The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-09
FALLEN ROYALTY.
The Ex-Empress Eugenie and Her Recent
Visit to Paris.


Paris Letter in London Truth.
The Empress Eugene spent sad week with
the Duchesse de Mouchy in her new house near
the Hotel des Invalides She was attracted to
the scene of her former triumphs, went to look
at the balcony of the Ecole Militaire, where she
witnessed so many reviews in imperial state
was at Longchamps, st. Cloud in the Tuileries
gardens and everywhere passed ALMOST I'M
noticed Her cousin, M. de Lesseps, FASTENED
from Berry to pay his respects to her, She was
paid many visits, but was not in mood to re-
cieve any but old and valued friends.
1t lis not at all true that she wants to
make peace between her cousin, Prince Napo-
leon and his oldest son, whom she calls her petit
neveu, She was very much agitated IN gong
over the theater on which the imperial drama
was played by her and the Emperor. But her
general attitude was that of a person who,
through much suffering, has come almost to be
lnsensible. Her complexion is bleached as her
hair The eyes Of pale blue have lost the faculty
of lighting up. 1t would be hard to say whether
they express Indifference or resignation. But
they look as if they had cried SO much that no
more tears were left in them. The Empress
drove about in plain coupe. She was always
In black Grape and merino Her figure has lost
all f1exibility, and although the Carlsbad waters
were of service to her, she has the stiff
walk that rheumatism or the weight Of years
gives. The outlines of the shoulders however,
retain some of their former elegance. AS the
adherents of Prince Victor are anxious to organ
SNSSNOAetA w
obtain pceuniary assistance from the Empress,
the house of the Duchesse de Mouehy was
closely watched when she was there Ii the
world has not gore from her she has lost all
taste for it. The seclusion of Marlborough
sometimes weighs upon her. Nevertheless, she
said she would be glad to return to it after her
continental trip At Carlsbad she refused all
exceptional hOnors and favors, lived quietly at
hotel, and took her place in
queue at the pump. Her old vivacty has
oh q
subjugate it, for she ascribes to her impetuous
disposition the eliminating error of the Emper-
ors reign, and another event for which she will
mourn as long as life and consciousness remain
to her. She has the generosity to admit the
errors of judgment into which she was hurled,
and which were attended with disastrous conse-
quences both for her family and for the nation
over which, by an astonishing freak of fortune,
she became the sovereign The Empress still
thinks aloud, and talks often and rapidly of
what is on her mind. She ill bears any mental
tension unless in religious exercises and has
not the resources of music, embroidery, knit
ting or sewing which enabled Marie Amelie to
beguile the tedium of a residence at Claremont.
Her lnirmity prevents her walking as
much as she wishes. She lives altogether
at Marlborough in the past and among
objects reminding her of departed
glories of the Emperor and of her ill-starred
son, of whom she can now speak without falling
into paroXysms of grief. The inner woman Is
chastened by Fiction and the outer woman
faded, but she is more interesting, perhaps,
than when she had the prestige of beauty,
throne, and externally the most brilliant court in
Europe. have heard her compared to Hen
rietta Maria, who also had reason to deplore the
impetuosity of her disposition. The Queen,
however, had trial in her old age to which the
Empress has not been subject. She lived in
France when she was discrowned Queen and
widow in dire poverty. Her house at Bots
Colonies was in the marshy part of wind
swept plain, and, being too poor to buy frewood,
she had to stay in bed in winter to keep herself
warm