New Orleans Republican., 1873-05-04
A Negro Princess in Hayn.
Prom the New York Herald.i


Prom the New York Herald!
To have princess and the only daughter
of an Emperor for 8 companion IN three
mile ride is a circumstance not OF everyday
occurrence in the travelling experience OF a
newspaper man. Princesses are scarce
with us in the United States, EXCEPT Oh the
stage, and IN the West Indies D doubt II
there be any other nov living except inc
imperial beauty accompanied to town yes
terday morning. Our minister, Mr. Epeh
ezer Bassett, who. as you are aware IS no,
a blonde. but a brunette of the prescribed
shade. has as lovely place OF residence
outsid, the steaming city of POrt.an Prlnce
as NAV be found in the tropics. Bassett Is
a splendid fellow and deserves to live IN
palace, which. am happy to say, he does.
He stretches his legs of an evening. alter
his work is done, Oh the imported tiles once
trod by the august pedal extremit!es OF the
Emperor SoulouIue. In another palace, a
few hundred yards above our minister's
residence, eInbowered i'll palms. ALMOND
and mango trees, lives the relict OF Sou
lougue. and :here. likewise. resides his only
daughter, the Princess SoulOuque. Count
Won BokkeIvn. Major Burke, Chief Engi-
neer Bushnell. OF the Haytian navy, and
other guests of the mi ister had all gone to
town, when the Princess rode down to the
broad piazza where ! was sitting engaged
measuring with telescope the character
of vessel distinctly visible sixty miles
away on the pale silver rim OF the horizon.
The morning was lovely beyond descrip-
ton, and the wholeeair was thick with the
iasamine.
The picture in front ct the house was all
the heart could desire-a busy town below,
peaceful rippling sea beyond. tree-clad
mountains, scattered clusters of royal
palms, and vivid patches of varying green,
forming MOSAIC in verdure over she
spreading lawns surrounding the dwelling.
1t was while all this splendid tropical
beauty was at its best, and the dewdrOps
still glistened on the rosebusbes, that The
vision burst upon me which am about to
describe. Mounted on cream cOlored
Venezuelan horse seventeen hands high,
with white m ane and tail, was lady about
two shades removed from the complexion OF
anthracite coal. She was dressed as no
ether lady ever saw before was ever
dressed on horseback. Her rig was unique,
novel, gorgeous.
Her riding robe was skv-blue silk, and
around hes waist she wore a sash OF geld
that futtered in a dazzling streamer be
hind her. Her hat was plumed with scar
let ostrich feathers. Her ample bosom
heaved beneath sapphire brooch as large
as a saucer and her ears sustained the
weight CT $4,000 of diamond brilliants.
A necklace of diamonds contributed to the
dazzling splendor of her apparel, and its
value might be roughly estimated at about
$l0O,000 Her gloves were yellow doeskin,
worn with long gauntlets. such as the Eng
lish Life Guards wear. The handle of her
riding whip was studded with rubies ard
emeralds, and the bride chain Of her horse
was of solid, glitterng silver. This was
the dead Emperor's daughter. Princess
Snulouque, once the bright particular star
OF the imperial palace and the beloved idol
of Port au Prince. She was proceeding to
the city and so was ], and as we happened
to be acquainted we went together.
wanted to see the effect of all that gorg' Gus
ra!lnent and adornment on the broad PLAIN
of the Champ de Mars.
She talked with much animation as we
rode aIoAg through the odorous lanes, and
pointed with her riding whip to the ruins
of her fathers palace. And there you
passed so many happy days ! syupathiz-
ingly observed. oh, yes" she responded,
'.happiest of my life; SO nice place. 1t
was with sigh trop dc bo"heno'; but
in light, ringing, silvery tone that was
music IN itself Soon we were on the soft,
green carpet of the level Champ de Mars,
and her noble steed leaped e2ultingly for
ward. Then he cavorted around for some
time. dancing a polka on his hind legs,
after the fashion of the military trained
horses OF the country. Finally he made a
break for town, with his quarter of million
of freight. and as he moved like a whlrl
wind, the lovely Princess seemed ike a
brilliant meteor, wherein all the cOlors Of
the rain bow and all the gems OF the ocean
blended and shone. 1t had been some time
before since the Princess visited the city.
though living within quarter of an hour .
ride. Her appearance was recognized halt
mile away, and all the people crowded TO
the doors and windows, work ceased along
the street, the men removed their hats. and
the women bowed III melting admiration.
! found-her d lady of great common sense,
of the most polished manners, highly edu.
Gated, speaking six languages with frency,
and at home in music, panting, AMI sculp-
ture. 1t was policy, not want oi taste,
that suggested the extraordinary rig o. the
morning.