The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-20
TIE EMPRESS EUGENE.
Tho Princess wasa, Napoleon's First Be
trethed-Tbe Austrian Emperor's Designs
The wiles Of Beautiful Adventures
The Course Of Great Life Changed.


trethed-Tbe Austrian Empcror's Designs
The wiles Of n Beautiful Adventurcss-
The Course Of Great Life Changed.
From ne Shafts zeftun0.
Had not the original plans Of Napoleon in re-
gard TO his marriage been frustrated by the Austrian
Court, his life might have taken very different
course, and there might now be no necessity Of his
despairingly bewalng the tact that through foreign
counsels he has allowed himself to be ruined. He
wished to marry his cousin the Princess wasa grand
daughter OF the Grand Duchess stephane Of Baden,
and had already offered her his hand on the occa.
sion OF a visit to Baden Baden. His suit was
ceptod but with the condition that Prince Wasa, the
father Of the Princess, who lived In vienna apart
thereupon turned TO the Emperor Of Austria with
the request that he should undertake the wooing OF
the bride from Prince Wasa, but he received an
answer to the effect that this not permitted by
the laws Of etiquette, inasmuch as tie Prince was
only Colonel In the Austrian army.
This, however, was merely an excuse, since Franz
Joseph was determined TO prevent the proposed
match al any price. lie therefore contrived to in
sent; and, while Napoleon stil hoped on, match
between the Grown Prince OF SaIony and the Prin.
cess was quickly 6Ioush, about BY hs intrg0es sS o,
and exasperaed Of this and upon first learning that
| this, his darling project, had been frustrated lie
verains de rEurope sc souyiendroat de mol" Crhe
princes OF Europe shall have cause to think Of mel
tris had only too much cause for regretting the
share which he had taken In this affair but for Ma
poleon the result was much worse from having
perhaps the only real heartfelt desire he cape
rienced depressed in this rude way. Even though
the woman whom be had desired TO make Empress
OF the French had by no means distinguished her
self for eminent qualities, yet her modest bashfu
almost depended nature would have been guaran-
tee that she would never have endeavored TO over
step the limit or her duties, never have labored To
secure government which would have made OF
the highest interests OF France a paything her
humors and her senshness.
But this was the result OF the second choice which
Napoleon then hit upon. Among ,he many aiven-
turers OF rank who happened 70 be In Paris At the
time OF Napoleons great political stratayem there
who mad created a sensation and drawn the attcn.
| ton OF Napoleon toward themselves by their
travagant STYLE OF living, well as by the beauty oil
| tho daughter. Napoleon had drawn these women
to his court, and had INDUCED In every kind of
galantry toward the daughter, who, however. had
quickly given him to understand that despite bel
coquery, she was Just careful Of her honor he
| was OF lie, ana would yield in no way 60 his pas
sions unless he allowed her the legitimate place a
| his side.
| When now the proposed match with the Princess
| Wasa turne out failure, Eugene contrived e
procure an invitation TO Compiegne, and there "
the irecr tercourse with Napoleon. and with th'
aid OF a brilliant toilette, in which violet wreath
amid her blonde hair had nm especially stroni
| effect, she succeeded through the magic of her per
| sonal appearance and her splendid conversations
| powers, in so allurng him that he, still sensity
over the result Of his former plans, ana with th'
| firm determination OF NEE ing the crowned prince
| OF Europe parvenu, suddenly offered her hi
hand, and 70 the universal astonis hment not alone o
France, but OF all EueOpe, raised tie position O
| Empress a woman OF doubtful descent and OF 81
| equally doubtful past.
Since then tlds woman has shared his throne with
him for eighteen years ard has apparently IL Il true
| contributed very much to its splendor; but II Ma
| poleon now looks back over this period and call
| himself to account Tor the influences which sinc
| then have been brought 10 bear upon him from IA
| side Of his wife, ana by means OF her have bee
made effective, he can scarcely do otherwise thal
curse the hour In which he entered into this ALI