The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-03-07
Eugenie's Gift.

Whatever opinion may be entertained
Of Bonapartism and the late Emperor,
the bittercst opponents Of the dynasty
and of Napoleon III. must render hon.
age to the generous high.mindcdncss
that distinguishes his august widow. 1t
will be fresh in the memory OF our read
ers that the city of Marseiles, which
overlooked with liberality to Napo-
leon III. when he was in the zenith
of his glory, sought to recover its gift
with interest as soon as blind fortune
turned her back upon his dynasty. The
municipality OF The great commercial
emporium 50 famous for the m0desty OF
its citizens presented to the late Emperor
q certain plot Of ground, then valued at
1900, 0O0 francs. Napoleon spent ,0OO,'
600 francs more in building palace
and laying out grounds, so that the
present value or the Pharo property
even assuming that the price of land has
not increased during the past de-
J cade-must be put down at nearly
5000, 900 francs. The chivalrous NUM-
cipality brought an action against the
Empress, after her husbands death, for
the recovery of the property; but the
Phocian burghers were nonsuled in the
courts Of their own quondam imperialis-
tic and now radically republican city.
They then carried the case on appeal TO
the higher tribunal at AK, but we're
again defeated there. The Empress has
thus triumphed, but, as though to give
lesson to certain Princes OF
another repudialed dynasty, she now,
having established her right by the laws
Of the country which Is still hers, though
she is in exile, abandons her claim in
favor of the city which has used her 80
i'll, and gives up voluntarily what she
refused TO yield to threats. 1t is be.
| lieved thai the eyilcd Empress is by nc
means so rich rs are the Orleans Princes
who accepted the restitution of theil
condecated property before even thu
war indemnity TO Germany was paid
Her generosity is all the more to he
credit, and Euglishmen will read will
interest the simple and dignilied word
in which she signifies to an old politica
friend the determination TO which sh'
/ has come:
FiRYBoROuGn Hill, Hants, Dec. u, lss2.-
BY DEAR NJ BOUHEE: ] have Just received
| the letter In which YOU inform me that th'
| AK Court of Appeal has confirmed the iudg
ment given BY the Marsclles court in tn,
action brought against me by the Tow
Council OF the latter town. In defending my
rights before the law courts WAS specially
animated by respect for the French nagis
tracy, for 20 have believed that my causc wa
lost beforehand would have been tantamOun
to an admission that passion or personal in
! terest could influence the course o
Justice In our country. Now, however
that these rights havo been rccogniIct
| do not wish to retain The ground which TIN
| city OF Marsrillcs once gave ui its own fret
will to the Emperor, and the possession o
which II now disputes. Therefore you are Il
take the necessary steps Tor the presentation
to the town in my name oil the park an
| chateau Of the Pharo, tho latter of whic
the Emperor built Mt his own expense. |
acting thus | think that / am behaving Il
those who are now no more would hay
wished, and | trust that you who were the
devoted friend, will approve oil my decision
can not conclude this letter without uSlir
Won to thank on my behalf the distinguish,
| LAWYER who, although separated from Us 1
| his political opinions, has, consulting on
} equity and law, defended my interests wit
the utmost talent. remain, etc,
EUGENE,
, London Ncws.