Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-06-07
The Empress Of France.

you the grt'at' calamity which has just
befallon the lmperisl family; (le grand
malheu, qui Went dc ffapper la familie
but. for the very good rea.
son that they dare not, they will not tell
you Of tho circumstances which led to
this misfortune. You and your read.
crs perhaps. will scarcely credit what
relate, but | assure you that here II IL
not only believed, but vouched for by
perssns whose veracity il is impossible
10 doubt. In the saloons, in the clubs,
in the ateliers, nothing else IS talked
Of, and the police is daily arresting per.
sons who are impudent enough to dis.
cuss the matter in the streets. You are
probably aware that few lays before
his marriage, Louis Napoleon dismissed
Mrs. Howard, the mother Of his three
little girls, and she took refuge in En-. |
gland, He had offered her residence
and pension in France, but this she
refused. Two weeks ago she returned
to Paris, on business probably, though
many say she came by the request Of
the Emperor. Bo that as it may, the
Empress heard OF her arrival, and was
highly Indignant that she shosl'l have
been allowed to en,ei France. There.
upon conjugal caudle scene, at the end
Of which Her Majesty declared that If
she met Mrs. Howard she would pun.
ish her for hei presumption. and give her
lesson which she would remember
His Majesty merely shru .ged his shouI.
lers at this threat, doubtless thinking it
nothing mole than an ebulition Of words
which would be forgotten with the ex.
element which caused it. He was too
confident, and the Empress was as good
as her word.
The very next day, while riding in the
Bois dc Bologne on her spirited Anda.
lusian, and accompanied only BY ladies
and yrooms, she was stopped in by.road
by carriage. At first the Empress was
about 10 turn aside her horse and let the
carriage pass; but, glancing at its occu.
pant, she recognized Mrs. Howard, and
determining not to give her the road, she
reined up her horse and waited for the
carriage to turn out Of the way. But
Mrs. Howard had recognized her rival
also, and calling up her pride and spirit
she ordered her coachman not to give
the road. A few words were exchanged
between the latter and the Empress at.
tendants, but he refused to 60 contrary
his orders. After moments suspense,
during which the two ladies "fasaient
dcs grand yeux" made big eyes at each
other, the Empress galIoped to the side
Of the carriage, and in most impolite
manner, struck Mrs. Howard with her
riding whip. The other raised her par
asol, and before the attendants could in
terfefe, regular battle begun between
the whip and parasol, and Mrs. Howar'
sank back, fainting. on the carriage
cushions, her toilette and curls in de-
plorable state, while the Empress, who
had received no visible damage, gave a
triumphant little laugh, struck her spur
into her horses side AID galloped away,
followed by her suite, every member ol
wh;ci. was stupeiied by the scene wiiicn
they had been forced to witness. But q
crowd had already collected. and few
gems d'armes coming up, Mrs. Howard
was carried into house pear by, where
her wounds-for the lash had left more
than one mark upon her face and hands
were dressed, and the disorder Of her
toilette repaired; and, when the idlers
had all departed. she returned to Paris
where she is still quite i'll.
As to the Empress, she finished he'
ride, and re.en.ered the Tuilleries as i
nothing had happened but that very
night Mi. Dubois, who had received th'
appointment Of accoacher 10 Her Majes
~ onlp a few days before, was sent for
and forty.eight hours Afterwards the En-
press bee anne so unwell that there wa'
no longer any doubt that Louis Napole
on's hopes Of an heir were going to b.
destroyed. The matter was, as much a
possible, kept secret from the public
! and her Majesty was merely reported a
suffering from slight indisposition.-
But the whole city was already talkin
of the scene in the Bois de Boulogne
and the result Of the indisposition wa
anticipated several days before i, actual
ly took place. On Friday last the En-
press life was in danger for severa
hours, but thanks to skilllul heatmen
: and the mass the Emperor ordered TO b
/. sal | in the Imperial chapel, she becam
better before night, and is now rapid
convalescing.
+, The Emperor has been to see Mr.
Howard, il Is said to express his sympa
. thy, and sends his aide.de.camp twice
day TO inquire after her health. Whe,f
or this is any proof that he is takln
sides with his former favorite, is hard
s say, for he is very attentive at the bee
. side oflhe Empress also. His anger
i the scandal caused by his wlfe's condu'
$ must be considerably molli6ed by I'll
:, reflection that love for him was tho mi
i tive, and gratifed vanity will probabl
J. prevent his chiding either lady for h
o imprudence.
q The different little trips to the nor'
i Of France which were projected for Il
: summer, will now be abandoned. and S
Cloud will be the Imperial residence &
the season, the physicians having pr
scribed quiet and reposc for her Majest
5. Taking the cube yard Of gold at e
q 900, 900, all the. gold in the world.