West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-11-27
EMPRESS CHARLOTrE.
The Daily Life of MaNimIIIau's Untortu
nate widow.

Tho Daily Life of MsNimilIau's Unfortu.
nate widow.
a few miles from Lackcn, the favoritc
residence of the King of the Bclgians.
stands the old Gothic castle of Bouchout.
at present the. residence of the widow
of the Emperor MaXimilian Not long
ago rumors were current that the En-
press of Mexico had rcgainod her rca-
son, 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.
n scmblaucc of court life was carefully
kept up around her Receptions were
regularly he'd, such as i'm former days
frightened life at the old pnlacc of
lturb.de, in Mexico, and the respectful
homage which was accorded to the poor
Empress was perhaps more genuine
than in her days of greatest splcndor
The Empress herself went through the
ceremonies with the same grace as OF
old, and after "A certain number of pco-
pie had gathered around her sne would
thank them for coming to see the great
Empress of Mexico, and then. rising
from her stimulated throne. move to-
ward the adjoining rooms, saying.
" You wish, no doubt, to lay your trIb-
ute at the feet OF his Ma iosty the En-
pcrori | will go and find him"
Returning after few minutes, she
would say; IL can not find the EN-
pcror, but he will see YOU as soon as he
returns" With this she recommended
an animated conversation on the present
situation and the brilliant future pros
poets of the Emperor, and. taking up
his portrait, she cXhorted him to rise
higher and higher still and not To strive
for one, but for ten, twenty, nay. for
all the crowns of tho world. The
cOurticrs. moved TO tears by the pa
thetic scene, would bow low and take
their departure, unperccivcd by the cx-
cited Empress, who, after while.
would maicstically sweep through the
rooms, haughtily commanding imagi-
nary pages to carry her trail. But the
proud, hard look melted into sweetness
and tenderness when on her daily walk
through the grounds ut Tervucr.n,
where Empress Charlotte was then re-
siding. her eyes followed the flight of
birds or clouds
After the conllagration of Tervuorcn
the little court moved 10 BOuchout. and
the Empress has i'm the course OF time
become less excited. Some years awo
1t was one Of her fancics TO order n
large number OF elegant costumes, each
OF which required some thirty yards Of
material, having to- be- made Mexico
fashion, with innumerablc plaits But
when the sumptuOus costumes were
spread out before her. she turned her
back disdainfully on the drcssmalcer.
murmuriug: 81 will not have them:
thoy 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 sovereign.
Now all violence has ceased receptions
are no longer held, and the court circle
consists only Of the ladies Of honor. b.
longing TO the Belgian aristOcracy.
eight Of whom in turn reside for a week
at BOuchouL
Several hours arc spent every day at
the piano, and as Empress Charlotte is
herself a distinguished artistic. these
musical entertainments are highly ap-
precatcd by all. Fancy work is also
one OF the fayor.tc occupations OF the
Empress and her ombrOidcric- are said
10 equal those Of the best Paris work
crs While listening 10 the music. or
busy with her needle. the Empress
never uttcrs single word. Tut seems
lost in thought and 30 is yer. rarely
That during her daily walks She Drcat g
the silence Sad and sorrowuI. the
once ambitious Empress of Mexico
pends. her mOuJ'ou0u days iu The
quiet castle, and the veil appears 90 be
lilted only when on Sundays. during
divine service, which she regularly af-
tends. the voice of the 0reiu is beard
through the chapc. Then her soul
seems transigurcd. and 70 strange smile
light mp the features Of one Of the most
unfortunate women OF our century
IuN MAJ Gulcua.