Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-29
AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS.
An Interview with the Celebrated
Princess MetternlCh at the
Residence Of Nilsson.
Special Cor. Chicago Times.I

Special Cor. Chicago Timesl
Returning home one day from
my lesson l stopped, as usual, to see
Mime Nilsson, and to the entree
(come in) that responded to my ia.
miliar knock, entered the salon
and saw the Swedish prima donna
in conversation with lady dressed
in deep mourning, while Mr.. Reau-
zaud sat not far off also appearing
to enjoy the visit of their distingue
friend. wished to retire, but
Mime N. said kindly: "No, no;
come here, and l will present you
to her highness, Princess Mettern-
ich. That is, princess" turning to
the august lady, "if you will per.
NIT it. "Why, certainly" mur-
INJURED the princess, with most
gracious smile; 81 am charmed"
So at last | saw before me the fa-
nous Austrian of whom all the
Partisan world was SO taken
during the last empire. While her
highneSs was talking l took the
liberty of examining her well,
without seeming more than politely
conscious of her presence. She
talked with the most fluent grace,
and spoke first in French or Ger
man, and afterward in English, with
most perfect accent and culture. l
was no longer astonished that the
ex-embassadress of Austria at the
court of Napoleon III had beon so
sought after in the French capital,
and that, in fact, "la Metternich"
was sail the rage" before the fall of
the empire. She is tall, slightly
above medium, and although in
deep mourning for the death other
father, she was dressed in exquisite
taste. Her face is far from being
beautiful, although l must confess
the most lively and engaging 1 ever
saw. Her eyes are quite black, and
seem dancing over with mirth when
talking, and her voice was that
half-mocking, seductive tone, posi-
BILE only in courtiers and peo-
pie of great diplomatic education.
With all this she is perfectly nat
ursl, and has the most exquisite
manners of any lady that l have
ever met. She is very frank, and
speaks with perfect ease on any
subject. Her mouth is very large,
with lips too full, perhaps, for
beauty; but the upper part Of her
face is very fine and symmetrical.
She wore a crepe bonnet, so only
the smallest bit of her coiffure was
visible; but l saw enough to assure
me- of an aristocratic turn of the
head and dark braids of hair that
clung closely to the nape of her
shapely reck. Her esprit (wit) is
noted, and during the time that
she was talking her pungent and
spirituelle remarks on everything
and everybody revealed her charac-
ter as perfectly as if l had known
her a lifetime. She is a great dev-
otee to music, and the greatest
known protectrice of the divine
art in Vienna. AS usual, her sol
rees continued the most brilliant in
the capital until the death of her
father closed her hoSpitable doors.
THE PRINCESS HAS A DAUGHTER
who resen, bles her most strikingly,
the only diffei ience being that, in,
stead Of looking like mother and
daughter, they seeG1 two sisters
the extremely youthful appearance
of the mother almost preeinding
the possibility Of her having child
who has certainly passed heI
teens" Since writing the above
the young princess has been united
in matrimony to the Prince Hot
tengin, and, strange to say, it was
love-match on both sides. Both
are enormously wealthy. The mar.
riage was attended by the greatest
personages in the realm, and the
famous minister, Count Andrassy
signed for the bride. The pearls
given by the prince to his spouse
are descended from the first Of tht
Hottengins, and constitute in them
selves a superb dover. They ar
said to be the finest in Europe, ant
the strings outnumber those pos
sessed even by the notorious Mari
Loise Bonaparte Ralazzi. The 9th
er presents were magnificent and q
such quality as usually atten
princely weddings.
/ do not know that any Of 20
know personally the now celebrate
Austrian prime minister, namel,
n.I A..1.n.c., ...1 tf fhu