The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-14

come the abiding piacs d the brakeman Or
the mechanic. II Is 70 Be cut up into build
ing lots and homes for the many erected
where onco only the lev we're admitted
Up to the last moment Is Vas expccted
that some Frenchman, who stili chung
TO the Bonsparte name. would pnr-
chase the property where Napoleon
passed his last hours and present i 70 the
empress, but no one came forward, and
the money maker viii now turn il 70 other
usesL Few women Of any rank have had
more sorTows crowded into . pace OF few
years than the Empress Eugenie during
the i've years between 1860 and 1874 She
saw her royal house DESTROYED, her hus-
band IN exile from tho country hs had
ruled, . wanderer II strange land. now
in his grave with his son beside him.
Marlborough vas . great relief from the
sad memories Of Chiselhurst She had
long time before bought strip OF land
along the railroad. covered mostly with
heavy timber On the summit Of . we'll
wooded hill an olc-fashiQned house stood,
which she remodeIIed 70 suit her tastes.
When il was out af the artisans hands 1t
was at dwelling place for any person who
wanted retirement and had the means to
support an expensive establishment. The
grounds are beautifully laid out with the
plenty of pleasant strolling places and
driveways leading in and out Seclusion Is
written upon every lins OF her immediate
surroundings The castle cannot b seen
from the road. or from any point in the
immediate vicinity, and yet no queen IN
the full possession Of her political power
could wish for lovelier spot, OK . more
perfect equipment for the enjoyment Of The
good things of life.
Yesterday sat in the same room with
her and the presence recalled thousand
recollections Of hsr past She Is
no longer young. Sixty-fcur sum-
mcrs and winters have como and gone
over her head. yet traces Of that singular
beauty both in form and feature. which
once made her such . popular leader OF
her sex. are sfill there. She il rather tall.
and grace itself IN every movement Were
she younger, she would b called 1.-the and
wiilowy for one who in middle life Was in-
ciined to b stout. In other words, now
she IL Just the ssyle of woman to give effect
90 the dressmaker's Art Her face,
growing rather thin, and some
what drawn with the harsh lines
of suffering, still retains that
winsome expression. which In the young.
fresh days Of her life made her % charm
ing. Her deep blue eyes still show much
of their old-time fash. and in them
and the tightly closed mouth can b seen
the play Of that force and discrimination.
which has always been . marked charac-
teristic Of Eugenie's life--an element of
force that has kept her In touch with the
world amidst sorrows and disappoint-
msnts that would have destroyed an ordi-
nary woman. Her rich, brown hair, AZ
ways such = conspicuous part Of her
beauty. Is Just beginning to show white
marks from the frosty fingers OF
age. Yet she still represents in
the very fullest extent thar superb
and subtle dignity of manner and grace
full bearing which made and makes her
such . marked figure among the royalty Of
the Old WorId. In her exile there is no re-
lapse into sadness. and she still looks to-
people - far - possible about her. As
saw hsr in her heavy widows weeds she
looked every inch the dignifsd character
she is. When she speaks her voice 10 low
and pleasant. with just enough Of ac-
cent to give her words IN additional at
traction. It has been said by Some
cynic that at 60 ne love only ourselves.
This certainly Ii not true Of Eugene. who
seems to b still in love with her people.
and with the memories which her husband
and SON recall. Tokeep them alive she has
expended great deal of wealth. and con-
tinues to spend great deal Probably
s. ooo. 900 would not repay the outlay upon
Eugenie's castle and its surroundings, and
they are commanding part Of the romance
md reality of the remarkable exhibition Of
past power one sees - soon a. dropped at
the little railway station thirty-three miles
from London
Looking to the left from Eugenie's castle
in the direction Of Aldershot, can Be seen
Just across the railroad track grove Of
forest trees skirting the top of . hill and
tending dovnwards toward IN open field
ON the one side and the main wagon road
on the other. which leads from Farnbor-
ough to the military camp. On the brow
of the hill among these trees you see Q
magnificent building of white stone sur
mounted by . tower and pinnacled with
dozens of smaller shafts. The windows are
long and filled with richly stained glass
and everything indicates lavish outlay.
Until you get in it and are admitted to its
mysteries it looks like parish church in q
rich community. and so it is. but not In the
sense of belonging to the people. It's
reared and kept in perfect order to perpet.
uate the memory of Napoleon Ill.
and the Prince Imperial. and when
she goes to her final account,
the Empress Eugene. Doubtless
a Quarter of 4 million dollars did not nav
for this costly monument 10 the fallen i'm
perial family of France. The church up
stairs is model Of beauty. and everything
that money could procure has been done
in the way of affairs, thing and decorations
TO make it as perfect q chapel as the in.
genuity of man could devise. Just in front
OF the altar of the Madonna and above and
beyond the seats reserved for other wor.
shippers is set broad armchair with Z
priicux in front for the empress to kneel
upon. TIE semblance of royalty is still
kept up in the church as in the castle, and
her chair and its accompaniment are MP
holstered in royal purple and the frame
work gilded according to the imperial
habit.
Catholics are exceedingly scarce in Eng.
land. and especially in this part of it.
Therefore the Sunday congregation at the
mausoleum Of Napoleon is small, and con.
fined almost entirely to the attaches OF
| Eugenie's household and q very few hum.
bic residents along the highway who pro
| fess this faith. The church is kept up sim.
! ply to crafty the religious pendants OF
the empress and to keep prominent the
memory OF her family. who are buried I'm.