The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-01-21
NUMBER 3.
Conpiegna.

4 writer on social life In Franee un-
der Napoleon III, SAYS g xFhsfevef
the ulterior ideas of the guests, there
were few pleasanfe country houses
than Compiegne. The entertainers pro
vided every luxury. and then they
left visitors much to their own devices.
Partly, perhaps. owing to his eosmopol-
itan education and kis long residences
In England, Louis Napoleon was perfect
as a host. He combined the French
courtesy and tact with an English ease
and absence of ceremony. BE addressed
his guests with unaffected cordiality,
and without any visible condescensi0a.
II there was anything in you at all, he
did not converse with 4oa in court CON-
moDplaees, but went straight TO some
subject that had any interest for both.
The soeiety was the most agreeable Eu-
rope could assemble, and although You
must show a title of some kind to enter
it, talent was made at least as welcome
as rank. The members Of the regular
imperial circle were clever men, "a q
rule. That they were admitted at al
vouehed for their sh1 1swdneEs and capac-
iAg az leest &lees- .s-.--s tsS .t,-S-ssSs - -.
the ideas of the age. It was the most
accomplished diplomatists who were
deputed to the charge of the interests
of their countries at this sparkling GEN.
tre of political life. Foreign ministers,
like Prince Gortschakoff and Lord Clar-
endon, made it convenient to meet their
French coTlJreres without ceremony,
ventleting in an offhsnd way matters
of European importance. Clever Wri.
ssrs found themselves at home with q
brother author of decided literary tastes,
even if they had not made their pens
n IL
liant calssesErS sparkled naturally IN
contact aud keen rivalry. The women
must be agreeable if they were to hold
their own where the leaders of the ton
were as witty and vivacious ss the
Princess Metternich and Nine. de Pour
tales. There were state and pomp
enough, but they were all kept in the
background they we're matters, of
course, like the grand staircases and
the gorgeously decorated apartments.
Carriages were in waiting for the guests
at the railway station, where they az
rive by a train which deposited them
in time for dinner. The major domo,
or groom of the chamber, ushered them
to their. rooms. OF course, ample time
was allowed for dressing, when ladies
we're got mp like elaborate works of art
inspired by the demon of caprice, If not
the genius of beauty. Then came the
dinner, when the table was covered with
all the delicasies of the season where
chefs of reputation asserted the suprem-
scy of the first school Of cookery in
the world, and the director Of the cell
lars arranged the oFtES, that might be
worthy of the master of Champagne,
Burgundy, and the Gironde. But there
was no ostentation of fuss, however
much thought and study might have
gone to the arrangements. In the even
ing the emperor and empress mixed
with the company, treating with espeo-
ial distinction the more distinguished
of the guests. The party separated at
an early hour, the fCrmalities were over,
and you were left In liberty hall. You
were the master in your own apartments,
or you might make your party at cards
or billiards, or adjourn for easy talk in
the smoking room. So at breakfast.
You had Your coffee In your room, and
assembled before noon to meet your i'm
perial hosts at the deieltsler. ANY dress
was admitted there, and you dressed IN
accordance with the way you intended
to amuse yourself. The stables were
full If horses, and the emperor had the
finest stud in Europe. There were csr-
risges of all kinds In abundance, and in
the season there were keepers and dogs
at your service, to say nothing of those
grand chdSses which revived with even
greater splendor the historic gIories of
Fontainebleau in the time OF the Grand
MonGrqIte. For that, We repeat, was
the fascination OF the life at Compiegne.
There was q union of more than impe-
rial luxury with the easiest aud most
independent ezistenee. The way OF life
might be hard on the wives Of poor
men who had TO dress and jewel them
selves up TO theiz social privileges, but
for Independents males or people Of sfilu-
enee IL left very little indeed to desire"