The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-10
Ex-EMPREss EUGENE.
A Glimpse of Her Former Life, as Told in /,
Recent Novel.

Glimpse of Her Former Life, as Told in a
Recent Novel.
Paris Morning News.
The interest of Passion a novel published
yesterday by Dentu, is that tits written by
Nine N Carette, who was formerly reader to the
impress Eugene. and that it gives a glimpse of
the imperial court. Nine. Carette seems to have
fallen on evil days, and she is going to try If she
cannot 1--we by her pen Her idea of living by it
Is me very good one from a business point of
view, OF writing novels with portraits. No
names are given, or, at least, no real ones but
TINS only adds the interest of the riddle to the
interest OF the portraiture We are to look and
guess II this book succeeds we are given
70 understand, Nine Carette will write another
IN winch she will give us q little or a good deal
more OF the same article. Her heroine is a spot
less princess, the wife of man older than her
SELL he married on the advice of lady whose
counsel he ought to have been the last to follow
IN IN such case, The lady soon grows jealous of
the very happiness she has created, and finds
means to resume her empire over the prince.
An accident shows the heroine how she has been
betrayed; her heart from that time is forever
closed to her husband, and he becomes a prey to
an altogether prohtless remorse. There is no
scandal, however, before the world The war
breaks out, and the prince leaves home in the
nope OF recovering his Wife's affection by win
ming distinction in the field; but Prussian bull
let cuts short the laudable project, and the
princess is a widow
The main interest of the book is in the de-
serptlon OF the house and way of Life of the
princess, which is understood to be a description
OF the private apartments of the empress at the
d IN and Of her private circle of friends
me room in which they were was lit by two
nlgn windows opening on the garden, and was
hung With soft green silk, which gave it an air in
perfect harmony with the taste Of the princess,
VINO, unlike those people who try to give an APP
pearance OF luxury to common things preferred
that nothing in her surroundings should vio-
16AJIY attract notice Her 1vTplliHn tharnf0ra.
sumptuous as twas seemed to be arranged with
all the simplicity OF family life. A full-1ength
portrait OF the prince, noble and grave, occupied
panel IN the background, and to the right of
the hre- place therewas fine portrait of woman
Of anelancholy cast of conference.-the mother
OF the princess, A Louis XVI mantepiece, in
RED marble oRnamented with finely-ehiseled
bronzes, supported female statue in white mar
Die, an allegory of the hours of the night Two
large vases in Chinese bronze with tone of old
gold and covered all over with strange ara
basques and with thick foliage forming dome
OF verdufe above; Boaz by Cabanel and a
Roman woman by Hebert were other conspic-
uous objects The middle of the room was oc-
cupled by large writing desk of mahogany,
richly ornamented with bronze, which had be-
longed to Marie Antoinette-a precious relic pre-
served with pious care. Assofa in purple satin,
ike the window curtains, faced the fire place,
and an old fashioned clock lin mahogany and
bronze, like all the furniture Of the rooml was
also OF Industrious origin, and its heavy pendu-
lum had counted many an hour joyous and sad
"A case between the two windows contained
some marvellous enamelS boxes ornamented
with precious stones, miniatures ancient fans
a thousand varied and charming knicknacks,
forming collection remarkable by its rarity and
its tase A bamboo screen springing from Jar
dlnlere of flowers sheltered in one corner near
the window, a little snuggery furnished with a
table covered with boxes of colors, brushes, soft
stutfs and tools in fine steel The princess loved
artificial flower making, and some roses on the
table from her hand attested her skill, for they
had the freshness, the beauty, and the fragility
Of the natural flower A large bay draped with
Oriental silk in violet and gold, opened into am
other and smaller saloon. The walls were hung
with the same green stuff, and the room was
lined with low bookcases filed with precious
volumes, combining everything interesting and
elevated in French and foreign literature Above
| these bookcases vases busts and statuettes
stood out from the dark background with price
less narvels in painting by Wouwermans Ger
ard Dow, Pater and MISSIONER