Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-27
John W. FORNEY
Interesting RsminicenSes Of a We'll
Known Nan.
The Ex-Empress Eugenie and
Her IdOIatry for Her Son.

Colonel j. w. F0rney, whose deatl
we recorded last week, was, although
not an old man, one Of the oldest, as
well as best known, journalists IN
America.
Both in Philadelphia, his home, and
in Washington, where he passed many
years as Secretary of the Senate, COL
Forney was almost universally known,
and his genial manner and address
made him popular even with those
who took the most Numerically oppo-
site political views.
Representative Of the News yes
terday met a gentleman who had
known him during many years, and
received the following account OF a
most interesting incident;
| had known, said he, Colonel For
ney for so long a time that l cannot
remember when our first meetings
happened. Our last are, for several
reasons, impressed upon my memory.
During the winter of l874-75 Col.
onel Forney came to London to repre-
sent the Centennial Exposition OF
1876, the promoters Of which were at
that time much discouraged. Senator
Sumner, of Massachusetts, had in a
powerful speech denounced the giving
Of aid by the general government.
Besides, the outrageous ending OF the
first American Worlds Fair, held in
New York in 1853, from which the ar
ticles placed on exhibition by foreign
ers were deliberately stolen or wan
tonly destroyed, it matters little
which, so that nothing was ever re-
turned to the owners, some of the ex-
hibitors being ruined by their losses.
Losses for which, whsn taken into
court, several millions of dollars dam
ages were proven and Acknowledgements
a bankrupt company-had made for
eigners doubtful Of any like enter
prise.
Everything hinged upon Colonel
Forney's diplomacy, and he himself
felt far from sanguine of success.
Having met the Colonel several times,
it was with some little surprise that |
one day received a note from him stat
ing that he had made one or two I'M
successful calls, and requesting an in
teryiew at my earliest convenience.
Fiom my lodgings to those of the
Colonel in Sackville street was but a
ten minutes walk, and | went at once.
1t was almost noon, but, true to his
journalistic habits, Colonel Forney was
still in the most complete dishabille.
Although he had breakfasted, he had
done so in bed, and | found him pacing
the floor in a much rufled and trims
med, but also much rumpled and
creased night dress, over which he
had cast a long, Powered dressing
gown, which reached to his slippers.
His still abundant hair had been un-
touched by the comb, and the lower
part of his face, where uncovered by
his mutton chop" whiskers, had that
peculiar look that all strongly bearded,
mi ddle aged or elderly men have be
fore shaving. AS he walked he die
tated 10 his short hand secFetary-fOr
he had two-a London letter for his
Philadelphia paper.
ExcusiDg his appearance on the
ground that he had not expected to
have the pleasure of seeing me so
soon, he began BY saying | could be
ofgreat service to him and the Cen
tennial Exposition.
What is wanted" said0C Colonel
Forney, is something which will at
tract universal attention, and with
which we can maksa brilliant effect.
For twenty years the foremost woman
in the world, especially in American
eyes, has been anu is Eugenio, the ex-
Empress of the French | want 10
get her and the Prince Imperial, Ma.
poleon Nv, as the Bonapartists call
him, to 90 to the Centennial. | heard
only last night that you knew her. |
want you to 20 to Chiselhurst and ask
her. You do know her, do you not?'
swell, Colonel" | answered, Il
know her in the way a traveller with
out official rank or distinction knows
the cOnsort Of the reigniDg sovereign
OF a great nation, as the Empress Eu-
genie was when | knew her, and / owe
that slight acquaintance to an accident
OF my early boyho0d."
Il heard you had been to see her
since your coming to Englan d." con-
tinued the Colonel.
Il did 20 to Chiselhurst, but found
that her Imperial Majesty was in re-
ligious retreat. l, however. saw the
Duke Of Bassano, her Chief Chamber
lain, and was asked to come again"
THAT will do-that will do" said
the Colonel, and III just sit down and
write you an official letter appointing
you & special commissions so to speak.
for the particular duty"
This he did. | then wrote to the
Duke stating my second reason for
wishing an interview. A few days
| received a dispatch from
Chiselhurst saying that Her Majesty
would e me on the following day at
noon.
was, Of course, punctual, and was
1T once ushered into q small sitting or
reception room, where Her Majesty
awaited me alone.
My first feeling was a profound shock
at the change in appearance which the
few years since | had seen her had
made in the once lovely and brilliant
woman, then in the summer of her
beauty, surrounded by a splendid
court aud sovereign mistress of one Of
the greatest nations in the world; the
Of fashion, and by her beauty
and grace adding even to her exalted
In these few years had come
the tall Of the empire; the fight with
her child to England; then the death
Of the Emperor, and before ne was a
woman already old. Dressed in the
deepest mourning and with extreme
simplicity, her hands covered with my
pet aversion, long, black, silk gloves.
for a moment l could scarcely believs
that the woman before me was
the same Eugene. The charm Of
manner and the graceful courtesy.
however, remained, though grown
more grave and stately.
Kindly assuring me that she re.
membered me, and motioning me 10 a
char, evidently placed in anticipation
Of my coming, the Empress, after a
lev polite inquiries, spoke Of my letter
to NJ. de Bassano and plunged at ono
into the subject Of the Philadelnbia
! EXposition WorlJ H. ~