Smyrna times., 1867-06-26
MIS- CELLAN EOUS.
The Emperor of Mexico.

A Pen Portrait Of HIS Personal Character.
The following sketch of the private life and
personal character of Maximilian is said to be
from the pen Of an Englishman who was for
many years q resident in Mexico, and claim
to have enjoyed the special confidence Of Maxi
milan. 1t is highly colOrcd, we think, though
at the present time it will be read with inter
est:
"Maximilian is rather above the middle
height, well propor.ioned, with powerful high
square shoulders. In face he is decidedly good
looking, having regular features, light hair,
long side whiSkers and moustache of the same
color, small mouth and excellent teeth, with
a good tempered smile pcrpetually on his cOun-
tenance. He has light blue eyes and most
benevolent and amlable expression of counte-
nance. In dress he is always scrupulously
neat-a black frOck coat, light colored panta-
looms, white vest, and small black neck tie
usually constituted his morning costume-while
in the evening, at dinner parties, receptions
10, he wore the usual evening attire of pri-
vate gentleman. He very seldom donned uni
form, nor was it often worn at his receptions
When occasions of State rendered it necessary,
he would appear in plain dress of q general
of the army. lie was very fond of the Mcxi-
can costume, always adopting it when on horse
back or in company, also when travelling The
simple-rising early, good deal of business,
writing, &c, was generally got through with
before breakfast, which was partaken of pune
tually at halfp past eight o'clock; dinner was
held at half past two O'clock, and there was no
repast later The table was plain but abun-
dant, the principal wines consumed being light
Hungarian and German, though at dinner-par
ties, ut several OF which the writer has had the
honor of being present, no wine or other lux
ury procurable for money was ever wanting. =
After dinner the Emperor almost invariably
drove out, generally in an open carriage, drawn
by his favorite team of seven cream-colOred
mules, which always went at a tremendous
| pace through the streets especially the coach
man had injunction always to drive fast, in or
der to avoid the numerous salutations of the
people, for, though naturally very shy and re-
| tiring, Maximilian was too much of a gentle
man not to acknowledge the salutation of the
most humble. On returning from his drive q
few moments were again devoted to business
and at FIVE o clock he invariably retired to hi.
private apartments, where many hours were
often spent in study, writing, &c. Half Of his
time was spent at the country palace OF Cha.
pultepec, distant one league from the City o.
Mexico, from whence he usually drove in tC
business Immediately after breakfast arriving
punctually at ten o'clock and returning at FIVE
Z. NJ. lie also passed different periods at hi
summer place at Cuernavaca, situated in wha
is called TERRA tenIplada, or temperate coun
try, which is half way between the high pla
tcau and the low land near the coast, termed
the terra caliente, or hot land. This palace
though small is perfect little gem, delight
fully situated ON the slopes of the mountain
Here Macmillan gave himself entirely up tc
enjoyment, which in him was of very simple
character, catching and preserving butterhic!
and insects, shooting and bathing; these las
were the chief delights. The writer was ono,
passing a small lake, and, seeing some clothe
lying on q bank, and approaching little noar
er, discovered his Majesty enjoying himself il
the water to his heart content, totally unat
tended, with no one, perhaps, within three
miles Of him save the beholder. lie seldom
rode on horseback; being, as usual with sail
ors, bad horseman, he always preferret
shank's pony to any other travelling, thOug
he always had two or three of his horses le
behind the carriage, he seldom mounted any
His manners were, perhaps, what prOcuI
ed him so many friends in Mexico, for, what
ever may have been asserted OF the unpopular
itv of his cause, there can be no doubt bu
that he was very much beloved by large POI
r tion of the population of all classes. Away
I, polite and kind, no matter what the rank {
q the person addressed, he had that charmln
|. gift Of setting them at their case lmmedlatel
he began to converse with them. OhOuld inc
be Indifferent linguists, Che usually talked
!, French, he was always patient and would hel
them out ii necessary, never permitting thel
to be uncomfortable by noticing any little mi
= take. On the first occasion that the write
! had the honor of an interview, he kept hi
n nearly half an hour discoursing on indiferel
at though interesting subjects discovering thi
he was an Englishman, he discussed the la
Prince Consort, who, he said, was his create
friend, the Prince and Princess of Wales al
her baby, describing how big and fat it wa
how many teeth it had cut, &c, &c, and !
that he thought would be pleasing to an i
and GnarLIiuC