The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-05
From Hdrper's Weekly.
How the Empress Eugene "Cut Ouf'
the Empress of Russia.

From Hdrper's Weekly.
How the Empress Eugene "Cut Quo
the Empress of Russia.
At the recent assembly of sovereigns and
their wives at Stuttgardt, it is pretty we'll
known that the most beautiful of the royal
ladies of Europe, the lovely Empress Eugene
was net present at the interview. She had
intended to accompany her husband, but the
foolish Empress of Russia, inflated with
senseless pride, declined to meet her. 1t was
accordingly arranged that the Emperors
were to meet without their wives; but no
sooner had the Russian Empress aScertained
that Eugenle was not to be present, then she
took the first train and joined her husband.
She was willing enough to make the acquain-
lance of the Emperor of the French, but she
did not care about rskng comparison be-
tweer her destinations and those of the be-
witchng Eugene.
There was a reason for this at which even
the best-lnformed correspondents have only
ventured to hint. Not many years since.
when Eugene was mere Spanish beauty,
floating through society in search of a hus-
band, she spent winter at St. Petersburg.
AC liOl VI tuC OCoC O'CiOty thoV
was the Count of G., young man en-
dowed with remarkable personal attractions,
witty, accomplished, and a proverbial lady
killer. The present Empress of Russia, then
mere Archduchess, was so much impressed
by the Cou.t that sho granted him the high
favor of her particular protection being
herself from various reasons, above the reach
of idle scandal she admitted the Count to
an intimacy, which under any other circum-
stances, or with any other lady, would have
led to much gossip. The Archduchess
could afford to allow newsmolgers to talk as
they please. The Count spent his mornings
and most of his evenings at her residence
h, drove with her, read with her, sang with
her. The late Emperor Nicholas used to
quiz his son, and say that he really did not
know which was which, the Archduke or the
fascinating Count de G..
1t was towards the close of that winter
that Eugene de Montijo was introduced into
the society Of the Russian capital. Those
who are familiar with Court gossip, are we'll
aware that Eugene had just been Tilted by
an English nobleman, who, after paying her
the most devoted attentions, had deserted
her to marry the daughter of wealthy Loa-
don brewer. Eugene. whose mind does not
rise above the natural feminine sphere, felt
the necessity of retrieving herself by comp
detat. She took but few days to ascertain
that the Count de g. was the most
eclatam conquest she could make at st. Pc
more dazzling, as the favor Ct
the Archduehess seemed to engrOss him en-
tircly. She laid her plans with the skill OF
a veteran intriguer. The first time she met
the Count she bcwildered him by the intense
admiration she evinced for him the next
time she snubbed him again she seemed to
be miserable out Of his society; and again
she affected to be emnuye Of his attentions.-
BY these and other manoeuvres she contrlved
remember that she is one of the most
beautiful and fascinating women in Europe
to turn the Counts head. He declared
himself. in love she laughed heartily at the
idea. He asseverated his protestations in the
most frantic manner; she laughed more
heartily than ever; protested that she be
lieved he was only using her as cloak tor
his admiration for the Archduchess; and IL
nally dared him to cut the Archduchess at a
ball which was to be given that evening at
the Prince Galinzin's.
1t must not be supposed that the Arch
duchess was insensible to what was passing.
she ha noticed-as what woman does not
the influence the pretty Spaniard was 40
curing over the Counts mind, and had ralll-
ed him agreeably on the subject, feeling her
self, meanwhile, anything but agreeable at
the sight. Gossips pretended that she had
resolved to bring the question to an issue at
that very ball at Prince Galinzins; at all e.
vents, she was evidently pref AIRED to resort to
extreme measures for the extinction OF her ri
val. When the ball come of, the Grand
Duchess, who is rather honely, was dress
ed in the most admirable manner, h jewels
were the admiration Of every one; and such
was the skill of her maids that she appeared
not only to be young, but to be beautiful. -
Eugene had dressed with equal art, hut there
was this difference between her and her rival :
in the get up of the latter, the most conspicu
Gus feature was tie ingenuity displayed-in
that of her rival, the seeming absence of art.
Eugene wore the simplest dress, without or
nament or Jewels she might have been
pretty Brooklyn girl going to her first ball, at
no greater expense than that Of her gloves
and shoes.
She conquered. The Count, who h d
watched for her appearance, seized upon her
when she entered the ballroom.
monsieur Butterfly" said she, in Devil.
dering undertone, remember your OATH"
And he remembered it.
The Grand Duchess revolved round him
that evening Ike satellite. She met him at
the promenade; she was in his way when he
led Eugene through a waltz she sat beside