The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-22
Queen Victoria and the EmpEsss Eugene.
IJustin McCartby.l

fJustin McCsrthy.]
Ask anybody what two pictures are
called up in his mind when he hears the
names of Queen Victoria and the Empress
Eugene, no matter whether he has ever
seen these two illustrious ladies or not. In
the case of the former, may safely VEN
ture to answer for him, that he sees the
face and figure of motherly, homely body;
woman who has got quite beyond the
age when people observe how she dresses
of any Importance or interest. In the case
of the latter he sees dazzling court
beauty q woman who, though not indeed
in her youth, is still in glorious prime
a woman to captivate hearts and inspire
poets. The frat instructive idea would be,
think, that the Empress belongs to later
generation than the unattractive, dowdy-
ish Queen of England.
Some fifteen years, ] suppose, have passed
away since l saw the Empress Eugenie
and Queen Victoria sitting aide by side.
Assuredly the difference even then might
the queen was in her happiest time, and
has worn out terribly fast since that
period. But the quality which above all
others Queen Victoria wanted was just that
in which the Empress is supreme-the
quality of imperial, womanly grace.
have never been q rapturous admirer of
the beauty of Eugenie, but her queenly
grace of gesture, Of attitude, of form, Of
motion, must be admitted to be beyond
cavil and superb. She looked just like the
woman on whom any sort of garment
would hang with grace and attractiveness
a blanket would become a royal mantle if
it fell round her shoulders. Poor Queen
Victoria looked awkward and homely in
deed by the side of this graceful, noble
form; this figure that expressed so well
the combination of suppleness and afflu-
ence, of imperial dignity and charming
womanhood.
Undoubtedly the Empress has kindly,
charitable heart, and can be heroic as well
as graceful. Her famous visitation of the
cholera hospitals showed q lofty apprecia-
ton of the duties of an Empress, and could
not have been conceived or carried out by
an ignoble nature. Kindly and generous
deeds of hers we're constantly reported in
Paris. Everyone knows how graceful and
winning the Empress can be in her per
sonal relations with those who approach
her. Sometimes her demeanor and manner
have come into sharp contrast with those of
other sovereigns 10 matters less momentous
than the visiting of death charged hospital
wards. l have heard of an American lady
who made some rich and complete collec-
tons of specimens of American foliage, col
lected them at immense labor, arranged
them with exquisite taste in two large and
beautiful volumes, and sent one as an offer
ing to Queen Victoria, the other to the
Empress of the French. From the British
Court came back the volume itself, with a
formal reply from an official, intimating
that Her Majesty the Queen made it q rule
not to accept such gifts. From Paris came
letter Of genial, graceful acceptance,
written by the Empress Eugene herself,
full of good taste, good feeling, and
courteous, lady Like expression. These are
small things, but womanly tact and grace
seldom have much opportunity of exposing
themselves save in just such small things.
Political considerations apart, we can
only wish such woman well. Her face is
one which ought to smile sweetly and
gracefully through history.