Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-18


a tanic and jacket of French merino of the
finest and softest texture. The tunic was
trimmed withG dounces Of silk the same
shade, and was fooped up.most gracefully.
The jacket, which fitted her lovely shout
ders to perfection, was slashed at the back
and sides, and trimmed around with one
row of velvet, a small velvet collar, and at
the wrists deep pointed cuffs, ornamented
with gold buttons, extending from the bot
tom OF the sleeve TO the top of the cuff.
Her gloves were Of buff silk, long at the
wrists. Around her throat she wore q large
white tie of the finest linen cambria,
trimmed with Brussels lace. Her hat was
of black straw, bound around the brim
with black silk, and a large black bow on
the left side was the only trimming. It
was small. with dropping, narrow brim.
She carried in her left hand buff umbrel-
la, lined with green silk, in her right a
substantial brown wood cane with q gold
head. She did not seem to carry it simply
for ornament, but made good use of it AS
walking stick. Her veil was small and of
black thread lace. Her dress was long, so
long that did not catch a glimpse of her
feet. She wore no jewelry of any kind,
not even in her ears, which were, though
not particularly small, well formed. She
wore her hair, the tint of which is a mix-
ture of garnet and gold, in a simple water
fall OF very moderate size.
[ have heard much Of the beauty and
grace of the Empress. but l was not pre-
pared to see a person of such exquisite
loneliness. The Empress did not appear
to be more than twenty five years of age.
Her eyes-but how can ] describe her
eyes [ have never seen ssuch eyes be
fore; they are blue-deeply, darkIy beau
tifully blue. almond shaped. the outer cor
ners dropping, the lashes the color of her
hair; the expression a rare combination Of
| dignity, mOdesty and purity. Her COM
plexion is pale without pallor; [ think |
cannot better describe it than by saying
that it is angelic. Her nose is slightly
aquiline, AID her smile enchanting it
lights up her face like CLEAN Of sunshine.
Her hands are not small, but Of such fine
proportions that they look small.
! While L do not feel at liberty to repeat
the words which the Empress uttered.
| either to my self or others in nv hearing
L may express the conviction with which [
left her presence. She loves France. and
is anxious for It's welfare-more anxious
for that than for the restoration of the
empire and perpetuity of the Napoleonic
dynasty. She has nothing TO do with the
intrigues that are going on here, in Jersey
or at Mons, or at Wllhelmshohe She sees
that the salvation of France depends upon
the maintenance Of the provisional gov
eminent now established there until tho
enemy has been driven from its borders.
and it Is for this that she hopes, for this
she works, and for this she pravs daily, if
not hourly, being oitener on her knees
than on her feet, asking the intercession
OF our Blessed Lady for the land which is
50 rich in faith, as well as so'sadly stained
with nnbelief That the great majority of
the French people still look upon her hus-
band as their lawful rluer chosen by them
in the first place, and confirmed in his au-
thority by their repeated votes, she be-
lie -es; that they will ask him to return to
them, Or that at least they will demand the
restoration of his dynasty, she considers
probable. Bot that is not the question
now. The question now is: How to save
France from being conquered and crushed
by Germany, aud he is her friend who
aids in that work, be he republican or i'm
perlal1st. when peace is restored, and
the country Is once more free to choose it's
form Of government, it will be time then
to decide whether it will elect to recall
ruler under whom Il score Of years Of I'M
interrupted prosperity and peace were en-
fjOyed, or to continue il power party who
drove that ruler into e war for which he
was wholly unprepared and which he was
wholly unwilling to undertake. It was
liberal France that made tho war unovoid-
albeit was imperial France that desired
peace and dreaded war; and il remains for
the future to show Whe tbe1 France il still
at heart impeIiaistic or republican. The
empire was established by the votes Of the
people, and confirmed by their voices over
and over again. The people have not ex-
pressed any wish for the substitution Of O
republic for the empire; should they do so
the Empress will not be found plotting
against them.
The news Of the last few days had Great.
~ inspitited and enlivened the Empress.
have been told, Il few days before, that
she was depressed, gloomy and unhanDy.
and that she was in i'll health. To-day,
however, che was in what seemed to be
the best Of health and spirits; she was an
mated and almost gay, and she conversed |
with vlVacity, wit, good humor and |
good sense that were very charming.
After our interview was concluded, nv
young friend and / accompanied the En- |
press and Lcr suite for half an hour in her
usual daily walk. AS we issued from the |
principal gate-Which was brought from |
the Paris Exhibition, and is a thing of |
great beauty and fine wOrkmanship-we |
were met by q considerable number Of |
people, both in carriages ana on foot who |
had evidently assembled to see the EN-
press, some to salute and do her honor,
and some from less kindly motives, fear.
All, however, Joined her escort and accom-
panied her some distance, but finally fell
DacE or Turned aside an6 left her 10 pur-
sue her walk without interruption.
Her Mojestys suite consisted OF four
ladies and two gentlemen, she walking FIRST
with one Of the gentlemen, and the others
following. They were all dressed in ex-
cellent taste, and when say this, know
that my countrywomen VIII understand
what [ mean; it is. however, impossible to
make the English see or boieve that the
French dress in better taste than they do,
because they really have no taste in dress.
The ladies wore black hats similar to
5dat of tho Empress, and their hair dressed
N the same style. They all wore silk
oettcoat7, aud tunics and jackets of some
other material. Some Of them, like her
Majeftv, walked with canes, and those who
lid not used their umbrellas as such The
gentlemen wore dark gray pantaloone,
black coats, and-such lovely boots.
The Empress bowed aud smiled to all
10 C4t T1ta hon c1t