The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-30
Prom the Troy Daily Times.
Louis Napoleon in New York.
WASHINGTON IRVING AND LOUIS NAPo-
LEON.

Now that Napoleon has reached the last
act In his drama, there Is . peculiar inter
est attaching to his visit to New York.
This took place In 1887. He had been
held for some time prisoner Of war aboard
a French frigate, and by order Of Louis
Philippe he was released Mt Norfolk. Va.
From this port he hastened to New York,
where he remained two months. lie
boarded at the Washington Hotel, q sec,
ond rate establishment which covered
about two-t thirds Of the plot now occupied
by Stewards down town warehouse. He
Is said to have been very dissipated and
ficeutious while In the city, but Of this
there Is no proof. Among other incidents
of this period. he called on Washington
Irving, at Sunnyside, IN company with =
Young French Count, who, rs Irving says,
appeared to he the superior Of the two.
Tn fact, Mr.. Irving was surprised ut the
ouietncss of one who had cut such dash
at Strasbourg.
IRVING AND EUGENE. -.
The history OF the recent Empress (who
Is now nothing moro than Madame Bon.
aparte) Is q very peculiar illustration OF
the freaks of fortune. In 1853 Irving
writes thus to n lady: "-
"Iknew the grandfather Of the Empress,
old Mr.. Kirkpatrick, who had boon Amer
lean Consul at Malaga. ! passed an eve-
ming at his house In 1927. A week
afterwards was at the house of his son.
in.law, the Count Teba, q gallant and
most intelligent gentleman of Grenada
much cut up in the WARS, having lost an
eve and been MANNED in n leg and hand.
His wife. the daughter of Mr.. kirkpatrick
was absent, but he had family Of little
girls about him. Several years afterwnrd,
when had recently taken up my abode
ut Madrid. was invited to n grand ball,
mt the house of the Countess Of Montijo,
one of the leaders Of the ton. On making
my bow to her, was surprised at being
received by her with the warmth and Gag
erness of an old friend. She claimed me
rs the friend of her late husband, the
Count Tcba, subsequently Marquis Mon.
tiio,) who she said had often spoken OF
me with the greatest regard. She subse.
ouently introduced me to the little girls
had known in an early day, who had be.
come fashionable bellies Of Madrid. One
of these now sits on the throne of Franco.
A short time aterward, Irving writes
thus to another neice. Mrs. Storrow, who
was then residing ut Paris:
You give an account OF the marriage
procession of Louis Napoleon and his
bride to the church of Notre Dame, and
one of your letters speaks Of your having
been presented to the Empress. Louis
Napoleon and Eugene Montijo, Emperor
and Empress of France! One Of whom |
have had guest at my cottage on the
Hudson. and the other whom, when a
child. have had on my knee ut Grenada.
It seems to cap the climax Of the strange
drama of which Paris has been the thea
tire during my lifo time. Tho last / saw
of Eugenie Montijo she was ono Of the
reigning bellies of Madrid and she and
her giddy circle had swept by ruy charm
ing Young friend the beautiful and accom-.
plished Signorita - into their career of
fashionable dissipation. Now Eugenie
Is ON the throne while-is q volun-
tary rrcluse in n convent Of one Of the
most rigorous orders. Poor -. Par
hals however, her fate may ultimately be
the happier Of the two. With her the
storm Is over and she Is Mt rest. but the
other Is launched upon dangerous sea,
Infamous for It's tremendous shipwrecks.
Am 10 live to see the catastrophe Of her
career of the end Of this sudden conjured
up Empire. which seems to bo Of such
stuff as dreams are made Of?
"My personal acquaintance with the In
dividuals who figure In this historical ro-
nance gives me uncommon interest In 1t;
but I consider 1t stamped with danger and
instability. and rs liable to extravagant
vicissitudes rs one Of Dumas's novels,
You do well to witness the grand features
of this passing pageant. You are proba.
bly, reading one Of the most peculiar and
evcntful pages of history, and may live to
look back upon 1t as rOmanic tale"
Irving's words now sound prophetic.
and to add to their force 1t may be added
that, although he Is dead, the lady TO
whom they were addressed has lived to
witness that catastrophe Of which he
spoke. Eugenie's grandfather, Mr.. Kirk.
patrick. although American Consul at
Malaga, was Scotchman by birth and
was of plebian extraction. A sch0olmas.
ter of the same name living In Glasgow
was commonly styled the "cousin Of the
Empress" The wheel Of fortune by this
turn only brings Eugenie back to the lev
ell of her ancestors. ......