Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-17
EUGENE, EMPRESS OF FRANCE.

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religious ceremonies being solemnized the next
day at Notre Dame. The population of Paris
manifested the most intense curiosity and in.
terest in the event, but were exceedingly
sparing OF their applause. The Imperial car
riage was received everywhere along the route
with hum of voices and suppressed exclame.
tions, but with nothing which, by. any fight of
Imagination. could be construed into enthu-
siasm. Her majesty was still an entire stranger
to the people, and thus, unsupported by any
personal popularity of her own, her position
as the bride elect Of Louis Napoleon gave her
no especial claim to q cordial recognition. The
city was still under the influence of the sauibs
and jibes which for ten days had been circu-
lating from mouth to mouth After the cere-
mony, the Emperor led the Empress to the
balcony of the Tuileries, and saluting the
people, presented her TO them as their future
sovereign-as far as the Salic law would per.
nit The Americans who witnessed the scene
will not soon forget it for they felt il to be
one OF the most painful they had ever beheId.
Hardly man raised his voice or lifted his hat
The Emperor was yisibly moved, and the EN-
press seemed to shrink back as if chilled to
the very heart; she must have realized that to
satisfy the curiosity of multitude is a very
different thing from awakening their sym-
pathy. Still, the impression which she had
made, during this trying day, was eminently
favorable, and the people went to their homes
quite disposed to accord to the fair and amiable
stranger that national and individual protec-
tion which she seemed by her manner to i'm
piOre.
Nearly all classes Of society had some reason
10 thank the Empress for her indirect influ-
ence upon their pleasures on this occasion
The lovers of spectaclcs were grati6ed by the
procession, the liluminatiOns, and the gratui-
tous performances at the theatres: the army
by double rations of wines; the school-bovs bv
two day vacation; the victims Of the Empe-
ror's displeasure, by the announcement of four
thousand pardons, or recalls from exile: and
the poor, by her Majesty's refusal of a dia-
mOnd necklace, and her request that the sum
voted for its purchase might be spent in works
of benevOlence.
The Empress made her first appearance after
her marriage before the assembled fashion. mo-
bilIty and wealth Of Paris, on the night of the
9TH Of February, at ball given by the Senate
to their Msjesties, at the Luxembourg This
was an occasion of interest to the ladies, as the
great question remained yet undecided wheth-
er her Majesty's taste in dress was such as il
behoOves an Empress to possess. The question
was satisfactorily settled that night; her Mai
esty was deliciOusly habited in white satin.
wearing pearl necklace around her neck
and yiolets in her hair. No one will, at the
present day, dispute her claim to be consider
ed the first milliner of Franco, a claim in
which, perhaps, her advisers and coadiutors in
matters Of taste, Mademoisselles Vigneron and
their share. She has, by the natural effect
Of the accession of a young and beautiful yo-
man, stimulated all the arts to which female
charms are wont to apply for intrinsic embel-
hshment. Many branches of trade and manu-
facture have revived under this auspiciou,
influence. With one fashion, the name of
the Empress will be connected as long "A the
fashion lasts; and, in view of the many adyap-
tagcs claimed for it, and in defiance of the
whiriWind of jests which it has provoked, ex-
clusively on the part of male scoers is likely
to endure as long as the generation for which
IL was invented. The English sovereign NAV
prescribe it, and confirmed punsters may riddle
1t with their light artillery; but a mode which
her graceful Msjssty has sanctioned and sane
tihed by her example must possess in itself ell
ements OF durability which will enable il 10
survive both the opposition Of her sister queen
and the maleyolence Of the wits
There are few salient points in the life of
Eugene since her elevation to the throne. She
has, In measure, purified the court not rails.
Ing 1t, OF course, above the ordinary standard
OF Partisan morality, but at least correcting
many abuses which had lowered it beneath the
standard She has visited the fortress of Ham
with the Emperor, and the apartments in
which the pretender of Bologna was confined.
She has more than once been in eminent dan
ger Of death, exposed to missiles directed
against his Majesty; and has always displayed
courage and self possession. She has honored
BY her presence the Inauguration of asyIums
and institutions Of benevolencs, and has her,
self endowed and assumed the financial respon.
sloillty OF model lodging houses for the poor.
She has visited the Queen Of England at Wind
sor Castle, and has received her Britannia Ma.
lesty at Versailles. she wspt over mutilated
heroes Of the siege of SebastOpol She has sat
for her portrait to Vidsr, Winterhalter, and
Dubufe. During her summers spent nj Biar-
It's or eaux Bonnes, where the formality of
0nNr In u
on, she asintcrested herself personally in the
condition Of the humber classes, and has given
the INDECENT abundant cause to mention her
name with blessings. Above all, she has given
an heir to the French throne-as far, that is,
as she can herself control the succession.
Eugenie has exercised a political influence
which IL will be the pleasure of the future his
torian Of the reign of Napoleon III to ac
knowledge, and his duty to record She has
strengthened bis hold upon the throne, BY en-
dearing herself to the people. She has in
degree, softened the rigor Of his sway. BY the
logic Of beauty; by the tenderness of feeling
sohappily expressed in her features, her air and
manner; by the force Of feminine tact and the
influence of a benevolent heart, she has secured
for the Imperial throne that which, without a
woman . cooperation, it never would have OBJ
taioed-the sympathy of tho people
she has reconciied many who would have
been won BY ncother means. She has diverted
mems thoughts from perjury and massacre to
more agreeable subjects Of CONTEMPLATION She
has associated, to the mind Of the nation, ideas
which the Emperor would have kept distinct
she has coupled benignity with power, and anne
nifty with majesty. The yoke Is less calling
than II was, and possibly may be yet still fur.
ther lightened. These results have been at
tanned largely through the subtle but irresisti-
be influence Of the personal appearance, man
ner ana character OF the Empress The very
opposite Of her sister queen, and inferior 10 her
IN masculine force of understanding, IL has
been given 70 her to exercise, under AUSPICES
totally different, and upon a nation having few
traits in common with the English, an influence
not unlike that which we have described as az
erted by Victoria Though different in kind
and less in degree, the example Of the foreign
and adopted Empress is not by any means un-
worthy Of being fayornbly mentioned in con-
nection with that Of the native and legitimate
queen.
CUBAN LADY's OPINION OF rHE PuRcnAsE
OF CCBA -AmericAn nj MI M