The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-13

| Spanish Ambassador ana M. LeseePs, iVi
plan for her escape, and went to her rescue.
M I,esseps stood outside and harangued the
mob for the purpose of OBTAINING them, while
the two other gentlemen went in search OF the
Empress. They found her partaking of very
frugal lunch with one of her ladies, and her
fears could not be aroused. Seeing it impossi.
BILE to persuade her, the two gentlemen used
force to remove her. At this she consented to
make a slight preparation, and without at all
CHANGING her dress(for the mob had entered the
Palace), catching up small leathern reticule,
put into it two OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and two
books. the New Testament and aprayer book.
On her head she put a riding hat, and then
by that time thoroughly aroused, she fled
through the palace; through long corridors,
down, up flights of stairs, through chamber
and salon, long walk before they came down
TO the Rue RivoIi, on which side of the palace
the mob had not collected. Here a cab awaited
her. She, with the lady in attendance, was
put into it. Now said the friends, we must
leave you; too well known, our attendance
would bring destruction upon you'll Make
good speedp Yes, good speed, for she heard
the cries of the furious mob, and as she was
entering the cab little boy exclaimed, 'Tnere
is the Empress and she thought all was lost;
but it proved that there was no one there to
take notice, and so the two ladies drove on.
Soon they came into the midst OF the
excited crowd, and the lady accompanying
her questioned on this side and the other
the meaning of it all, and appeared to be
greatly interested in the proceedings, while the
Empress sank back out of sight in the carriage.
They had a long ride out beyond the Champs
Elysees to the quieter parts of the city. when
they alighted, dismissed the cab, to avoid Civ
ing any clew in case of pursuit, and walked
come distance. Where should she goP To
whom fee? What friend trust2 There was
but one to whom she would venture, and that
enc an American gentleman OF some note, who,
with his wife, had long been friend of both
Emperor and Empress So they took another
cab for the house of this gentleman (whom we
will call Mr.. w, arriving there to lind
him away from home, and his wife absent for
the summer at small seaport on the coast
The servant under these circumstances was
extremely ungracious, and quite refused 70
admit these strange ladies, and when at last,
upon their insisting, they were admitted TO
the house, she was unwilling to show them
into an apartment suitable for them, and
it was not without some difficulty that they
were allowed to wait in the library for the
owners return. When at last he returned and
entered the room, judge of his surprise at the
sight of the Empress. you must get me i'm
claimed the Express, the moment she saw him.
Out of France that very nightP He told her
it was impossible. He was expecting party
of friends to dinner but would plead sudden
business and excuse himself, and make prepa-
rations as quickly as possible for her Hight;
but, in the meantime, she must De quiet ana
rest. This she was prevailed upon to do, and,
supplying herself from Mrs. VS. ward
robe, retired for the night
ssThe dinner party, receiving the excuses OF
the host, and overcome with a sense OF mystic
~, soon withdrew in spite of the cordial mes
sage and wishes of the gentleman that they
would make themselves merry in his absence.
r =. =
at the door, into which Mr.. W-put the two
ladies, and driving himself, set off on their way
out of France, pursuing quiet streets then unfre-
uuented roads and lanes of the country, avoid
ing the more public highways of the kingdom;
and SO on until the horses were worn out.
They were near little village, but then came
the question how to get carriage brought to
Mr.. W went to the inn, and having found
private carriage which was waiting over
there, agreed with the servant to come out
mile or so and carry his party, Mr.. VS.
two sisters, one of whom was very lame indeed,
and could not walk a step, some miles on, till
they should come to a railway. This done, and
the lame lady with much difficulty put into the
carriage By her brother and sister, they
proceeded for distance, until they came to a
railway, where they left the carriage to break
up the clew, and rode short distance, in the
rail car without attracting attention. Then
they took another carriage, riding in round
about ways, until at the end of two days they
came to the little seaport where Mrs. w. was
spending the summer. How must Mr., w
conduct the ladies into the presence of his wife
without being observed by every one? After
some accommodating, this was successfully
accomplished, and throwing her arms around
the neck of Mrs. W. Eugene ex-
claimed: you and your husband are the
only friends left to me in the world She with
the lady who accompanied her, remained in
the room of Mrs. W lest some one should
see and recognize her. No servant could be
allowed to enter the room. Mrs. W
brought food to the two ladies and served the
Empress in everything, who expostulated at
the Inconvenience she was causing her friend,
and insisted upon waiting upon herielf, her pc,
havior being of such sweet character as still
more to endear her to her friends, who were
risking nearly all they possessed in her cause.
"Their plan was now to get her across the
Channel TO the Isle of Wight, and thence to
England. There were but two conveyances In
the harbor-both private yachts-and only one
able to get out to sea. The owner OF that one
| fatty refused to take the ladies over; but, al
last, after the identity of the ladies had beer
made known, and much persuasion used, ht
| consented, and Mr.. W and the two ladies,
| with the reticule containing two pocket hand
kerchefs, set out the day after their arrival in
the little town on their voyage to Engla
| This Is Journey usually inaue III d low
hours but terrible storm arising, it was pro
longed to twenty seven. The same night, and
in the same waters, the Captain went down
| But although the gentleman in command los
all control of himself and ship, they weathere'
| the storm.
During this time Eugene showed the mos
| remarkable selfpossession, and evidently look
| ed upon death as a relief from her woes. Blu
this was not to be, and alter passage fraugh
| with the most imminent danger, she wa
landed on the Isle of Wight, to find on Englis
ground that asylum which had been sou ght b
so many fugitives before her. And to add t
her relief, her son, of whose whereabouts sh
knew nothing, was found to be in Hastings, nc
far from her.
"Such is the true story of Eugenie's escap
from Paris and France. What sad, sad tai
of fallen greatness How much must she. hav
suffered in those few days the fury Of Pari
mob in her ears the fear of pursuit at ne
back; how often did she start and give ner
self up for lost What threatening meanln
did many an accidental phrase assume
wonder her couraso sustained tne iea.iu
storm me thunder and lightning, the water
however dark and cold and deep, would be ia
more merciful than that dreadful mob tina
called out her name, the mob that had show
no pity to the little child or tender woman
and derided with the bitterest insults the fon
Marie Antoinette at the guillOtine. Oh, Franc
when we remember those days of terror, CT
I