The Republican journal., 1875-04-22
The Empress Eugenie.


lOliye Harper's Letter to n. Y Graphic.
You leave London by the Charing Gross
Railway to 60 to Chiselhurst, and the
journey is something near an hour in dura
ton, but one that is diversified first BY the
sight Of the millions of chimnev-pots Of
London before you get out of it, and Of
the very pretty scenery between the abode
OF smoke and dirt and the lovely little
nest of a village where the EX-Empress
Eugene and her son live, and where Ma
poleon lies entombed. | took ticket for
CIIIsELHURsT.
At the magnificent station and settled my
self comfortably to look out of the Win
dows and mark all the beauty which | was
1old bordered this road and it is really a
very charming sight to see. Ali English
scenery has a tameness that is tireSome to
me, yet once in while you find spot
that pleases you IN spite of its tameness
There is a certain tranquil beauty that
pleases the eye, although no grandeur
strikes you with admiration. | do wish
that the English nation had just one noun
tain or one cataract, or, in fact, any thing
IN the way OF natural scenery they could
boast Of 1t would do them so much good.
After stopping at do not know how
many little stations, the train arrived at
Chiselhurst, place destined to become
renowned in history as the resting place
of the eXiled Queen OF France. | got out
and the train went laundering on to some
other station, and commenced a search
for a cab and hurried survey of the town.
ITS SURROUNDINGS
Chiselhurst is built up and down hill
and is beautifully wooded The most of
the houses are built Of red brick, bright
and pretty contrast to the green hills.
Most of the houses here in England are
built OF yellow brick. which gives sort
of raw and UNDERGONE appearance to a
town. The streets of Chiselhurst are clean
and every part Of it has thrifty look, vet
not one Of age, for the hillsides have been
dug away in many places for brick max
ing, and it seems like California mining
town 1t is literally embowerel in trees,
bat all the trees are small in comparison
to ours, except those in the grounds of
Camden House, where the Empress lives
| found crooked-legged horse and a
cab, and at once engaged it to go to Cam
den House, and, entering, started 1t is
but drive of some fifteen minutes to the
station from Camden House, and | was
soon there. You pass under q high rail
road bridge for some little distance, and
then the road winds gracefully up hill
on the summit OF which stands the house
EUGENIE's ABODE.
The driver halted before a high gate of
IRON, gilded and altogether very handsome.
A stiff English policeman was standing
guard by it. A tiny lodge stands close to
to l.
woman came out by a side gate and asked
what madame pleased to wish. | told her
| wished to see Mile. de Sarminat, and |
was informed that she was in Paris. hav-
ing been called away suddenly, and that
the Countess de Clary was acting Lady of
Honor in her stead Would Madame be
50 good AS to say if She would do ! fin
ally concluded to send my card direct to
Her Majesty and gave it to her, when she
told me that her Majesty did not receive
any person whatever, but that she would
sendmy card, and she called her little girl,
who ran with it to the house and directly
came back, saying Madame would please
drive in with her carriage Elegant equip
age it should have been. | noticed. in
passing along the avenue, that the trees
are large and fine, the grounds beautifully
laid out, and with fountains. statuettes,
vases, &c, in every possible place. The
grounds seem extensive. l should Judge
covering twenty or thirty acres-perhaps
more. Camden House is low, wide
structure, with French windows that open
out on the lawn. | am not sure, but it
seems to me that it is all on the ground
floor. ! did not see any staircase, nor did
| recollect of having seen any up-stair
windows. The house is completely en-
powered in trees. Reaching the door |
descended, aided by a solemn footman
dressed in deep mourning with large
Grape bow upon his arm The carriag es
can drive up to the very door, and you
enter at once in small dark oak hall,
where the floor is bare polished wood.
There are two or three large cases of solid
looking wood in the hall, carved in fan
tastic patterns that might be side boards
or tombs. Turning to the left the solemn
tootman ushered me through two heavy
doors placed about foot apart into the
receptlon-room. Somehow when one
thinks of king or queen or any one hay
ing to do with royalty. one thinks instinct
lively of gorgeous displays and elegant
surroundings, but you become undeceiyed
on seeing the
RECEPTION ROOM OF EMPRESS EUGENE
The room is some eighteen feet square
and the ceiling is high. One window
opens out on the lawn, dressed with chint2
curtains A large round table stands in
the center, with an ordinary red cover A
portfolio lay upon it. There were dozen
old-fashloned chairs, covered with faded
chlntz, and one easy-char, close to the
Widc-open chimney, where bright wood
1lre burned, and these with one fire screen
completed the furniture of the room Two
paintings hung, one beside the fire-nlace
and over the easy-chair, representing an
old-tashioned scene, where the dance was
at its height, and where each face is one
well-known in history The other hung
so in the shade could not see it.
While making this survey of the barely
furnished room and its comfortless aspect.
the door opposite me in the corner by the
chimney opened and the Countess de Clary
came in and saluted me, and seating her
self beside me began to speak in French,
She is a small and not over handsome
woman, but with very intelligent and
pleasing face. She is very vivacious, and
in ten minutes had asked me some fifty
different questions / waited, for l thought
if Her Majesty would see me it was not
my place to hurry her, and hardly knew
if should ask for her or wait for her to
send for me anyhow. After while the
(0nnfacc caid