Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
Sale Of the Empress Eugenie's Per-
sOnal Effects.


In passing by the new galleries of the Louvre
facing the quay, heard the tinkle OF a bell, and
the voice OF a crier inviting the public 90 come
and buy what remained 20 be sold Of the En-
press Eugene's personal effects. Accepting the
invitation, 1 entered the little court stand
ing in the midst Of the Imperial stables.
Another bell-ringer was at the door Of the
BdHeQe, where NJ. Buchon used 20 give the I'm
perial Prince riding lessons. IL was occupied by
old clOthes-selers, Of both sexes, curiosity deal
ers, few friends Of the fallen dynasty, whose
faces i had often seen grouped around the
throne OF the Sale dies Flats. some dirty
students, reporter OF the GdHl0is; attracted,
like myself. by the noise OF the bell; and a
sprlnkling OF these antiquated gentlemen in
white CATERS who pass their lives i'm lowering
about the bOOk-stands on the parapet of the
Quay NOltaire, and crossing and recrOssing the
Pont des Arts. The auctioneer was a self-suffi-
cient sort Of commonplace bourgeois He did his
best TO be iocular al the expense OF fallen great
ness. Each article, he seemed to think, was
worth its weight in gold, ii only as a relic. The
dresses, laces, shaWls and nantes had been dis
posed of on a previous day; and IL was now the
turn OF the Undertaking and intimate house
linen" TO be Gquidated. PillOw-cases of fine
cambTic-so fine that one wonders how they
supported elaborate embrOideries and deep real
lace borders-were holly contested for by
petite dame" a shabby jew OF the Rue
des VICTORIES, and a party OF buyers be-
longing, L should say, 10 the Quarter
Breda. The little lady carried of a dozen. II
'TOSes" one, she cried, tittering as she spoke,
TO press the pillow on which the Imperial head
repOsed. The cypher happened 20 stand for
her name, which she volunteered to tell one OF
the friends Of the fallen dynasty was Eulalie.
As for the crown under il, ma fOi, she was just
Ps worthy TO wear il as any one else The old
friend was not 10th TO cultivate the acquaintance
of the sparkling fair one. He assented 10 this
proposition, and volunteered TO hold a pillow
case which the auctiOneer had allowed her TO
take. The t0weling was endless. Bundle after
bundle of fine SaxOny damask napkins, all with
the T., the crows, the eagle, the busy CarlOvin-
gian bee, and profusion OF laurel wreaths were
handed round the vaulted room 20 be examined
by the bidders and then disposed OF. Some
breakfast table napery, the present of a king,
now Emperor Williams frst feudatOry, WAS
bought by one Of the former hdbifues of the
Sale des Flats. He got il cheap. One of
the old gentlemen, who happened TO be deaf
was furious when he found that he might
have had the lot at 1907. 1 do not know
Why the brokers and the students were
50 iocOse when an inside garment was held up NV
two dainty little sleeves, and the public asked 70
examine IL, as a fair specimen of the large bale
from which il was drawn al hazard. American.
modesty cannot bring Itself 20 name this gar
mtnt any more than IL can 20 speak OF a shirt.
Ii Paul de Casssgnac were good as his oft re-
peated oath, he would have run his swOrd-cane
through the prOiane aucuOneer's Snowman who
held the article in question up 10 be ScOed al bv
the males and admired by the women. There
wire peigHOirs and dressing gowns clearly fur
nishodb by ChapOn, the famous ladies' outftter
in the Rue de la PAX, and all wonderfully ele-
CANT, but dusty and somewhat blue-mO1lded
The stockings Of thread, silk, and Shetland
wool were of gOssamer hghtness. An infnity
"a bd'u anu lOlitl siOlgts were knocked down
at hundred francs. They were all of the best
quality. The little lady said she would have
been the purchaser ii the auctiOneer had guar
anteed that he was selling her something which
had actually passed through the Empress's
hands: As for the boots and slippers, they JUS
tilted the eulogiums passed by NM. Franc and
LockTey in their report ON Partisan shoemaker.
Then there were, the ladies thought delicious
things in the way Of petticOsts, flannel bustles,
robes de ohdmJTe, s0rties de balm and wooden
wraps. Some baby's robes, which, according
fha ms rass la1p ~
Imperials ldgefte, were bought by a Russian
lady. snuffy purchaser near me shook her
head incredulOusly at those belongings of impe-
nal infancy. They were sumptuously gotten
up, she admitted, but nothing would Convince
her that they did not belong 70 some distressed
6oNTgeOtses ioyette and were not palmed of by
the auctioneer, to enhance their price as having
been worn by the Prince AZ whose birth, seven
teen years ago, official France went into the
most excessive demonstrations Of delight that
ever hailed the advent Of royal child on our
planet.