The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-01-21
Compiegne.

der Napoleon III, says: "Whatevc
the Interior ideas of the guests, Their
were few pleasanter country house
than Compiegne. The entertainers pro
vided every luxury, and then the,
left visitors much to their own devices
Partly, perhaps, owing to his cosmopol
itan education and his long Residence
in England, Louis Napoleon was perfec
as n host. He combined the Fren0l
courtesy and tact with an English east
and absence OF ceremony. He addressed
his guests with unaffected cordially
and without any visible condescension,
If there was anything in you at all, he
did not converse with you in court com
monplaces, but went straight to some
subject that had any interest for both.
The society was the most agreeable Eu-
rope could assemble, and although you
must show O title Of some kind to enter
it, talent was made at least as welcome
! az rank. The members of the regular
imperial circle were clever men, as a
rule. That they were admitted at all
vouched for their sbrewdness and capac-
ity 4; at least, they must be abreast of
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 CEN
tro of political life. Foreign ministers,
like Prince GortschakoT and Lord Clar.
endon, made it convenient to meet their
French confreres without ceremony,
ventilating in an olf.hand way matters
OF European importance. Clever wri-
tors found themselves at home with a
brother author Of decided literary tastes,
even If they had not made their pens
politically useful or formidable. Bril-
limit cansemTs sporkled naturally In
contact and keen rivalry. The women
must be agreeable if they were to hold
their own where tho leaders of the ton
we're as witty and vivacious as the
Princess Metternich and Nine. de Pour.
tales. There were state and pomp
enough, but they were all kept in the
background ; they were 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 mr.
rived by a train which deposited them
in time for dinner. The major.d0mo,
or groom OF the chamber, ushered them
to their rooms. OF course, ample time
vas allowed for dressing, when ladies
were got up 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
of reputation asserted the suprem-
acy of the first school Of cookery in
the world, and the director OF tho cell
arranged the crus, that might be
Of the master of Champagne, |
and the Gironde. But there
vas nj o~stentation of fuss, however
much thought and study might have
zone to the arrangements. In the even.
ng the emperor and empress mixed
With the company, treating with espec,
al distinction the more distinguished
{ the guests. The party separated at
II early hour, the formalities were over,
nd You were left in liberty hall. You
ere the master in your own apartments, Q
L JOu hiRhp ilhho YOUR puTty ~ CdEuS
r billiards, or adjourn for easy talk in !,
he smoking.room. So at breakfast.
'ou had your coffee in your room, and
ssembled before noon to meet your i'm.
'erial hosts at the dGjeuner. Any dress
vas admitted there, and You dressed in
accordance with the way you intended
o amnso yourself. The stables were
ull Of horses, and the emperor had the
inest stud in Europe. There were CIR
iages OF all kinds in abundance, and in
be season there were keepers and dogs
It your service, to say nothing of those
rand GLASSES which revived with cven
splendor the historic glories of
Fontaineblean in the time of tho Grand
For that, we repeat, was
ho fascination of the life at Compiegne.
There was a union of more than impe-
ial luxury with the easiest and most
Independent existence. The way of life
be hard on tho wives of poor
nen who had to dress and jewel them
up to their social privileges, hut
Or independent males or people of nnlu-
nee it left very little indeed to desire"