The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-23
The Crow, ed Head. OF Europe.

Paris Correspondence fhlade phia Ledger
First of the leading monarchs OF Europe is
Louis Napoleon, who, unlike his compeers in Eng
land, Prussia and Austria, is bis own prime minis
ter, and holds the reigDs of government in his
own hands. To an American, his most re mark
able quality is the ease and huency with VIII CHI
be spesks the English language. He talks it
well and besides he puts his visitors so thoroughly
at ease by his bland, courteous aud justified
manner. that the king is forgotten in the man.
He wants TO know all about everything going on
and takes quite much interest in the approach
ing American presidential election as if he expec.
ted TO vote for one of the candidates.
Napoleon is a small man, bright eyed, with
preyish hair. and whilst his portraits resemble
him. they all fatter him He is neither of com.
mandng presence, nor does he seem 70 be a man
of power. Perhaps, however, he only sh0 VS. him
self truly great on great occasions, yet certainly
be does not appear 70 be more than the ordinary
style of mOrtals. He makes his best show in uui.
form, on horseback, and is said to be the first
bOrseman Of Europe. He rides good deal about
Paris, attended by guards, but just now spends
the most Of bis time at FOntainebe or Chsllns.
He bows profoundly 10 all who pass him, and takes
a lively interest in everything connected with
France. His face however, is care worn and sad;
he does not look like happy man; nor does it
seem if he cared 50 much now as he formerly did
about the pleasures Of royalty. Perhaps Napo.
leon would net be sorry il he could get back TO
private lie, and be able TO move about withoutfear
of assassination. He is sixty now, and his hopes
are centered in the prince imperial. royal pro.
L
Empress Eugene is a faded beauty of forty. of
magnificent figure, and full Of the sweetest smiles
for every one whose eye catches hers. With ex-
cellent tact, she surrounds herself only with ugly
maids of honor, and | am tOm she exerts her
wOman's privilege quiet royalty by being in an
almost perpetual quarrel with her husband.
The queen of England has for some time ceased
TO be the golden. haired and blooming damsel the
painters and eoiners would represent her. she u
a matron with a large family of children and
grandchildren, and her Photograph as usual,
faiteS her. Victoria, just now, is said to chiefly
occupy herself 10 regulating the prince Of Wales
They are constantly at war.
The prince, who has spent the greater part Of
the past year in cultivating an elaborate pair of
side WhiskeTs, is unable TO please his mother, and
the result is that every once.in while she turns
him out OF some of the royal residences. She also
adopts every possible plan to run him in debt by
forcing upon him the expense Of court entertain
ments that she ought TO bear herself. II is hard
to tell what is the of all this illblood be-
tween mother and son, but 1t is the common gossip
of England, and the sympathy seems TO be
thoroughly with the prince. The queen, when
most sulky. plunges herself into the deepest re-
cesses OF Scotland. The prince does not seem to
care much about il but does the best he can to
support the social duties devolvng on the royal
family, whilst to FIJI his purse, Parliament votes
him extra money. Decidedly the best one of the
Engll.h reigniDg family is the princess OF Vale /,
now the mother of four children, who is always
cheerful pleasant and popular, still good looking,
from the loose company he unfortunately keeps.
King Ludwig ii Of Bavaria, is young man,
tall. and Of commanding presence with black
complexion and black eyes. He is very sOmbre
In his dress and so sentimental 10 appearance that
you think. were he not king. he would be stu.
dent. He strikes you as always wrapped no 10
some phiOsophic mystery. Perhaps this is the
effect that Wsgner's music has upon him. Yet
Ludw q bows to you in the most elaborate man
ner. bringing his hat down to the level Of HIS
waist in the prCfoundDess of his salute, and en-
tirely outdoing the universal German custom Of
taking off the hat to passing friends. Ludwig ia
sharp, too, in the management of his king lOm.
He keeps his subjects contented by preventing an
increase 10 the beer tax, and although his sympa.
thies are Austrian, he manages, just at present. to
be on the Prussian side.
The Austrian emperor is like the prince OF
Wales, the owner of very valuable, yet trouble
some pair of wbiskers. He is not very strong
man as q ruler, and is thoroughly overslsughed by
the cahals that surround him. OF weak dispOsi-
ton, he is shilly .shsllying in his nature and at
times is excessively joyous. or else plunged in the
depth Of despair. Austrian manners are 50 very
exclusive that The emperor rarely sees any OF his
humber subjects; nor do they seem TO care much
about him. 10 America he would be called good.
looking but really that is all that can be said. n
initiates his royal brethren chiefly in their foles,
and when be wants to make display does it by
driving across his empire ia a post.chaise 10 a
shorter time than il was ever previously DONE or
in some similarly useless style. | was sst0nished
at learning in Austria that Baron Won Buest, the
prime minister, whilst the nation was almost com
pletely Catholic, was Protestant.
Excepting in France, the monarchs have little as
possible 10 do with the government of their cOun-
tries. They sort Of figure heads, as it were,
whilst at the helm there stands some subject of
commanding Dience, who directs the ship of state.
The kings and queens shine at balls and pageants,
but never In the council chamber.