The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22
THE SECOND EMPIRE.

Arsene Houssaye's Recollections.

innate of the Empress.
Arsene Housssye's Recollections.
The day on which the tumor gained currency
tnat Napoleon IL was about to wed Mile de
MM r} Vas day of surprise for Paris.
' hoped that for LACE OF
foreign Princess he would have
had the patriotism, to marry a Fre"ch
lady of quality. 1t was generally thought that
be would choose one of the young wards of the
Legion Of Honor. But the aidesde-camp de-
clded otherwise, considering that beauty, no
matter whence IL came. is the true sovereign.
and hoping that the Empress of their election
would always be safeguard for their vanity.
There is the story concerning Merimee, of whom
1t was said that be was the father of Countess de
Te9a not WHICH was aatter ing for him
does not tell such falsehoods. The
somewhat thankiess features of Mermee
were never reflected in the beaming countenance
of the Empress. But, according to the legend,
Merimee played wholly different part in the
affair. Though she was not a Nine de Sevigne,
Mile Eugene de Montijo knew how to write
bride abattue, and her best wit had half for
eign, half-Parlsian flavor. Still there was not
enough in it to turn the head of man that
Chateaubriand declared writer of high descent.
Merimee, who was smart and liked to deceive
acknowledgements we'll as the subscribers
to the Revue Ges Deux Mondes-amused himself
by debating letters, real romancers' letters, to
with al air of irony, '4All this is but legend.
Why, then, did he recount it as history! The
first letter astonshed the Emperor, the second
caused him to think, the third imprisoned him,
and the fourth made him beside himself. Merl-
NEE enjoyed this romance III action. lie sur
passed himself III the art of ensnarlng heart.
After the twelfth letter Napoleon, third
of the name, who had caught a
glimpse at fetes Of the beautiful Spaniard,
wished to dream with her by moonlight beneath
IN of fheV
there: Who taught you, Mademoiselle your
speechN 'Merinee Were you not aware that
he was my first teacherF The young girl spoke
no falsehood, but she did not reveal the whole
truth. The Emperor supped with her. He
imagined that he would overcome in trice the
lovely foreigner. Why should she not be a
left handed Empress, as so many fair foreigners
that frequented Saint Cloud and Compiegne,
where they slaughtered almost as many virtuous
women as they did antlered stays would gladly
have been? Why? IT'S the secret Of the gods.
The Emperor's passion, maddened by resistance,
for Napoleon did not think that virtue would
have hand in the game, rose above the smoke
of passions flame Napoleon III had consulted
France, and she had said to him: BE Emperor
He did consult her in respect of his marriage.
although she was to sign the contract. Did the
the Nation sign it2"
NJ Houssayes estimate OF the Empress is by
no means as favorable that Of Napoleon Ill,
and he reproaches her with her foreign birth,
with her cruelty-shown in hunting expeditions
and with her lack of courage at trying periods.
That her life was not altogether peaceful may be
inferred from the following:
'Tbe Empress was beset by more than
funeral presentiment of the abyss that already
yawned at her feet. When the Prince Imperial
presided over the distribution of prizes at the
general competitive examination, Godefroy
Cavaignac. who had been awarded first prize
for Latin verses would not accept q wreath
from the hands Of the son of the man that sent
his father into exile. The young students made
Godefroy Cavaignac the object of an ovation.
The news threw cloud over the mirth of an
imperial dinner at Fontainehleau Every body
smiling at the joys Of life. But the Empress
understood that her would fatally bear the
penalty of the "a Of December. Instead of
weeping, she broke cut laughing-laughing that
woeful laugh that breaks ones heart; for as
Dante has said it is Satan laughs within us.
Her laughter ceased not and all were terror
stricken by her forced merriment. The EN-
peror led her to her apartments, seeking to con
sole her with gentle words. But cruel laughter
possessed her SO thoroughly that it was heard
even in the park. She stood at window, i'm
ploring heaven; the sky, so beautiful until
sunset, filed with the clouds of a storm
that was raging affair." DO you seer she asked
the Emperor. He answered that they were
merely passing clouds. Just then female
friend appeared she fell upon her bosom. and
her laughter turned to sobs. How often
those grand palaces-Fontaineb leau, Saint
German, Versailles, Saint Cloud the Tuileries
the scene of like crisis? The jewellers therein
pay no small rental unto the sorrows Of hui
mainly"