Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-17
CarlOtta.

The long tragedy Of Macmillan and
Carlotta, of Mexico, the most pictur-
esque and pathetic story in its way of
our times, has not yet reached its close.
Ii was rumored a year ago that the I'M
happy Cariotta was at the point of death,
and for a long time, indeed, her life hov.
cred in the balance. Those who hold to
the Christians hope of another and
better life beyond the grave will hardly
think it merciful dispensation by which
her weary spirit was denied rest The
health of the ex-Empress is now perfect;
but her mental condition is inexpressibly
strange and sad. She is in the world
but not of it. She believes herself to
be continually surrounded by beings of
another sphere, with whom alone she
converses. She never utters a word to
any of her servants or attendants, and
the presence of any human being throws
her INTO a fever of ennui and vexation.
Her sister-in-law, the Queen of the Bel
glans, comes once month to visit her,
in company with hes physician. The
eX.Empress receives them with cold
courtesy. The physician asks after her
health. 81 am very WELL" she replies,
and, turning away, walks out of the
room. She manages her whole establish
ment, which is worthy of her exalted
rank, at the Palace of Lacken, by letter
There is a mosaic table in one of the
grand saloons ON which every day she
lays down her commands in writing.
These notes are taken by the servants at
a regular hour and duly attended to. She
draws up every day the menu for her
table, composing ii with good gastronom-
ic judgment, and dimes with good APP
petite. Ii by accident any dish which
she orders is not served she makes note
of the fact the next day, but never with
one word of complaint. She is very care
full with her toilet, and dresses with all
her taste and distinction, dressing her
own hair and dressing il in the flat
bdHdedup which were fashionable when
she last saw her husband and was with
him in the dark hours that preceded the
bloody eclipse and midnight of Quere-
taro. Her femme de cltdmbre is never adj
mitted TO her toilet; but after prepar-
ing her bath and her dresses leaves the
room, to come back only in the morning.
When the weather is fine she walks in the
park-always at eleven O'Clock, always
along the same path, and with very
rapid step. Of course she Is carefully
watched by invisible sentinels, but she
mas never W
suicide. She plays exquisitely on the
piano, and passes hours in that way. She
paints and draws also extremely well,
and still keeps up this art. The marked
feature of her case Is the absolute horror
which she shows of all company but that
of her visions and her memories. One is
reminded by il OF the curiously similar
experience Of very clever German
writer, Justinus Kerner, the author of
the Seeress of Prevorst," who used to
live absolutely with what he called his
ghosts" One of his friends describes
him standing ut the doorway of ball
room, with u detected face, and sayingl
to himself: "Oh, me! oh, mel Why areI
not all these pleasant ghosts" To thisI
widowed, childless wife, this exiled and
discrowned Empress, what society OF the
living indeed, could bring happin ess, or
peace, or hopey-Neto York World.