The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-19


these lines was discovered and Danish
cd to Cayenne. but his verses set TO 4
popular tune, were long sung III secret
in tie iGveyns and workshops OF the
suburbs.
To 4 certain extent, public opinion
respecting the Young and lovely Eu-
genie was correct. She WAS indeed
emphatically not the wife that Lodis
Napoleon should have chosen. \ wo-
man of intelligence ami force Of charac-
ter might have done much to aid IN
founding his throne on Il more, stable
basis. The dowfall of the Empire though
probably inevitable. might have been
delayed for at least generation. But
his choice had fallen upon lady who
had but one qualification for the posi-
ton in which he had placed her-name-
ly, extreme personal beauty. She was
indeed kind-hearted and amiable. and
among the temptations of Il court as
diSsolute as was that of Louis Nv. she
preserved her reputation unspotted.
But she was narrow minded and unin-
tellectual, a bigoted Catholic, and SO
blinded by national and religious pre-
JUDGES that many of the most fatal mis-
takes of the Empire are directly trace
able to her influence. An alliance with Il
royal princess would have strengthened
the throne of Louis Napoleon; an ALI
ance with a French lady would have
drawn toward him the hearts OF the ma
ton. But Eugene was neither prin-
cess nor II Frenchwoman, nor yet
woman of vigorous commanding intel
lect.
But for some time all went we'll.
She ruled gracefully over her allotted
relm, which was that of fashion. The
influence of a crowned Partisan baau.
ty over the social doings Of the w&..A
can hardly be over-estimated. EUgS-ia
invented toilets that were copied by
all the women in the civilized world ;
she invented crinoline, and added a
new product to the manufactures Of
the earth. No woman better under
stood the art Of dress better than she.
Certain of her toilets have retained
their celebrity TO this day. Never did
the art of costly dress reach so high Il
pinnacle. She fringea her ball dress
rs with diamonds, and covered them with
lace worth 81 600 yard. Then, she
many wise and economical ladies, wko
undertook to have her dresses made at
home, and installed a dressmaker's es-
adjustment in the Tuileries, where
these splendid garments were prepared
under her immediate supervision. The
workroom was directly over her pri
vate apartments. BY means of trap
door. whose mechanism was skillfully
dissimulated among the ornaments of
the cornice and ceiling. a mannikin,
arrayed in the garb that was in pro.
gress, could be lowered for the EN-
presss inspection. This singular
branch of the royal household was under
the charge of functionary whose bus
mess it was to purchase silks, velvets
and laces at wholesale prices and to
superintend the workwomen, The
knowledge of its existence soon spread
abroad, and did the Empress infinite
harm. The petty economy of the pro.
ceedings horriiied and disguised the
parisians, who, economical themselves,
have ever scCrned that virtue in their
sovereigns. Many of the partisans of
court denied the eXistance of such IN
establishment, but during the Ecrt-1
that elapsed between the downfall C-
the Empire and the outbreak Of the
Commune the curious throngs that Wis
tied the Tulleries might trace amid
the mouldings OF the ceiling in the En-
press boudoir the outlines of tine IA
nous trap-door.
1t would have been well had She new
er turned her attention to any less fem
mime or more dangerous pursuits.
But in an evil hour for France and for
the nation >he undertook to dabble in
politics. Left Regent during the Austro-
Italian campaign, she acquired taste
for reigning. which was increased by
the batteries Of her husbands Minis
tiers and the counsels of her confessor.
1t was currently said at the Court that
the Mexican expedition "came ready
made from her boudoir." She hated
the United States. as "A true daughter
Of Spain could not fail to dotest the
coveters OF Cuba. Consequently, SHE
did not fail to further project whose
real aim was 70 deal the great Ropub-
lie. then struggling in tine throes Of
civil war, decisive stab in the back.
She approved of the war with China,
and couuescended TO enrich her private
apartments Win inc spOllS OF Ihe GUM
mer Palace. But her pet project, the
one that she had most at heart, was the
war with Prussia. The now historical
phrase This is uv war, was uttered
by her to General Turr soon after the
outbreak of hostilities And when, an
exile and discrowned, she first sought
the presence of Queen Victory, she
sobbed out, with tears OF vain remorse,
1T was all my fault. Louis did not
want to so to war; twas | that forced
him to it.
Nor WIS her domestic Life 4 hannv