Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-29
Colonel Eorney's Visit TO the I'm
,rPS. Eu-euie.

IFTpciS London Letter (5thD 10 pbgl. PTeSs.I
ChiSelhurst Kent is a lovely village, with
population of 800, about forty minutes by
rail from Charing Cross. You can walk
from the s,ation. If the weather is fine. To
CaIAien House. the English residence OF Eu-
genie. eN- Empress of the French, but a. the
day was gloomy, we drove owe. in fly (cost
two shillingsl, and reached the outer gate in
about twenty minutes. As we were expect
ed, We had not long To wait before our pre-
sentation. Camden House. the residence OF
Her Majesty, was chosen after she had land
Ell at Ryde. in the Isle of Wight. on the 9th
OF September, iS7o. having escaped from
Paris I'm the midst 81 the revolution on the
9TH of the same month. Her passage over
the Channel was in itself romance. The
mansion l. of three stories, built OF dark
stone, beautifully inlaid with white, with
two wings, and is handsomely located in n
hne PARK. We were conducted from the ante
room into the drawing room by a chamber
lain, where the Empress received Us. and 4
was Immediately impressed by her ex-
ce6ding grace and BEAUTY. Time has
dealt very gently with her. Born on
May 5, 1875, she is now in her ffticth
year, but does not look forty, and she
seemed in better health and wore n brighter
aspect Than when / saw her in the Paris
Palace OF Industry on the ID OF July, IS67
when the Emperor Napoleon distri buted the
prizes 10 the successful competitors at the
Universal EXpOsiti Of that year. Dressed
in deep mourning, without the slightest
ornament, and speaking English perfectly,
she opened tie conversation and asked ques-
tons without reserve i'm regard to our Inter
national Centennial Exhibition. described
the extent of Fair.n mount Park, the several
groups of buildings now in course OF con-
struction, the amount OF money raised, the
action Of the national government, and The
visit of the President of the United STAT
Here she quietly interrupted me by stating
that she had read with -reat pleasure the
statement Of his visit and Of his satisflc.
ton at the progress of the work. She
seemed TO be anxious TO know whether anv
Of the French Princes had been Invited and
when told her Majesty that the President
OF the United States had s',lply invited
existing governments, and that none OF the
royal princes OF any country had been
specially asked, she seemed to be relieved.
To tie question whether thought the Prince
Imperial would be well received. yentureI
10 express the opinion that his wei, one
would be most cordial, and that our pc0ple
held the TACT ia grateful remembrance that
70 the craftsmanship and lioerality of the
First Napoleon we are indebted for the ac-
QUESTION Of the valuable territory OF Louisi-
ana, and that this, together with the recOl-
lection or French sympathy during our
struggle for Independence, was one of the
most cherished OF our national "reminiscences.
ran over a list or the governments that had
made preIars, IONS 20 be present next year,
and when l stated that the only exception
was Russia, she was very anxious to know
tEe reason. VIII ,ch / ATTEMPTED cautiously TO
explain, expressing the belief that | mad 10
doubt when Mr.. Boxer reach I st. Peters
burg the Russian Emperor would gladly en-
the subject OF free t.ade, which she SAID She
did not feel herself competent to discuss, She
gracefully intImated that she thought some
provision should be made by watch the deli
cafe fabrics of France might have a partial
drawback VIXEN sold in America. on account
of the necessary deterioration of the goods
from exposure IL sea voyage, and the
changes INSTANTLY taking place in fashion
aBie attire.
Tie gentleman who kindly accompanied
and introduced me our good friend tie Che
Nj has f,la plo los a
oeepest Obliga tions 10y his assistance during
my stay in London, inquired for the Prince
Imperial. when We Were Informed that ne
was with his battery at the English military
camp 1t AItershot, and she regretted that
re rs rot present., IN order that he m gE.
participate i'm the conversation. Before -
firing / expressed the hope that her Majesty
would send us some token OF the Interest she
manifested in the exhibition, % winch she
responded by saying; An! what have 10
send: What car I send? am here simply
the tenant of ano'her's house. All you see
about me have no control over" But am
Iot without hope that the suggestion Will
bear good fruit; and, on reviewing the re-
quest that she might consent to let her son
that il Impossible. / shOuld like myself 10
De present IN Philadelphia. / have always
felt the greatest interest in the United
states, bnt we are the creatures of circupl-
to-day or tomorrow or few months hence"
evidently referring 20 political coDting alcieS.
= ~ 4 4
hand one of the large Autographs OF the main
Exposition uitding. and since my return 20
ny apartme. Is have forwarded her the last
publication by the Centennial commission
ific,es. f''''>0 WV ''''''
1t is impossible to convey an idea of the
winning grace and candor of this lovely
woman. | should rather say cordiality than
candor; nor would the word ''diguity'' fairly
Lypify the peculiar charm alike fher manner
ana her conversation. She talks fiuently;
tlucu!ates her words clearly, and surprised
me by her stories of information, showing
mat she was close reader and thinker.
Others were waiting in the ante-room as we
passed out into the park, and on our road ID
lie station did not hesitate TO give utter |
ance TO my satisfaction at one of the most |
delightful Interviews OF my life. A republic |
can myself, more SO now than ever. could |
lastly perceive the great influence she exer-
cised over her husband; and as recall the |
TACT that she had really risen from the |
people, and that her grandfather was the /
hat she bad been educated for her singular /
.estiny. Her mother, Donna Maria Mauela
Countess de Montijo, Is
n fiuenee. and may be said to be 4
n the head of the best society. On the death /
If her father, the Count de MontiJo, this Ino- /
of he. position, and TO the etu-
,ation and support OF her two daughters, one
,f whom married the Duke of Alva and Ber-
\ lex. a Spanish grandee, In 1851. The Count
yen:e before her marriage, accompanied her L
mother TO Paris, where she was distinguished \
~ aer rare personal beauty and her aristo- /
ratio EDglisJ, rather than her Spanish style 4
in England, and therefore superior /
N mental training to most Spanish women \
he was precisely the combination to attract Il
'uch man as the Emperor Napoleon, and \
when the opposition OF the higher Northern l
Powers defeated the idea of his union with /
he Princess Garcia Wasa, OF Sweden, he ap- /
Drised his Ministers of his intended MARRIAGE J
with the lovely Countess Teba, aud even /
hat created some disapprovaI and led TO the
retirement OF portion OF his Cab
net.
The Empress Eugene continues In her exile /
TIE esteemed friend OF Queen Victoria, with /
whom she freQnently Interchange visits. /