The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-11-28

A few days ago there died In France
woman who, although ill-favored
and disagreeable, exercised a most
powerful influence on the destinies of
Europe. Extraordinary though il may
appear, she was nothing but a servant
girl, with so little education that she
barely knew how TO write her own
name, which was Pepa. She was a
Spaniard by birth, and was the maid
and confidential factotum of the En-
press Eugenie, both before and after her
marriage to Napoleon.
II is generally admitted that the EN-
press Eugenie was principally respon-
sible for many of the most cruel of
Frances disasters. She was entirely
under the control Of her maid, who pos
sessed all the vices and none of the
virtues OF the Spanish character. The
Emperor and many of Eugenie' s
friends and relatives repeatedly i'm
plored her TO dismiss Pepa, but without
avail, and 1t was current at the time
that she owed her exceedingly strong
position TO some dangerous secret of her
mistress, which the latter feared she
would reveal.
Pepa commenced her career as a
mere maid, with white apron and cap,
in the service of the old Countess OF
Montijo, taking her meals in the
kitchen. She afterward became the
maid and confidante of Eugenie, being
aware of all her flirtations and adven-
lures prior TO her marriage 70
Napoleon. On becoming Empress,
Eugene appointed her first femme de
!chambre, and subsequently, gave her
the place OF treasurer of the household.
just before the latter promotion she
married corporal of the Imperial
Guard, whose good looks pleased her,
and at the Emperor's request the cor
poral was advanced 10 the rank of lieu
tenant ON the wedding day.
Every purchase made by the Empress
passed through pepa's hands--not only
those of clothes, but also of pictures,
statues, bric-a-brac and jewels. In each
case Pepa insisted on obtaining com.
mission, and thus il was that when the
empire came 10 an end, in 1870, she pos
sessed a fortune of 100000 francs IN
money and 500, 900 francs i'm jewels de
posted in the vaults OF the bank oi
4 France. The amount Of her wealth be
came known just before the declaration
Of war, through the death of her hus
band, which rendered IL necessary that
an inventory should be taken of hei
property.
All the dresses, and In fact the
whole garderobe of the Empress, with
the exception of certain valuable fur'
and laces, were included in Pepa's per
quisities. The Empress rarely wore q
dress more than once-or at the mosi
twice accordingly they accumu
lated fast. Every month or two Pops
used to organize a regular auction sal,
Of all these dresses in her apartments
in the Tuilcries, which We're situated
i'm the Pavilion dc Flore. Great ladies
and demi-mondaines alike attended
these extraordinary sales, when IL was
possible TO obtain dress worth many
thousand francs at a cost of only a few
hundred francs.
Pepa was small, swarthy and angular
her lips were thin and cruel. and hei
small eyes vicious and cunning. Al
the palace She was hated, but feared
Indeed. the familiars OF the court wer,
wont 10 regard her in much the same
manner as the courtiers of Richeliei
look upon the cardinals confessor
lEmincnce Grisc.