Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-09
THE NEW FRENCH EMPRESS.

THE NEW FRENCH EMPRESS.
Senorita Eugenia de Teba or as she is more
usually known, Mile de Montijo, is the daugh-
ter of nobleman who belonged to one of the
most eminent families of the Spanish aristocra-
cy-that of Palafox-and who distinguished
himself in the civil war Of 1923, under the title
of the Count de Teba. At that time he became
acquainted with Miss Maria Kirkpatrick, the
dashing and handsome daughter of Scotch gen.
tleman, who held the post Of Consul of the U.
States at Malaga A love affor and romantic
marriage was the consequence. The new-made
Empress is the daughter of this Spanish grandee
and Maria kirkpatrick, who is still living, wild
ow, and who accompanies her daughter on her
present visit to Paris, where she has appeared
under the title of Countess de Teba. After the
marriage, in 1923, the death of an elder brother
conferred upon the Count, along with score of
other titles, that of Monlijo, by which name.
since her first appearance in fashionable life, the
daughter has been generally distinguished. She
also nherits handsome fortune, her independ-
ent income being something like 100000 year.
The father died some years since, leaving two
daughters; the elder now wears, BY marriage, the
title of Duchess Of Alva and Berwick, than which
the Spanish nobility can boast nothing more ell
evated.
For some years the young Countess de Teba
or Montijo, who is now about twenty five, has
enjoyed at Madrid the reputation of an exceed
ingly fast woman. Tall, graceful, of statesque
symmetry of person, with luxuriant auburn, or
rather red, hair, a pale complexion, which has
latterly stood in need of little rouge great
electrical eyes of a brown so deep and radiant
as to pass for black, rather long and aristocratc
features, Il large but exquisjtely sculptured nose,
lovely mouth, and teeth ofdazzling whiteness
she is type of admirable beauty, which a Ian
guild and blase air hardly diminshcs. Endowed
with uncommon wit and spirit, she speaks
French, English, Italian and German with as
much fluency as Spanish. A proficient in exer.
cises of strength and address, she rides with the
boldest, and drives fourin-hand with the most
skilful.
At Madrid it was the habit of our heroine to
bid defiance to public opinion, as the whn
might seize her. She used to appear alone in
public, driving her owD carriage. She had a sep
arate establishment in her mothers palace, inv.
ting and receiving company without consulting
her mother, and often refusing access even to
her relatives. Once her mother forced her door
despite the remonstrances Of the servant, who
protested that the Countess wanted to be alone
To her great amazement she found that hel
daughter was missing. For twenty-four hours
the young lady did not appear, and when she re-
turned cooly informed her afflicted parent, who
had loudly expressed her fears that there had
been an elopement, that she had been away or
an errand
On another occasion, the whim takes her to
pay special compliment to literature, and hel
carriage stops at the door of Senor Escosura
one of the most prominent of living Spanish au.
thors, who was some years since Minister Of
the Crown. "Good morning, my dear sir" was
her salutation to the astonshed Hterdteur:: 81
have come to breakfast with you, in order to
have talk on literature and poetry" A few
weeks later Escosura gave dinner TO num-
Der of literary men-artists and actors--at
which the Countess was present without hel
mother or any other lady as chaperon. She was
the life of the party, making speeches and giving
toasts with the loudest Among the guests was
third-rate French actor, named Laferriere, who
had had great success in Madrid. He was from
the Theatre Hstorique in Paris. She took {
fancy to him, and had long conversation will
him. When the time for leaving came, Well,
said the Countess, "my carriage is here, and
will take NJ. Laferriere TO his hotel" The young
man wasa little abashed at such a courtesy from