The daily gazette., 1875-10-13
Il Feminine POtentate,

Au cldUOTutc paper III inc OCTOBER
number of Lipplncott's Magazine pro-
fesses to tell "the truth about Madame
Ratazzi," it being in the shape of a
review of book with that title lately
published in Paris by "L'Inconnu."
We have room for but a few extracts.
Whether as the Princess de Solms, or
as the wife, and now widow, Of Italy's
eminent stateman, on whom fell tn C
mantle of the great Cavour, Madame
Ratazzi must take her place as his
toric parsonage. No chronicle of the
Second Empire will be complete If it
o.nits the name and career of this
member of the Bonaparte family,
whose eccentricities, imprudence and
poisoned shafts aimed at the Empress
Eugenie rendered imperative her ban.
ishment from her imperial cousins
court. In Florence, as In Paris, she
has been social power, it not being
denied that the marked sympathy with
French policy that has of late years
swayed the italian Government is
mainly due to this feminine potentate
behind the throne, Madame Ratazzi's
enemies having painted her portrait in
the darkest colors, and sent it broad
Noob ehiOuSh bhC WOllu, IL Is duo W tllt
equipoise of history that her friends
should now hold the brush, their en-
thusiasm presenting us with rare
combination of the muse, the grace
and the angel. The fall of
the Empire and the death of her illus
trious husband, have restored Madame
Ratazzi permanently to Paris. Emerg-
ing from the seclusion of her widow.
hood, she has reassumed her lead er-
ship in the capital of the world Giving
last touch to some musical inspiration
directing under pseudonym hebdo-
madal rlview, perchance writing new
| book, she yet finds leisure to receive
the notabilities, native or foreign, who
throng her salon in the Aquila palace.
Legltimists, Orleanists, members of all
parties, diplomatists, artists, the newly
| ticdged poet and the suave laureate,
feuilletonists and great journalists, all
are there.
| Madame Alexandra preludes, like st To-
| Cecilia on the organ, an hour later
Therese is rapturously applauded,
eclipsed in turn by the diva from the
ltaliens or Racheps successor at the
Franchise, these divers social elements
being fused into harmony by the
hostess who in tact, quick perception,
land grace of conversation is high
bred Partisan, seductive in the kind
ness, sympathy and ready memory
which place her guests at ease AID dis
play their individual gifts to advantage.
In her novel Louise de heHner, Madame
Ratazzi, while tracing with mastery
hand the portrait of her heroine, un-
consciously sat for her own; it is said
to be her living photograph: Tall,
slender, her figure is exquisitely shap-
ed, with softly rounded shoulders and
broad chest her arms are modelled
after the antique; her hands worthy of
a queen or fairy; the mouth is perfect
in contour, the seductive smile reveal.
ing the pearly teeth beneath the coral
arch; the straight nose, with its trans
parent nostiil, is spiritual, even severe,
while her Jet black hair frames a noble
forehead aud brilliant complexion. 4"
If Madame Ratazzi's beauty is Italian
in sculp- -ured outline, her soft, dreamy
blue eye is that of daughter of the
far North, a Nolkyui from Odin's Par.
adise; in repose she is goddess es-
capped from Olympus; when she speaks
she is woman whose irresistible mag
netism is not surpassed among women
To quote one of the most noted wri-
tiers of France, "Whoever has merely
seen Madame RataZZi cannot forget
her, while one privileged to be near
her cannot escape the intoxicating
charm of fher presence. "..Bat. Gazette.