Thibodaux minerva., 1856-03-08
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
The Empress Of France.

The following description of an interview witt
tue Empress of France, though somewhat flavor
ed with the personal admiration of the writer
will be interesting to many of our readers:
rImperatrice des Francais Eugenie de Gua-
man, Confess de Teba.
Is the Empress pretty? is always the first
question asked by my fair countrywomen. Is
she tall is she stout has she light hair, has she
blue eyes, is she amiable, is she graceful, and
do the people like her? As had an opportu-
nifty of seeing and conversing with the Empress
at one Of the presentations of the Palace Of the
Tuilleries, will give my fair friends graphic
description of the Empress Eugenie. The En-
press is by no means every day person
neither is she dazzling beauty, glarng like a
sunfower; but like sweet and modest violet,
that possesses charm to linger long in one
memory. The Empress entered the magnificent
saloon by the side of her noble husband, void of
all airs, except to win all hearts, that said well
come the stranger to the palace of my adoption.
Although it was not the home of my forefathers,
welcome you within its walls. Her step was
gentle. and she spoke to US all with that grace
and ease so peculiar to her character, asking
many pleasant questions relative to America,
such rs how long we had been in France, and if
We were pleased with Paris. and appeard amaz-
ed that we did not all speak French. The EN-
press speaks very fine English, owing to her be-
ing partly educated ia England. l believe it
was in Bristol where she went to school, One
Of her amiable qualities is never to overlook an
old school-feilew, invariably remembering them
with some pretty souvenir. To one of her old
scheel-mates she gave an elegant watch. Her
heart is in the right place. had seen her sew
eral times riding, and, from her portraits, e1
pected to have seen q very tall person; the En-
press is Of medium height, of slight and gra-
ceful figure, decidedly blonde, with light hair,
invariably worn La mode Temperita; her COM
plexion very delicate-so much so that you may
trace the blue veins running in their course, the
forehead high and expansive, and eyebrow most
beautifully arched, shading the eye of soft
and tender hue that speaks volumes to the
hearts affections, and says will you love me
its the love Of my people that wish - the
nose slightly bridged; mouth sweetly express
i've; when speaking, a constant smile; when in
repose, a lingering shade of sadness. The En-
peror is devoted to her, and well he may be.
She is truly lovely woman, now in the summer
of her days-may her autum yielda golden har.
vest, the setting Of its sun sink in its calmest
repose, the winter of her life be soft and balmy
rs the air of Ceylon's Isles No one that knows
the Empress could wish her aught but happi-
demi-tr large black shawl; the hat COM
posed of black velvet, garnished with petite
plumes arranged across the back of the crown,
inside the brim full plain tull border of white,
with the little coquetish bow of black velvet |
ribbon that a French lady fancies so much, |
PLACED slightly to the left side-her costume be- |
ing very neat and elegant. The Empress ap- |
peared particularly pleased and attentive to the
American ladies. We were all arranged stand |
ing around the room, presented separately by |
our minister. The Emperor stood near me be-
fore was aware of his presence, an agreeable,
happy looking man, with his chapeau tucked un
der his right arm, with perfectly original
show do you do-I am glad to see you" His
Majesty paid particular attention to Mr. Haley,
the American artist, asking him many questions
in reference to his pictures, and when he would
have some Of them finished that he had already
seen. Every person were at their ease in the
grand Palace of the Tuilleries as they would
have been in the White House in Washington.
sm often asked many questions respecting
French peQPae- The French are particularly
partial to the Americans. know it by expert
ence OF many months so journ in their midst
Many persons are under the delusion that the
business people will take advantage of you and
cheat you never found it the case. On the
contrary. found them most obliging, honest,
aud willing to serve you in any way. They new
er think 1t too much trouble to oblige or to wait
IN customer. Indeed, often felt sorry for the
trouble they would take, as always considered
that business peoples time is their money, and
he means of their subsistence. Il
ExERALD BIRD OF PARADIsE.-This most gor- {
seous and elegant bird, says Woods "Natural
History" was once the subject of much discus {
lion among naturalists. The natives Of New
iuiena were accustomed to dry them, having
irst cut of their legs, and then offer them for 1
ale. In this footless state they reached Europe, J
There it was Immediately stated that the bird
ived always in the air, buoyed up by the light
less OF its feathery coverings that the shoul-
lers we're used as its nest that the only rest it
ook, was by suspending itself from branch
y the famentary feather of the tail; that its a
ood vas the morning dew; together with many q
ther conjectures not less ingenious than anus b
ng. 5T
The bird appears about the sire Of . jay. Its q
ody. breast and lower parts are Of deep rich
rown; the front set close with black feathers {
hot with green; the throat is of rich golden {
reen; the head yellow; the sides of the tail t
re clothed with splendid plume Of long downy d
gathers Of soft yellow color. By these are I
laced two long flamentous shafts, which ex- P
md nearly two feet in length. G
OF these beautiful feathers the bird is so proud
lat it will not suffer the least speck Of dirt to
emain upon them, and it is constantly examin-
q its plume to see that there are no spots ON e.
. When in its wild state it always flies and y
is with its face to the wind, lest its elegant in
lume should be dissarranged Y
So far from living exclusively on dew, it eats
, small amount Of insects, such as grasshop-
.rs, which it will not touch if dead, and COM m
ences its repast by stripping off the legs and st
ings. When in confinement, it also eats boil vi
rice. plantains, ETC.. but in the wild state it 10
ems to feed mostly on seeds Of the teak-tree, p
I'd kind Of fig. b
There are several species Of Paradise birds "
loWn, but the one described above is the most
mmon, and is the one Of which the above pi
entioned fables we're told. &~t to
The BIRrH-PLAcE OF wAsHrsaroS.-Mr. r
swis W. Washington, Of Jefferson county vir- at
mia, son of the late Hon. GeorgeC. Washing in
a. Of Maryland. as heir of the estate, has rem rt
red to the State Of Virginia, through Cover ou
r Wise, the title to sixty acres Of land in tn
county, the site Of the birthplace as
George Washington, and the house and graves co
his progenitors in America. The condition tri
the gift is that the State shall cause the pre- de
ses 70 be permanently enclosed by an iron ag