assume he has an agenda in speaking so "plainly" about her. Does he assume he might make headway in such a manner?
Oh just a little extra for those of you keeping track of the Imperial Family, here is the family tree (as of November 1900). 
J. Passepartout: I think it was established by the Regent that Her Highness, the Grand Duchess of Québec, is not so much a thinker per se...
coz1: Well it could just be that the Princess has entered in puberty and discovered boys (with all that implies) combined with Victor himself only meeting her recently. After all the Emperor was hardly likely to trumpet the fact that he spoilt his youngest and that she was a poor student.
Part 47: Some Do, Some Don't
Above: Étienne Daly
The election day was set for the 14th of November, giving essentially six weeks for the candidates to campaign amongst the 46,000 thousand eligible voters.
Étienne Daly could probably have relied simply on his union power base to campaign for him, but instead decided to win the city around to his way. He became a familiar sight in the city streets, and not just the slums where they cheered his name like an athem whenever he showed up in his smart grey suit and jaunty hat astride that rickety old bicycle of his, but in the proffesional and even upper class centres:
On his rounds he occasionally encountered Belaouf patrolly much the same territory, not of course on anything so common as a bicycle. For of course it was the Younger Boulanger was very much hoping to trade on his romantic name an dashing personality.
It was important to be on the attack everywhere, to display the old conservative powers as timid, tired and incompetent, led by an Anglophone goverment indifferent to the culture and patriotism of the Québécois, unable or unwilling to save the citizens from anarchist madmen, foreign competition or moral weakness. Very different from this simple heroic young soldier and patriot. His new Parti National, presented itself as a smart new conservative alternative, with little overt of the old bully tactics of the Ligue.
The other candidates restricted themselves to different arenas: Hogan was able to outspend everyone with a barrage of posters, pamphlets and lackies, but was completely demolished in the debates, while Louimet found his own flank being turned by Ouimet, who could claim greater prestige and experience. Indeed the papers lionized Ouimet after a 8th October interview in which he cleverly and dryly deconstructed his opponents economic policies. This didn't however translate to the street much as the elderly Conservative was too frail to get out as actively as he would have liked.
On the 12th, Le Poteau, a local quality newspaper published a controversial opinion poll:
Étienne Daly (Social Democrats) : 44%
Jean Belaouf (Parti National) : 25%
Gédéon Ouimet (Conservative Party of Canada) : 18%
Jean-Baptiste Louimet (Canadian Imperial Party) : 6%
Bernard Hogan jr. (Liberal Party) : 5%
Others (various) : 2%
As Charles Stewart Parnell said to Robert Laird Borden, First Compte de Halifax the next day:
coz1: Well it could just be that the Princess has entered in puberty and discovered boys (with all that implies) combined with Victor himself only meeting her recently. After all the Emperor was hardly likely to trumpet the fact that he spoilt his youngest and that she was a poor student.
Part 47: Some Do, Some Don't
Above: Étienne Daly
The election day was set for the 14th of November, giving essentially six weeks for the candidates to campaign amongst the 46,000 thousand eligible voters.
Étienne Daly could probably have relied simply on his union power base to campaign for him, but instead decided to win the city around to his way. He became a familiar sight in the city streets, and not just the slums where they cheered his name like an athem whenever he showed up in his smart grey suit and jaunty hat astride that rickety old bicycle of his, but in the proffesional and even upper class centres:
On his rounds he occasionally encountered Belaouf patrolly much the same territory, not of course on anything so common as a bicycle. For of course it was the Younger Boulanger was very much hoping to trade on his romantic name an dashing personality.
It was important to be on the attack everywhere, to display the old conservative powers as timid, tired and incompetent, led by an Anglophone goverment indifferent to the culture and patriotism of the Québécois, unable or unwilling to save the citizens from anarchist madmen, foreign competition or moral weakness. Very different from this simple heroic young soldier and patriot. His new Parti National, presented itself as a smart new conservative alternative, with little overt of the old bully tactics of the Ligue.
The other candidates restricted themselves to different arenas: Hogan was able to outspend everyone with a barrage of posters, pamphlets and lackies, but was completely demolished in the debates, while Louimet found his own flank being turned by Ouimet, who could claim greater prestige and experience. Indeed the papers lionized Ouimet after a 8th October interview in which he cleverly and dryly deconstructed his opponents economic policies. This didn't however translate to the street much as the elderly Conservative was too frail to get out as actively as he would have liked.
On the 12th, Le Poteau, a local quality newspaper published a controversial opinion poll:
Étienne Daly (Social Democrats) : 44%
Jean Belaouf (Parti National) : 25%
Gédéon Ouimet (Conservative Party of Canada) : 18%
Jean-Baptiste Louimet (Canadian Imperial Party) : 6%
Bernard Hogan jr. (Liberal Party) : 5%
Others (various) : 2%
As Charles Stewart Parnell said to Robert Laird Borden, First Compte de Halifax the next day:
Baring any unfortunate event, looks like Daly going to win the mayor election. Ah.. young Belaouf running second. Then again how trustworthy is the poll?? maybe Le Poteou is a union sympathizer.
Just trying to keep the suspense going
Just trying to keep the suspense going
I think the young Belaouf still has a number of tricks up his sleeve.
Great Updates RossN
Great Updates RossN
Oimet, oimet, suck that majority away from the other candidates!
My dreams recently have not been at all coherent, but one of the bits I remember is that Victoria-Beatrice was actually in love with the Regent Victor, and was hanging posters of Daly to hide this fact away.
My dreams recently have not been at all coherent, but one of the bits I remember is that Victoria-Beatrice was actually in love with the Regent Victor, and was hanging posters of Daly to hide this fact away.
Yeah, I am not sure Belaouf has finished saying everything he has to say. There may some movement there still.
prussiablue: The poll is done with all the impatiality and scientific scrutiny turn of the century newspapers can muster. Ahem.
BBBD: He may not be the only one...
J. Passepartout: Huh... that's pretty cool that my characters are now entering peoples dreams! Keep me informed on this.
For the record I use pictures of Olga and Tatiana Romanov to represent the Bonoparte sisters (Olga for Joséphine and Tatiana for Victoria-Beatrice) - justified I think as they are they are close cousins!
Vincent Julien: Um? I'm sure the Regent has bigger things to worry about than minor squabbles in Quebec City!
coz1: Well stay tuned, that's all I can say.
BTW Happy Halloween everyone reading this.
Part 48: All Hallows
Above: An Imperial Ball
At a depressing meeting of the Inner Cabinet on the 16th of October a young junior minister asked Halifax whether or not he was planning to go to the Imberial Ball on Halloween.
"Yes - as Karl Marx."
The questioner gave him nonplussed look: "Um sir aren't you supposed to go as something scary? A ghost or ghoul?"
"Ever read the Manifesto? Terrifying."
Yet such glib humour concealed a real and growing fear (coupled with feelings of powerlessness) over the state of the nation. Le Poteau had shaken him, and not shaken him alone, which was why he had set up this informal meeting in the Arcadian Club.
Present were members of all parties involved in the Québec election - except for the Socialists... and Boulanger's mob. It had been called by himself and none other than the leader of the Opposition, Parnell in order to sort out the problem that Étienne Daly represented. A socialist as mayor of the third city in Canada? Unthinkable! It would be the end of civilisation! Clearly they had to hang together - or they'd be hung together.
It was his first time meeting some of the candidates and frankly he was not impressed. Jean-Baptiste Louimet! Had any more dreary a nonentity ever put an audience to sleep? Not the Liberals were much better - the Younger Hogan was like his odious father without the old mans brains or shark like survival instinct. A poor hand indeed with which to bluff with.
Thank God then for Gédéon Ouimet, that old lion of Québec! Had he been twenty years younger Halifax had no doubt at all who would be leading this race - or that there would be no need to call this meeting.
Parnell (looking rather tired and grey these years - age, ill health and constant defeats were beginning to take their toll) opened with four simple words: "Daly must not win."
So it was decided that the centre and right - if any chance was to be had to win - would have to unite behind a single candidate to run against Daly, and if Halifax had any say it would be Gédéon Ouimet. It took over hour, but slowly the two leaders argued the other party men around, using every threat, pleading, and legal offer in their bag of political trips. Nothing illegal - neither man would coutenance it. Bernard Hogan Snr. would have to make do with a title (even in these strained times Halifax was not without influence in the Imperial Palace) and his cretinous son being parachuted into a safe seat. Louimet was promised a position in the Senate.
It was not to be however. Ouimet had been silent for over half an hour when an exhausted but triumphant Halifax had turned to him. Thinking merely that the old man had been taking it in quietly, the PM was horrified to discover his candidate was unconcious, and grey tinged.
"A stroke," he said to Parnell later, "Oh he'll live, don't worry. How stupid of me to force him to go through all that..."
"And tomorrow..." trailed of Parnell grimly.
A look of mingled distaste and guilt passed over the prime ministers face as he bitterly finished the sentence: "And tomorrow we see Belaouf"
BBBD: He may not be the only one...
J. Passepartout: Huh... that's pretty cool that my characters are now entering peoples dreams!
Keep me informed on this. For the record I use pictures of Olga and Tatiana Romanov to represent the Bonoparte sisters (Olga for Joséphine and Tatiana for Victoria-Beatrice) - justified I think as they are they are close cousins!
Vincent Julien: Um? I'm sure the Regent has bigger things to worry about than minor squabbles in Quebec City!
coz1: Well stay tuned, that's all I can say.
BTW Happy Halloween everyone reading this.
Part 48: All Hallows
Above: An Imperial Ball
At a depressing meeting of the Inner Cabinet on the 16th of October a young junior minister asked Halifax whether or not he was planning to go to the Imberial Ball on Halloween.
"Yes - as Karl Marx."
The questioner gave him nonplussed look: "Um sir aren't you supposed to go as something scary? A ghost or ghoul?"
"Ever read the Manifesto? Terrifying."
Yet such glib humour concealed a real and growing fear (coupled with feelings of powerlessness) over the state of the nation. Le Poteau had shaken him, and not shaken him alone, which was why he had set up this informal meeting in the Arcadian Club.
Present were members of all parties involved in the Québec election - except for the Socialists... and Boulanger's mob. It had been called by himself and none other than the leader of the Opposition, Parnell in order to sort out the problem that Étienne Daly represented. A socialist as mayor of the third city in Canada? Unthinkable! It would be the end of civilisation! Clearly they had to hang together - or they'd be hung together.
It was his first time meeting some of the candidates and frankly he was not impressed. Jean-Baptiste Louimet! Had any more dreary a nonentity ever put an audience to sleep? Not the Liberals were much better - the Younger Hogan was like his odious father without the old mans brains or shark like survival instinct. A poor hand indeed with which to bluff with.
Thank God then for Gédéon Ouimet, that old lion of Québec! Had he been twenty years younger Halifax had no doubt at all who would be leading this race - or that there would be no need to call this meeting.
Parnell (looking rather tired and grey these years - age, ill health and constant defeats were beginning to take their toll) opened with four simple words: "Daly must not win."
So it was decided that the centre and right - if any chance was to be had to win - would have to unite behind a single candidate to run against Daly, and if Halifax had any say it would be Gédéon Ouimet. It took over hour, but slowly the two leaders argued the other party men around, using every threat, pleading, and legal offer in their bag of political trips. Nothing illegal - neither man would coutenance it. Bernard Hogan Snr. would have to make do with a title (even in these strained times Halifax was not without influence in the Imperial Palace) and his cretinous son being parachuted into a safe seat. Louimet was promised a position in the Senate.
It was not to be however. Ouimet had been silent for over half an hour when an exhausted but triumphant Halifax had turned to him. Thinking merely that the old man had been taking it in quietly, the PM was horrified to discover his candidate was unconcious, and grey tinged.
"A stroke," he said to Parnell later, "Oh he'll live, don't worry. How stupid of me to force him to go through all that..."
"And tomorrow..." trailed of Parnell grimly.
A look of mingled distaste and guilt passed over the prime ministers face as he bitterly finished the sentence: "And tomorrow we see Belaouf"
Damn funny. Absolutely cracker. Good work RossN, so Halifax turning to Junior eh... another interesting twist in the tale.RossN said:
NOOO!! Oimet can't die! This is really too bad, because I liked Oimet the best out of all the candidates.
I thought the Communist Manifesto was fairly amusing when I read it. Especially the bit when it talks about holding women in common on the basis that capitalists already do it.
I thought the Communist Manifesto was fairly amusing when I read it. Especially the bit when it talks about holding women in common on the basis that capitalists already do it.
So it won't be Belaouf saying the last word, but Parnell instead. Very interesting. I wonder what deal he will be offered.
prussiablue: Glad you liked it. I wanted a reference to Hallowe'en and that was what I eventually came up with.
J. Passepartout: Don't worry, Ouimet lives! Historically he dies in 1905, so he still has a few years left, the old goat.
Vincent Julien: You're not entirely in favour of Prince Victor are you?
coz1: Hmm, well just stay tuned...
Part 49: The Great Pretender
On the 23rd of October the Quebec City HQ of the Parti National recieved a visit by a current and former Prime Minister of Canada where Jean Belaouf greeted them in dress uniform (he had served as a Lieutenant in 6ème Cavalerie Légère, and had been decorated for valour at Reykjavik). Within thirty minutes he found himself newly annointed leader of the centre-right in the election.
As the older men left in frosty politeness Halifax suppressed a shudder: "What was it Cicero said of Clodius and his gang: "No viler crew ever sat around a gambling table in Hell"
"Agreed...," Parnell nodded, "I saw quite a few old villains in smart new suits in that throng. Still we need them. And him."
"Hmm, but can we control him?"
Parnell gave the Prime Minister a look of astonishment: "My dear Buffalo Bob, the man's a struting Parvenu, nothing more. In a year no one will even remember his name."
The withdrawl of the other candidates (and official, if unenthusiastic endorsements of the Younger Boulanger) left the situtation up in the air. The race only intensified...
A proxy war of words broke out between La Sentinelle and Le Mercure, yellow press owned by rival moguls. La Sentinelle declared Belaouf to be: "A heroic and dedicated patriot...struggling against the tyranny of the mob." Le Mercure on the other hand held up as "a mere tool and lackey of the establisment classes."
"Well at least they're talking about me," said the man in question to Aiton.
The 3rd of November was the 14th birthday of Princess Victoria-Beatrice, the Grand Duchess of Québec.
Campaigning was officially suspended as both candidates were invited to the celebration at the Château Frontenac (the official residence of the Duchy). Her Grace the Duchess (an attractive, slender girl, all red hair and green eyes, clearly on the verge of adult beauty - and clearly aware of it) was sheparded around by her chaperone Prince Victor, and towards the end of the evening was officially introduced to the candidates...
The girl walked up to Belaouf and gave him a polite but bored smile... and the Younger Boulanger fell instantly, deeply, irrevocably, in love. Mortally wounded by this goddess, this Diana the Huntress who had stepped down from Olympus to dazzle him with virgin beauty, he barely remembered to bow, to shake the the slender white hand offered to him.
"I am honoured your Grace," he gasped.
"Monsieur Belaouf." A dainty nod, and the same empty smile, and she was about to move on, her eyes already turning towards Daly. Eyes that seemed to sparkle as they looked at the Socialist.
Belaouf felt a sudden ache in his heart so terrible, so sudden he thought he was dying. But he wasn't. He couldn't just let her go like this! To be just a face in the crowd! He needed to do something.
"I like your necklace," he said gesturing at the emerald necklace she wore, "it matches your eyes."
Now he really did feel like he was about to die. What a stupid thing to say! What on Earth must she thi-
She was looking at him, at first in shock at being personally addressed. Then she smiled - a real smile this time, with warmth behind it. For the first time he felt she was really looking at him. "Merci Monsieur Belaouf."
Then she moved on, and that was that.
Later that night, alone, he wept at his stupidity: to fall in love with a Princess is no great fate.
The next day Belaouf slept in late and arose to hear a series of vague but amazing scandals were sweeping through the city about Étienne Daly and the Grand Duchess. According to an old hand in the ICC in the early hours on the morning Victoria-Beatrice had attempted to call upon the Socialist, disguised as a cavalry trooper. A keen eyed guard had noticed something amiss about the 5' nothing, 90 lbs uniformed figure creeping through the stables and discovered the ruse.
Thus at any rate one of the more reliable rumours swirling round the confused city. The Princess was pregnant by Daly! The Princess had been abducted by Daly! The Princess had been murdered by Daly and replaced by a street girl look-alike!
Or so it was said. All rubbish naturally, but what could be done? The Imperial Family wisely refused to dignify the talk with a response.
Naturally few people (publically) were about to accuse the young, popular Princess of wrong, so most of the scrutiny shifted to Daly. And who was he anyway, but a commoner, a supporter of the mob, a demagouge?
Vainly Daly attempted to prove his innocence, but it was like fighting fog. People whispered... and slowly his support drained away. Till the 14th came and the votes were tallied:
Jean Belaouf (Parti National) : 19, 355 (48%)
Étienne Daly (Social Democrats) : 17, 380 (44%)
Others: 3160 (8%)
I wanted a reference to Hallowe'en and that was what I eventually came up with.J. Passepartout: Don't worry, Ouimet lives! Historically he dies in 1905, so he still has a few years left, the old goat.
Vincent Julien: You're not entirely in favour of Prince Victor are you?
coz1: Hmm, well just stay tuned...
Part 49: The Great Pretender
Above: Jean Belaouf (in the uniform of a cavalry captain), from an election pamphlet.
On the 23rd of October the Quebec City HQ of the Parti National recieved a visit by a current and former Prime Minister of Canada where Jean Belaouf greeted them in dress uniform (he had served as a Lieutenant in 6ème Cavalerie Légère, and had been decorated for valour at Reykjavik). Within thirty minutes he found himself newly annointed leader of the centre-right in the election.
As the older men left in frosty politeness Halifax suppressed a shudder: "What was it Cicero said of Clodius and his gang: "No viler crew ever sat around a gambling table in Hell"
"Agreed...," Parnell nodded, "I saw quite a few old villains in smart new suits in that throng. Still we need them. And him."
"Hmm, but can we control him?"
Parnell gave the Prime Minister a look of astonishment: "My dear Buffalo Bob, the man's a struting Parvenu, nothing more. In a year no one will even remember his name."
*
The withdrawl of the other candidates (and official, if unenthusiastic endorsements of the Younger Boulanger) left the situtation up in the air. The race only intensified...
A proxy war of words broke out between La Sentinelle and Le Mercure, yellow press owned by rival moguls. La Sentinelle declared Belaouf to be: "A heroic and dedicated patriot...struggling against the tyranny of the mob." Le Mercure on the other hand held up as "a mere tool and lackey of the establisment classes."
"Well at least they're talking about me," said the man in question to Aiton.
*
The 3rd of November was the 14th birthday of Princess Victoria-Beatrice, the Grand Duchess of Québec.
Above: Princess Victoria-Beatrice
Campaigning was officially suspended as both candidates were invited to the celebration at the Château Frontenac (the official residence of the Duchy). Her Grace the Duchess (an attractive, slender girl, all red hair and green eyes, clearly on the verge of adult beauty - and clearly aware of it) was sheparded around by her chaperone Prince Victor, and towards the end of the evening was officially introduced to the candidates...
The girl walked up to Belaouf and gave him a polite but bored smile... and the Younger Boulanger fell instantly, deeply, irrevocably, in love. Mortally wounded by this goddess, this Diana the Huntress who had stepped down from Olympus to dazzle him with virgin beauty, he barely remembered to bow, to shake the the slender white hand offered to him.
"I am honoured your Grace," he gasped.
"Monsieur Belaouf." A dainty nod, and the same empty smile, and she was about to move on, her eyes already turning towards Daly. Eyes that seemed to sparkle as they looked at the Socialist.
Belaouf felt a sudden ache in his heart so terrible, so sudden he thought he was dying. But he wasn't. He couldn't just let her go like this! To be just a face in the crowd! He needed to do something.
"I like your necklace," he said gesturing at the emerald necklace she wore, "it matches your eyes."
Now he really did feel like he was about to die. What a stupid thing to say! What on Earth must she thi-
She was looking at him, at first in shock at being personally addressed. Then she smiled - a real smile this time, with warmth behind it. For the first time he felt she was really looking at him. "Merci Monsieur Belaouf."
Then she moved on, and that was that.
Later that night, alone, he wept at his stupidity: to fall in love with a Princess is no great fate.
*
The next day Belaouf slept in late and arose to hear a series of vague but amazing scandals were sweeping through the city about Étienne Daly and the Grand Duchess. According to an old hand in the ICC in the early hours on the morning Victoria-Beatrice had attempted to call upon the Socialist, disguised as a cavalry trooper. A keen eyed guard had noticed something amiss about the 5' nothing, 90 lbs uniformed figure creeping through the stables and discovered the ruse.
Thus at any rate one of the more reliable rumours swirling round the confused city. The Princess was pregnant by Daly! The Princess had been abducted by Daly! The Princess had been murdered by Daly and replaced by a street girl look-alike!
Or so it was said. All rubbish naturally, but what could be done? The Imperial Family wisely refused to dignify the talk with a response.
Naturally few people (publically) were about to accuse the young, popular Princess of wrong, so most of the scrutiny shifted to Daly. And who was he anyway, but a commoner, a supporter of the mob, a demagouge?
Vainly Daly attempted to prove his innocence, but it was like fighting fog. People whispered... and slowly his support drained away. Till the 14th came and the votes were tallied:
Jean Belaouf (Parti National) : 19, 355 (48%)
Étienne Daly (Social Democrats) : 17, 380 (44%)
Others: 3160 (8%)
Damn you RossN, you are always against the parties I like! *shakes fist at the sky*
Well Daly was for the mob and the mob has the same intellect as a cow so no wonder they turned on him.
Well Daly was for the mob and the mob has the same intellect as a cow so no wonder they turned on him.
Yes. Halifax picked the right horse. Still it was close.
Just a thought RossN, it seems that your story is straying further and further away from the Vicky game. Is this what you planned all along or just a sudden turn in the middle of the story?
Just a thought RossN, it seems that your story is straying further and further away from the Vicky game. Is this what you planned all along or just a sudden turn in the middle of the story?
A ninety pound five foot cavalry officer? What is strange about that?
I want to know if she is really pregnant.
I want to know if she is really pregnant.
Seems to me that both Daly, and especially now Belaouf now that he's won, might want to shoot for a higher office than Mayor. And with the Princess by his side, Daly may not really care too much about losing.
Actually just from reading the last few posts it looks like the Regent et.al. may have started this rumor about the princess and Daly to ruin the Socialists. At first glance it looks like someone waged a smear campaign.