Sharp County record., 1891-11-26
THE STRANGE STORY OF PEpA.

4 Maid Servant Who Exercised a Power
Europe.
A few days ago there died in France
9 woman who, although illfavored and
disagrecable, exercised most power
ful Influence on the destinies of Europe
\ Extraordinary though it may appear
she was nothing but servant girl
with SO little education that she barely
knew how TO write her name, which
was Pepa. She was Spaniard by birth
and was the maid and confidential facto-
tum Of the Empress Eugene both be,
fore and after her marriage to Ma.
poleon.
It's generally admitted that the En-.
press Eugenie was principally respons.
ible Tor many of the most cruel of
frances disasters. She was entirely
under the control Of her maid, who DOS.
scssed all the vices and none of the vir.
tues OF the Spanish character The
emperor and many Of Eugenie's friends
and relatives repeatedly implored 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 re.
veal.
Popa commenced her career as mere
maid, With white apron and cap, in the
I service Of the old Countess of Montiio
taking her meals in the kitchen. She
afterward became the maid and conf.
dante Of Eugene, being aware of all
ner fiirtations and adventures prior to
nor marriage to Napoleon On .becom.
ing empress Eugene appointed her first
femme de chambre, and subsequently,
gave hcr the place Of treasurer of her
Vi household, just before the latter nro.
Al mot'onshe married corporal Of the
Imperial Guard, whose good looks
pleased her and at the emperor's 70.
quest the corporal was advanced to the
Fank OF lieutenant on the wedding dav.
ID Every purchase made by the empress
passed through Pepa's hands-not only
hose OF clothes, but also of pictures
AN tatutes, bric'a- trac, and Jewels, In
'" ach case Pepa insisted upon obtaining
~ commission, and thus IL was that
hvhen the empire came to nm end In
S'O, she possessed fortune of 3, 600 600
k"vancs n money and 500 900 francs in
'wcls deposited in the vaults OF tho
ank "a France The amount of her
10 u'eeltn pecamc known just before tho
nod eclaration OF war, through tho death
.,l,, ner hNebond, which rendered It nee.
wv" ssry MAT IN inventory should be
asid ken Of her property. W
hi AZ tho dresses, and, In fact tho
{" mole garderobe OF the empress, with
,tllNVe exception Of certain valuable furs
dlqNc laces were included in pepa's per.
.,S, , isatcs' The empress rarely wore
INV y" more than once-or Nt the most
1 NN,ce--and accordingly they aeeumu.
re 90 fust Every month or two pena
b wto organize regular auction snlc
~ these dresses In her apartments
tne Tuilleries, which were situated
,sOuSpthe Pavilion de Flore, Great ladies
..dsdt demi-mondaines alike attended
o " Scextrnordinary sales, when II was
s'Ne 70 obtain dress worth many
sFfNdrOd france '' ~"
" ||vp; WA small, swarthy and nm.
|lts nor lips were thin and cruel, and
eyes vicious and cunning Al
:A?eo nhe was hated, but feared.
eq eho fnmiliars of the court were
y regard her In much The same
DIner w the eourtiers OF RichelIeu
D{aJye upon the cardinals confessor,
s'Ig'p'pSe s'I VFisc'-N Y, Recorder
scSp' '''''