Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-10-22

stepped in melancholy: II have just
received the news from China. Our
army's victory fills me with joy: our
dear soldiers have done their duty, as
they do it everywhere. 1 was begin |
ming to think that was losing the |
power Of feeling anything very keenly. !
When one is exhausted, as l am. JOY |
hurts as much as does sorrow"
On another occasion she writes !:
physicians strive to cure
the malady OF the body before
possible" The Empress was in con-
versatlon a s'charming raconteuse."
A retentiye memory and power of
mental assimilation made up for her
lack of solid education. Her voice was
harsh, but this defect was forgotten
in the brilliancy. the aptness with
which she would tell the story OF the
book she was reading. or of the play
she had seen. She was quick at re.
partee.
The Emperor was continually putting
his wife on her guard against indulg-
ing in fatal habit of talking too freely
with the high born and often perfidious
ladies whom she admitted to her intt-
macy. "yhey are SO many spies" he
was won't to say. The Princess de
Metternich seemed to have contempt
for the beautiful parvsnue. NJ. de Lane
calls the Austrian lady the evil genius
of the court. She often took the lead
IN schemlng amusements and enter
tainments that were derogatory to the
dignity of the sovereign.
One day, for instance the princess.
proposed to the empress to take a
tramp in short petticoats ON foot
through the forest of Fontaineblear
with her ladies. At that time the
fashion for wearing short dresses
had not come in. The empress
was delighted at the idea. One o.
her ladies objected and demonstrated
with Mime. de Metternich. "WoulG
YOU advise your Empress to go abou
in curtailed skirts for the edificatiOI
of her subjects" ''Oh. that Is quite ,
different thing. the Princess answered
"No, certainly, would never advise tn
Empress Elizabeth to go out walking
in short petticoats. But then my Elm
press is royally born princess. Will
yours, my dear--yours Is Mdlle. d
Monti.o.
No wonder the Empires sometimes
thought bitterly that throne coul'
be paid for too dearly. AS the year
went on the golden Bohemianism a
casion the Empress protests in lette
TO an intimate friend that the repor
is exaggerated which has got abroa
that in the tableaux given at an int
mate gathering in the Tulleries tn
q ladies appeared arrayed IN the scanties
Il clothing.
v The details accompanying the pull
8 lished description pointed to the n
L port having been sent to the paper b
|. perfidious guest. This 'Amateu
a malevolence,' as she cleverly terms tn
e motiveless scandal-mongering OF som
"a people, saddened her. Il find my
r. self delivered over the malevt
ia lence Of parties. to that of publ
A curiosity by friend-at any rate, b
% one who was my guest. To this cal
'e not accustom myself My enemies wi
N always find me strong to resist the
re- attacks, but cannot say that N
s. friends will"
d The Empress brought up her son a
n. mirably. She was somewhat seve
with him in her eagerness to counte
m act the ovcrindulgent treatment OF II
rt Emperor.
to Nj. Lano assures US that the beautf
of woman was not the spendthrift she h
re been represented. Her taste lnclin
s. to elegant simplicity. The emper
8. urged her constantly to dress mo
n. richly. The extravaganza and luxu
he of the court were far more due to 4
n lavish display affected by her ladi
lie than to her. She was clever arti
and some of the portraits that s
10 painted have genuine artistic merit.