Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-22
The Empress Eugenia and Mrs.
EFOvyaTxfs

I The Empress Eugenia and Mrs.
HOwards
The Partisan correspondent of the Phila
delphia Register, under date of the 9th in
slant, gives the following French. moroccan
"The Paris papers by this weeks steam
er will announce to you the affliction wbicl
has Just befallen the Imperial family; but
for the very good reason that they dar'
not, they will not tell you of the cir
cumtances which led to this misfortune
You and your readers perhaps will scarce
ly credit what I relate, but l assure
you that here it is not only believed
but youched for by persons whose veraclty
it is impossible to doubt. In the saloons
in the clubs; in the ateliers, nothing else is
talked of; and the police is daily arrestine
persons imprudent enough to discuss the
matter in the streets. You are probably
aware that few days before his marriage,
Louis Napoleon dismissed Mrs. Howard
the mother of his three little girls, and she
took refuge in England. He had offered
her residence and a pension in france,
but this she refused. Two weeks ago she
returned to Paris on business, probably,
though many say she came by the Empe-
ror's request. Be that as it may; the En-
press heard of her arrival, aid was highly
indignant that she should have been allow
ed to enter France.
Thereu2on conjugal Caudle scene, at
the end of which her Majesty declared that
if she met Mrs. Howard, she would punish
her for her presumption, and give her les
son which she would remember. His Ma
jesty merely shrugged his shoulders at this
threat, doubtless thinking it nothing more
than an ebullition of words, which would
be fol olgoten with the excitement which
caused it. He was too confident, and the
Empress was as good as her promise. The
very next day, while riding in the Bois de
Boulogne on her spirited Andalusian, and
accompanied only by her ladies and grooms,
she was stopped in by-road by carriage
At first the Empress was about to turn "a
side and let the carnage pass; but, glanc-
ing at its occupant, she recognized Mrs.
Howard, and, determining not to give her
the road she reined up her horse, and wait
ed 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's attendants
but he refused to 60 contrary to his orders
After moments suspense, during which
the two ladies Iasaient des grands yeux
made big eyes at each other, the Empires:
gallopped to the side of the carriage, and
in most impolite manner, struck Mrs
Howard with her riding whip. The other
raised her parasol. and, before the attend.
ants could interfere, regular battle begar
between the whip and the parsol and the
tongues of their owners, until whip being
the stronger of the two, broke the parasol
and Mrs Howard sank back, fainting. OF
the carriage cushions, her toilette and curl
in deplorable state, while the Empress
who had received no visible damage, gave
triumphant little laugh, struck her spur
into her horses side and gallopped away
followed by her suite, every member o
which was stupifed by the scene which theJ
had been forcedto witness.
But crowd had already collected, and
few gems d'armes coming up, Mrs. How
ard was carried into house near by, where
her wounds-for the lash had left more thar
one mark upon her face and hands-wer'
dressed and the disorder of her toilet re
paired-and, when the dlers had all de
parted she repaired to Paris, where she il
still quite ill. As to the Empress, she fin
ished her ride and returned to the Tuilerie
as if nothing had happened; but that yer.
night Mr.. Dubois, who had received th
appointment of accoucheur to Her Majest,
only a few days before, was sent for, AM
48 hours afterwards the Empress becam
so unwell that there was no longer any doub
that Louis Napoleon's hopes Of an heir wer
going 10 be destroyed. The matter was, a
much as possible, kept secret, and Her Ma
jestp was reported as merely suffering un
der slight indisposition. But the who'll
city was already talking of the scene IN th
Bois de Boulogne, and the result of the in
disposition was anticipated several days be
fore it actually took place. On Friday las
the Empress's life was IN danger for sew
eral hours but, thanks to The skillful treat
ment and the mass the Emperor ordered t
be said In the Imperial Chapel, she becam'
better before night, and is now rapidly con
valescing.
The Emperor has been to see Mrs. How
ard, it is said, TO express his sympathy, ant
sends an aide twice day t
inquire after her health. Whether TIN
is any proof that he takes sides with hi
former favorite, tits hard to say, for he il
reported as being very attentive at the bed
side of the Empress also. His anger at tn
scandal caused by his wfe's conduct mus
be considerably modified by the reflection
that love for him was the motive, and graf
fled vanity will probably prevent his Chi
ding either lady for her imprudence.
The different little trips to the north
France which were projected for the sum
mer, will now be abandoned, and st. Clou
will be the Imperial residence for the sea
son, the physicians having prescribed quie
and repose for Her Majesty"
&C. A rich joke was once perpetrated b
din office-bolder in Alabama, if we recolleC