St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-10-29
MAXIMILIAN'S MAD WIDOW.

A few miles from Lacken, the favor
tie residence of the King of the Belgi-
ans, stands the old Gothic castle of
BouchOut, at present the residence of
the widow of the Emperor Macmillan.
Not long ago rumOrs were current that
the Empress of Mexico had regained
her reason, which she lost at the death
of the unfortunate Emperor. These
reports were untrue.
More than eighteen years ago, when
the Empress had first lost her reason, a
mblance of court life was carefully
kept up around her. Receptions were
reglarly held, such as in former days
frightened life at the old palace of
Iturbide, in Mexico, and the respectful
homage which was accorded to the
Empress was perhaps more genuine
than in her days of greatest splendOr.
The Empress herself went through the
ceremonies with the same grace as of
old, and after certain number of peO-
Pile had gathered around her size would
thank them for coming TO see the great
Empress of Mexico, and then, rising
from her simulated throne, move tow
ard the adjoining rooms, saying. "1Ou
wish, no doubt, to lay your tribute at
the feet of his Majesty the Emperor |
will go and find him."
Returning after IA few minutes, she
would say, 81 cannot find the Empe-
rOr, but he will see you as soon as he
returns" With this she recommended
an animated conversation on the pres
ent situation and the brilliant future
prospects of the Emperor, and, taking
up his portrait, she eXhorted him to
rise higher and higher still, and not to
strive for one, but for ten, twenty, nay
for all the crowns of the world. The
cOurtiers, moved to tears by the pa
thetic scene, would bow low and take
their departure, unperceived by the eX-
cited Empress, who, after Il while,
would majestically sweep through the
rooms, haughtily commanding imagi-
nary pages to carry her train. But the
proud, hard look melted into sweetness
and tenderness when on her daily walk
through the grounds at Tervueren,
where Empress Charlotte was then re-
siding, her eyes followed the flight of
birds or clouds.
After the confiagratiOn of Tervueren
the little court moved to BOuchOut,
and the Empress has in the course of
time become less excited. Some years
ago it was one of her fancies TO order IL
large number of elegant costumes, each
of which required some thirty yards of
material, having to be made Mexico
fashion, with innumerable pleats. But
when the sumptuOns costumes were
spread out before her, she turned her
back disdainfully on the dressmaker,
murmuring, 81 will not have them
they are not good enough for the great
Empress of Mexico" Fortunately, the
rejected costumes were bought up by
the ladies of Brussels, often as pre-
ciOus souvenir of the unhappy sover-
eign. At present all violence has
ceased receptions are no longer held,
and the court circle consists only of the
ladies of honor, belonging to the Bel
gian aristOcracy, eight of whom in turn
reside for a week at BOuchout.
Several hours are spent every day at
the piano, and as Empress Charlotte is
herself IA distinguished artistic, these
musical entertainments are highly APP
preciated by all. Fancy work is also
one of the favOrite occupations of the
Empress, and her embrOideries are
said to equal those of the best Paris
workers. While listening to the music,
or busy with her needle, the Empress
never utteTs a single word, but seems
lost in thought, and it is very rarely
that during her daily walks she breaks
the silence. Sad and sOrrOwful, the
once ambitious Empress of Mexico
spends her mOnotOnOus days in the
quiet castle, and the veil appears to be
lifted only when on Sundays, during
divine service, which she regularly at
tends, the voice of the organ is heard
through the chapel. Then her sOnl
seems transfgured, and a strange smile
lights up the features of one of the
most unfortunate women of our CEN
turV- Pail Mall GaZette