Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-10-04
Queen Victoria at the French Exposition

iet''r' from - an American woman In Paris
to the n. Y. Tribune.
It was left uncertain To the nurlic wbotbor
all tho world worth TWENTY sons Womb bo
admitted on this occasion to the E1nosit;on
1t was with no slirht palpitation that vour
humble servant saw her coachmon ordered an
lyo .,lli,r from bcc,rn the ,ri, .;u,l ontrnnca
to the building. ON n'entre ms startled
for a moment in her spirit. But soon tho
carriage halted. and she descended. sur.
rounded on all sides by the hottest of nolice
the brightest of soldiers. and tbc rrondest If
hclnctcd horsemen, who directed her every
stcr. till she found herself within the build.
inr. An awninr Of crimson velvet odornod
with gold fringe and bees. had been thrown
over the grand doorway carnpts and flowers
covered the steps. trophies and initials com
pcted the decorations. A little reflection
soon persuaded us that reasons cunninrest
combinations could aid us little IN realizing
our desire to see Victoria entire ~ on hcr
own precious feet Quiet rcsgnntion To
chance seemed 10 promi.e more tIon an nm
dicnfed c,nricious rush into the crn,rJ Ko-
sides, we could poss an bour nt lnnst in ro
rardinp soma of ,he cbpr d,ocn,ros ar .i,;.
most interesting collection of the works or
| living artists We leaned comfortable AGAINST
the railing that surrounds marble croun in
| front of the rrinciral entrance 10 the O ro,t
central French Saloon, and found ourselves
before Confines famous picture of Roman
| decadence-a u,cture unriynled in color and
in the truthiulncs, of the Eoccbonal;on
scene, which it represents. Rosa Bonheur's
| having scene awakened new admiration for
her four fine oxen. seen directly fror tba
front and toreshadowed with wonderful skill
Rosa Bonheur has long since insured n nInce
of honor at every French uicture exbibition
Coignct's 'Tintoretto taking the nortrait oc
his dead daughter induced more nensive
emotions. Wintcrhalter's CHARMING ricture
of the Empress Eugene surrounded bv bor
ladies of Honor, recalled Calynso in her
grotto among her nymphs. We lost no time in
waiting for the august visitors. The Imnerial
cortege arrived at II little before H. God
save the Queen, and viyas' and .rushinps
in hot haste portended speedy leave-takinp
OF our delicious picture.rcycries The Rovoi
party with the Emperor had alreaJv visiied
the Belgian, Norwerian. Danish and Sard;-
MAN collections and were threatening to as.
sault onr rost The crowd had ;,,,'o,soI
augmented in this hnI, whore ,,ra ,iIn.dy
some of the finest ,vort. oc tL. . wv
French school. At tirst an o,to,lrt pitSun. ,,n.
made to clear the room ot uninyitad 80 "a'
But no-eyerybodv wanted and v,ilIod w soo
the Oueen Tine nnl;co GOOD rat,,ro,i,. ~ 1oI
TO po,ulur norsistnnco and yir,Iou
bp hal az. a.,
illustrious nrocnss;on ,rali or ''u1 r;,. y, .no
IN tLn otbdr n LoYi,n nr tI'a NJ W Pio.uies,
heads and bodies that over cro,rJod srana A
tremendous deafenipg neal Of Vivs ! ,Emno.
reur.' .V,ve Ia Raine' rose nj tho ,nnn,o,,t H.
Ounen and Ennoror onto-od ,bo LaII -. WV
hodv in thnir nrov;m;tv Ioolod ao us
sh1Ited. For moment the Emnornr rrs, soo,nod ,no
desirous to renress t,;s ontburt. ~ 49,,
.insm. bnt the Queen smiled and ho,roJ ~ r,n.o
rraciouslv. and siyniied her c,n.c;t, to s,.
9t,ir a,',. .,,n'nt e u. ~ sus-
nernr wv Walked "ncnvarad "siuoIe "s 0Ii ne nm
,,entlemon coI,o,yors md 60, "s a. y, ms
3ot in h;a hand as ,ha pona 1r l n.nn helu ms
Marty nnssod I, ;s M MA ,rII. ' .i ia
reror wore-I have forcnttnn u;n ;a' LanI nm
awnkenad that ;nterost rh;oh :. LIS neau
splres in me. and certainlv II !. o,o r. ~
most remarknhlo boads nm brn.n .io,,,, Nv " ..,o
The unf,thnmahIo nrofnnnd H. ;,oI :: o.
its every line II;l I,oara noaai'is e'seu III
about tb, mouth and oh;n ,,.' ,nucl'
his moustacles and l,te are the iVr a1Io
keepers of the hidden destinies of Fronoo
Napoleon's eve is small and liobt md os bo
passed me the light struck tbrougb its hall
revealing hidden, unouencbnble fra in ;ts
depths The Emperor had a sm;I;na ond
most contented look. The lines of L;s H.,
and the eagle tracks beside his ewes hotr,,,
his capacity even for the ioyial. iIis N.ins,y
seemed short beside Prince Albert bnt
matched well with the Oueen who lo.nod
upon his arm The Imperial lecs are short
but the body is long and stronc with bis |
uncle's high and rather .tooniny sh"nIdors
which almost suppress the need Of neck ma |
Emperor walks well-like AN honest farmer
thoroughly at home. going to dinner with his
family. There is no pretension or study fnr
effect in his appearance. and bis ret1yn Of
bow.
NV quiet stand by the statue left me on,v
to turn around to find mvself on the ;mmc,
date limits of the IMPERIAL patb. | was do
lighted at being able to inspect so clnseIv tho
Queen But first pardon the exnrcs.ion Of n |
personal sentiment which discovered within
me ON the first appearance of her Majesty
felt the absence of the Emnrcss 'Vic;or;,
did not awe me, because her distinction 10
hereditary, not personal. Eugenie does he- |
cause she is beautiful and because n stronco
providence has placed her in her nresant 80 |
ton. The one inspires curiositv and resnoct
the other adorinc passion for herself and the
tenderest solctude for her future. The En-.
press's delicate health and interesting s;t"n-
ton prevented her accompanvinc the Ouoen
on this occasion.
regret | cannot give Won n distinct ;dea
of the personapes of this DISTINGUISHED con-
pany. by comparing them with nnhlic mi
yersally known notabilities at boma H.
fortunately | cannot trutbfullv affirm that
NAPOLEON resembles Barnum or that the |
Queen, Prince Albert, and the Princess
Roval appear like MARGARET Fnller Uoraco
Greeley, and Mrs. stowe '' ''''"''
At twenty, her Majesty was doubtless
pretty, and mcrited the touching title of
Sweet Rose of England She must ALWAYS
have been pretty, rather than beautiful her
form never can reach the matchless grace of
Eugenie's. Victoria has, however. still her
charms Her figure is naturally ,nignon.
though time has rounded it a little into full
ness | think she must count less even than
the feminine height of the Venus de Medici's
beauties. Years sit lightly on her Majesty,
though they have cast their rosy shadows