New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-04
EX-EMPRESS EUGENE. =
HER SAD OLD AGE-A CURIOUS SKETCH BY
HER HUSBAND.
Paris, August II

Paris, August II.
There is n place where the Tuileries once stood.
There are yet standing many buildings inseparably
associated with the Second Empire; some In ruins,
some intact Some Of the memorials Of that
gilded and patchouli-perfumed era still command
respect some only excite contempt And what
is said OF stone and mortar also may he said Of
flesh and blood. MacMahon, for example. still
lives. and Others less noble and less known.
Twenty-onc years Of established republicanisin
have destroyed all relics of the Imperial re-
gime but they have made them only relics? not
vital forces
Among all things that still exist to tell OF Louis
Napoeonic days, by far the most impressive. most
touching, most pathetic Is the figure Of Eugene de
Montijo. ex-Empress Of the French. She Is seldom
seen on the Continent now scarcely ever in late
years In Paris And when she has now and then
slided like ghost through the city she onco
ruled and always loved, there have been few TO
recognize her. But those WHO hove done 30, OF
whatever parry, have been able 10 look IN her
only with sympathy and respect. Scarcely In
Bellevic or on Montmartre has she an evilwlsher.
She stands In every mind apart from all memo
res of the coup d'etat and of Sedan, separated
from them by the two sepulchres Of Marlborough.
And should she wish to live once more In Paris
she would find here only kindness and esteem.
She will, however, never again make her home
upon French soil She has cast her lot, for the
rest of her mournful life, in the island kingdom Of
the widowed Queen who, only less sorely smitton
than herself, can seli s;npathize with her SOL
itary wo.. She is now at her beautiful seat at
Farnborough-"i in good health" says the gossips.
There are degrees of health. The ex-Empress il,
in fact, much Of an invalid. She suffers intensely
and constantly from rheumatism and is so severely
affected by that disease that she Is scarcely able to
walk dozen PAGES unless leaning upon staff or
upon the arm Of an attendant To those who re-
member her thirty years ago, beautiful, vivacious
active, it is a pitiable sight to see her, bowed
with snow-white hair, slowly and painfully maxi
ing her way along the paths of her private park
1t is true that not many do thus zee her, for
now the public cannot frequent those grounds as
Of old. At the gateway there is conspicuous
sign: these grounds are private. Trespassers
will be prosecuted" This is not, however mark
of nhospitality, or Of morbid desire for seelusion
II Is simply measure Of sef-defence, and 1t re-
fleets little credit upon those who have hitherto
visited the place. Time when oil were freely
admitted. The ex-Empress then found her foot
steps at all times logged by intrusive and inquisi
tive strangers, 80 that she could not have an
hours or moments privacy. Not contented with
gazing at her from a courteous distance, they
her very face. Nor. bad as this was, was it all
Vandalism of all kinds was practised. Flowers
and plants were stolen, and shrubbery broken and
defaccd. Even the wreaths placed by the wild
ow's own hands upon the late Emperor's sarco-
phagus were ruthessly spOliated and stolen. One
day the ex-Empress left her rosary lying on her
prayer-dcsk in tine chapel while she went for q
moment to the tomb, and returned to find it stolen
Such state Of affairs became intOerable, and she
was compelled TO put up the sign excluding the
public. However, any may obtain admission
TO the grounds now, at certain hours, upon appi-
cation for the privilege; and at certain hours, aso
the mausoleum and the road leading TO it are
opened free to all
Many years ago. in the Lest days Of the Empire,
Louis Napoleon paid singular bit of homage to
his wife. lie wrote q sketch Of her, and had it
published in leading Paris paper 1t was extraor-
diuary for Emperor TO write newspaper
article; still more 80, when his Empress was the
theme of It. But he did 80, aud this is what he
wrote:
Tomorrow Is the fete dry Of the Empress, so 1t
will not be out Of place to dedicate a few lines 70
her. spanish by BIRTH and the daughter Of q great
patiician house. some public organs would
With the most e ntolsrant religion fanatcls, and In
fact, With all tlie prc,udecs Of noDbty. What pou
Is It to Occupy SaS o. the rt thrones Of the uni
sketch OF her life Will be put before the public IN
% ar h cSns de- Tn o er % o En ss
Who being Inspired with passionate devotion to the
aass pa s he @ S oas a Ds a. pa our
reverses, and crippled with wounds he was one o.
heights OF the Huttes de Claimant. Retiring 70
privst, i fs On the downfall Of the Empire he kept
opinions made him the object Of persecution on the
part OF Ferdinand VII.
largest educational Institutions. Brought up in tho
oh.
Was then Sad the comtessc de- Teba learned ned as i
Spanish E D Years e S Souo f family re-
s Tps 81 s Hhs the s iw5 E nsr
ceved from her that complement Of education which
completes ladys training and prepares her for her
All those who visited Madrid at that time must
Ha hSpaSe saGn wh ns
tissmw9uld seem 70 have made place Of rendezvous
s sn%s "a and seI ' aS e er s
MSno did the scnOs Of the salon. Of which her two
eldest. espouscd the Due d'Albe. The youngest was
remarked not only because Of her great wit and IN
her heart Frequently surrounded by persons ami.
mated with sentiments Of different epoch. her pre-.
not approve OF In their opinions and whether owing
to the rceoi.etions Of the years passed near her
convictions; she frequently heard in Intimate Re-.
new ideas. Her lively Imagination sought food for
these noble aspirations toward the beautiful and useful
and she was often seen porting for hours at time
the works OF Fourier Her friends nicknamed
her. augbingly, :" La Phaunsterienne." but
admired this young girl OF eighteen. who TO such
degree interested IN social problems, and who seemed
TO be preparing herself by study and meditation fot
some great and ysteriOus destiny.
one curious incident Of her life Is WORTHY OF being
chroniccd Always full OF sympathy for those who
were suffering and by nature feeling compassion for
The oppressed. she Inspired with n secret SYM
patty for the Prince. who. victim OF his own con-
vicons. prisoner at Ham. and. notwithstanding
her extreme yonih she begged her mother t. bring
Is said. had decided undertaking his pous Pill
grimage when her plans suddenly changed by
OF unforeseen circumstances. THIS iong-sufer-
ing Prince she was destined TO see few years later.