American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-11-16
THE FLIGHT OF EUGENE.

Graphic Picture of the Last Days of tn,
French Empire.
Under the title, 'sNotes of 1870,
Senator Eugene Pelletan publishes il
the Paris Rappel some account of tn,
scenes in the Palace of the Tuileries a
the time of the Empress Eugenic'.
fight, which are worth translating. HI
says, under date, Paris, September D.
, 1870:
We only learned this morning of the
Empress's fight. She was good enough
to be frightened away. There are in
the Tuileries some state papers and the
crown diamonds. The Government OF
the National Defence appointed Durier
and myself to see to their safety. We
found the gate closed and the palace
deserted. A captain of the National
Guard was in command and was guard
ing it with his company. He took US to
the Empress's apartments. On enter
ing her dressing-reom we perceived an
odor of something burning. A heap OF
burned papers was smoking still in the
chimney place.
This dressing-room is quite large. It
would serve as wash-room for a board
ing-school. a narrow marble table &C.
cupies the whole of one side, and sup
ports whole pharmacy of pots and
walls. 1t is complete museum of all
that the perfumer's art had invented of
pastes, powders, opiates, greases, oils,
beef's marrow and perfumed waters, in
termingled with brushes, pencils, pow
der-puffs, chignons, false-hair-in a
word, of all the contrivances for wom-
an who gives the keynote to fashion
and teaches the world the art of render
ing beauty ridiculous. A certain num-
Der of hats lie all around; so many can
didates for the last head-dress success
sively tried and rejected.
A guardian of the place, in a. green
CLOAK, was kind enough to initiate us
into the mysteries of this sanctuary of
the toilet. He pointed out large
rosette in the middle of the ceiling.
When her Majesty dressed or undressed,
this opened like fan. A railroad in
the story above bore to the opening the
mass Of velvets or laces indispensable
to the circumference of an Empress.
An elevator respectfully deposits this
august finery in the dressing-room, and
then removes the old clothes that her
Majesty has just put off.
In this dressing-room the Empress
passed her last moment as sovereign.
She had to choose travelling costume
suited to the circumstances Doubtless
she hesitated about the head arrange
ments, judging by the quantity of bon
nets scattered all about the cabinet.
The Empress talked great deal, which
saved her from reflection. She had
said: I" shall not fall like Marie An
toinette. shall be able rather to ride
away on horseback. Indeed, she had
remarkable skill as a horse-woman.
But when the time came to put her foot
in the stirrup, the blood rushed to her
heart and she trem5led, though no dam
ger threatened her. The people were
moving peaceably beneath her windows
without looking up. They had already
forgotten the Empress; they saw in her
only a woman, and they passed by in
silence.
At the moment of departure she ask
ed for cup of 6ouiilon. She had not
the strength to take it. We found the
cup still full with bit of bread beside
it. When she started to go she could
not walk and had to be supported. Her
loneliness frightened her. She looked
about for her War Minister: absent,
Her Minister of Marine: gone! Her in
innate adviser, Rouher: vanished, Her
Project of Police: fed Every one TOR
himself; saure qui peut! Every thing in
disorder; so the Empire was to end.
The Empress's apartment is quite re-
gal. She had had it decorated by
Chaplain in the Boucher style. II is
not altogether dazzling; no more is it
edifying. The artist had painted on the
frieze of a salon the portraits of Cocho-
nette, of Turlurette, of Dindonette and
of Brichonette. But I do not assert
positively the authenticity Of these.
They were the pet names of the great