Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-03

beauty faded, her life filling out an awful
hiatus Of nonentity that is bitterer than
many deaths could be- the whilom en-
press Of the gayest people Of the world
herself the most beautiful queen Of fash
ion, sits and weeps and awaits the doom
Of nature-a human derelict at the
mercy Of the waves Of time.
There never was so pathetic a picture
Il is the sadest Of all stories to tell how
this marvelously fascinating Spanish
woman, who made the rounds Of the
capitals and finally compelled the young
emperor Of the French, the most
exalted and the most luckless of all her
suitors, TO reach her by the door Of the
church, who sat on the most gorgeous
throne Of the world, ruled the most
famous nation, was petted during the
most luxurious decades In the history of
Europe, now sits and weeps a childless
widow in exile
About 1851 the present Countess of
Cork who met Mile. Eugene de Teba at
party at Lady Palmerston's declared
her "a vision of peerless loneliness. This
was the Castilian beauty who charmed
and then conquered Louis Napoleon.
Eugene was about twenty-six years old.
She was too EAST" to stay in England,
for, even at that time she was talked
about. But she became prudent with
the prospect of throne, and
made her pleasure her beauty and her
abandon subservient to her ambition. At
this time she was in the perfect bloom Of
her womanhood She was tall and grace
full in person, having exquisitely proper
toned neck, shoulders and bust which
she delighted to display in all their en-
chanting symmetry. She had dazzling
complexion, abundant golden hair drawn
back to show the classic contour of her
head and large blue eyes that were
melting and brilliant by turns She was
high-spirited, accomplished, speaking
French, English, Spanish, and Italian a
fearless rider a bewitchmg dancer, dress
ing marvelously; daring all things in
dress, manner and speech, yet she dared
all of these things with a spirit Of frolic
that dehed criticism and grace that dis
armed censure.
Eugene de Teba was precisely the
woman to influence a man and captivate
capital. That is what she accom-
plished.
Louis Napoleon intended to marry a
a royal bride. She made him marry the
most captivating and beautiful woman
in Europe who had no throne, no blood,
no fortune, and very little virtue Her
mother was immoral her father was
nobody
In few years these two adventurous
had France at their feet and all the
proud potentates of Europe as their
guests.
In 1867 the great exposition was
opened in Paris, and the kings of the
earth went TO pay tribute of recognition
to Napoleon Ill The Emperor of Austria,
the Gar and the Kings of Sweden and
Belgium were there, but more wonder
full STILL in the light Of subsequent
events, the King Of Prussia and his heir,
with Bismarck, their ambassador, were
welcomed.
-Four years later these two adventures
had summoned two Of the mightiest ma
tions Of the world TO war They had
brought into the field the greatest armies
ever known and fallen from height of
power and glory that was dazzling to a
political condition that was desperate
Now this woman, for whom the
women of the civilized world
assumed crinoline because she was
pregnant, is exilod. gray shriveled,
and feeble Her beauty is faded; her
hair, once the admiration Of the world,
is thin and colorless; the matchless sym.
metry Of 1.-THE grace has gone from her
person, and she who danced hobbies
now; she who rode fearlessly now creeps
slowly with the assistance Of cane.
Eugene the poor, old helpless, exile
at Chiselhurst, was the arbitress Of fash.
ion; the mistress of lotteries, the patron
Of arts the promoter Of political in
trigues, the hostess of emperors, the
dispenser of bounties the most loved
and the most beautiful woman of Europe
the Empress of France, the mother of al
heir imperial, the wife Emperor Louis
Napoleon.