52. ROMANCES OF EGGS. 
Boulanger egg, or a Frenchman one bearing 
Bismarck’s face. 
An iron egg is to be seen in one of the grand- 
est of the European museums, which was once 
sentas a betrothal gift from a prince to a princess. 
The lady angry at so mean a present, flung it 
to the floor, when a spring opened showing a 
silver lining, a second opening revealed a yolk 
of gold, anda third and fourth displayed dia- 
monds and rubies, by which the lady’s dis- 
pleasure was soon assuaged. 
“The marriage aux eufs,’ between Marguer- 
ite of Austria, gouvernante of Flanders, and 
Philibert the Handsome, Duke of Savoy, is 
a still more romantic story. 
It was the custom on Easter Monday in the 
district of Bresse to scatter a hundred eggs on 
a level place, covered by sand. Then a lad and 
lass, hand in hand, would execute the dance of 
the country. If they succeeded without break- 
ing an egg they were considered affianced, even 
if it were against their parents’ will. 
On this occasion three couples had tried in 
