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

mi wants and say mass In the chapel the
empress keeps six priests and four monks
OF the regular premonfre OF the congrega-
tiOn Of France. These white-fobed canons
live In . splendid brick house in the
grove Just beyond the church. having
. home that Is ft enough for anyone's
residence and large enough to well accom-
mOdate double The number Who occupy IL
Both in architecture and environment il
Is beautiful building, very at accom-
paniment 70 the magnificent church which
rises above the remains Of the last of the
male line Of the imperial family OF FranceS9
Anything like perfect description OF the
property owned by the empress u beyond
the power Of words. II takes in % much
that Is beautiful In nature, and 30 much
that Il striking IN art. and then surrounds
them with so many strange and mysterious
conditions that one for . time almost for
gets they are In England and imagines that
the power Of the Bonapartes has been re-
stored. and that they are beginning new
reign in sunny France.
II u not strange how easy it u to give the
Imagination its bent and live upon its
caprices. Here Is . lady Of high degree
with history that comprehends almost all
the intrisues and combinations that France
has known since 1883 The leader Of social
life In the gayest capital in the world those
edict IS TO fashions Was once regarded -
law in every civilized nation Of the globe;
whose power not only with men but with
her own sex has no parallel now after twenty
years Of banishulent from the land she
once ruled in Is quietly living here in coun-
try wherein she never had place or power
and stu maintaining all the outward evil
dences Of her oId-time political domination,
with every one about her to help keep up the
fancy. In the little village the shop keepers
put upon their wagons s.Purveyors to her
imperial highness, the Empress Eugenie."
Not only the gentry of the country side,
but the officers ct Aldershot. the states
men Of England, who occasionally drop
down here. make manifest their recogni-
ton Of her title, just Is though she were in
reality the empress, and yet by no means
known to Law or revolution. would il b
possible for her to be restored to the throne
Of France. No one knows that better than
herself. bat she finds it pleasant, IL not
necessary TO keep alive past glories and
live in the Same atmosphere she enjoyed
before her exile. Everywhere about her
grounds and in her castle there
are interesting evidence of her
past; rich reminders of her royal home in
France, which are carefully preserved for
future generations, although she has no
near kindred. believe, to respect them
when she Is gone. Even the state carriage,
with its gold-mounted harness and gold
linked viii fietrees, in which she and
Napoleon rode on state occasions in the
heyday of their power. Is here kept bur-
nished and ready for use or show In
building erected expressly to preserve it
Ths wealth to keep up this style and
enjoy this miniature nation in . secluded
spot must be considerable. but the empress
is credited with having plenty and some
thing to spare. The savings from the
wreck Of the empire are said to have been
large. and her possessions in the United
States are set down - yielding her . con-
siderable income. There seems no danger
Whatever that the style Of this establish
ment will be marred in the slightest for the
remaining years of Eugenie's life. II ever.
It is perhaps fitting that this should b 90.
for besides the good she does 70 the labor
ing people with the expensive establish
ment she keeps up she gives literally to
charity and every person along Farm
borough Hants blesses her every day. She
goes about among them In very friendly
way without ostentation, tender. but dig
nifty itself. Her life 10 very secluded. the
visits to Victoria being about her only
mingIing with the outside world.
The relations between this pair of
queens il very interesting, and no one
in England more carefully or more
constantly endeavors to recognise the
present existence Of Eugenie's former
position than the queen. She treats
her with all the dignity of an equal, and by
every outward mark of respect teaches her
people to do the same. She also intends to
keep the friendship alive for after genera
tons, and her youngest daughter. Beatrice,
has named her girl-child Victoria Eugene.
In seeing her consideration have thought
perhaps that the successful queen. although
nearly ten years older than the broken one,
went out of her way in making her
regard for her manifest 1t is
not often that . woman especially
of high degree softens toward one Of her
own ser. But excepting the loss of her
husband Victoria has never had any trou-
BILE of moment, and her reign has been fifty
three years Of remarkable achievements.
Her lines have been mostly happy ones and
at the age of "a with good health and pros
perity she can look upon the world through
gold spectacles and make Eugenie feel .
part of her inspiration without much diff
ficuity. So she invites her to Osborne,
Windsor. and to her home in the High
lands of Scotland and gives her practical
taste of the old-time days she used to enjoy
in France. This is no doubt as pleasant as
the balance of the fiction that is kept mp
to please the empress. There is no par
tlcular reason why it should not be done,
if it only please pair Of queens.
FRANK A. BURR
PAST TTNR