Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-17
The French Emnress.

The London Press thus speaks Of the
Empress: "The sight Of the beaming looks
around her, the sound of the countless cheers
Of welcome, the fneness of the weather, the
thorough cordiality of the reception from the
people at large, and an exulting sense of the
greatness of the august occasion, brought
flush Of pleasure into the countenanae of the
Empress, and as she drove slowly up Pail Mall
her beauty never looked more dazzling, and
its resplendent effect was hailed with universal
admiration. 1t was constant remark, The
pictures had not done justice to the Empress.
We are decidedly Of that opinion. The express
sion of her mild blue eyes, and the swset
serenity Of her face in repose, has never been
perfectly portrayed. The artists appear to us
to have succeeded in catching only the physical
outline, and not the sentiment of her most
peculiar and distinctive style of beauty. We
admit the merits Of Winterhalter's portrait, but
it has the coldness Of the German school, and
we can conceive what an incomparably finer
presentment Of such face would have been
given on the canvass by Reynolds, or Lawrence,
or Francis Grant. 1t is rarely that SO distinc-
tive n type is seen in female beauty as in the
French Empress.
She belongs to one of the rarest Of all styles,
that Of the Spanish blonde. Stamped by
natures impress, there is an unmistakeable
evidence Of blood in her refined and spiritual
face. Extremely fair, with gentle blue eyes,
and charming natural color, the Empress
Eugene possesses the additional charm Of a
most expressive mouth. The classical eleva-
ton of her countenance reminds one Of the
chiselled masterpieces Of Grecian art. She has
more, however, Of the outward and visible signs
Of high Spanish race in the long and deicately
drawn features and especially in her noble
Castillian air, so remote from aught that is
suggestive of vulgar associations. Nor are her
voice and manner the least Of her attractions.
She can sustain dignity without losing afablity,
and in her courtesy there is none of the affected
condescension that wounds more than wins.
Her words, gestures and department are those
OF a noble lady, of an illustrious gentlewoman,
formed to grace throne and cast an additional
lustre on her position.
aOn Thursday, the heat Of the weather and
the prolonged exertion Of receiving the accla-
nations OF what we should call the levee Of the
| Landowners, gave rather the appearance of
langor to the Empress But in the evening,
at the Opera, her loveliness was heightened by
the attractiveness Of her dress and by her
brilliant jewels. AS she acknowledged the
1 greetings of the house with radient smiles it
seemed that IL every clay was cast in nm i'm.
perial mould, it was when Nature fashioned
that Grecian head, with its graceful neck and
bust. II is gratifying 10 know that her anna
bihty is equal to her beauty; she is adored by
her attendants; and the words, Ellie est 81
bonnie, 81 dinadble,' are in the mouths Of all who
know her. We cannot close this notice of one
so lofty in station, and so highly endowed, with
out recording that her Imperial Malesty's in
luence has been directed TO raising the tone
and character OF the Court Of the Tuilleries."