The morning call., 1893-06-18
RARE SOUVENIRS.
RecOlIections of Countess
Stephanie.
STORIES OF MANY COURTS.
A Talented Woman Who Has En-
joyed the Friendship of Many
Titled Persons.

Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALI.
The Countess Stephanie-for SO the
Countess de Tascher de la Pagere.
Chanoinesse of the Bavarian Order of
Saint Anne, is called by her numerous
frends-has at last placed her souvenirs in
a publishers hands. The recollections of
her residence at the court of the Tuieries
and at the various German courts will be
of the greatest interest, for the Countess
Stephanie has known every body of i'm
portance during the past sixty years and
has been present at all the great fetes in
Paris, London, Berlin, Munich and Baden
Baden. With the Bonapartes she lived in
exile and with them she enjoyed life at
the Tuileries Palace. This intelligent
woman has seen everything. heard every
thing and remembered all worthy of re-
mem brance. Although the Countess
Stephanie is nearly so years old, for with
coquetry she tells us she was born January
7, 1914, we might imagine her to be no
more than 80. She is so vivacious, so witty
and blessed with such excellent health
that she is still seen in Paris salons, and is
everywhere a welcome guest. Above all,
the Countess Stephanie is good and kind
hearted, so that her souvenirs contain no
scandals, but succession of curious an
ecdotes, philosophical reflections and much
unpublished information about many
events of importance.
| have before me the prOofsheets OF the
first volume of souvenirs. These relate TO
her residence at the Tuleries from 1852 to
1858. The sketches of different personages
made in these notes bear the stamp of
originality. After recalling the fact that
Ter father, Count de Tascher de la Pagerie,
was cousin Of the Empress Josephine,
the auth0ress makes us the portrait of
Josephine's daughter, Queen Hortense:
"This Queen had all the gifts of heart
and mind. Gracious and affabIe. she knew
how to create a delightful home for her
adored sou. at the same time that she pre-
pared him for the brilliant future tina she
knew must be his After the disasters of
1914 she wandered from one place to an
other-to Rome, to Augsburg. and at last
to the little chateau of Arene berg, in
Switzerland. There. in 1881, my sisters
and | were first received. and l confess
til at the summer visits made to this hos
ptable place were the joy OF our youth.
Queen Hortense as never seen without
a hat; when she came to receive us, before
| had gaZed upon her face. | was charmed
by her voice. Never before nor since have
] heard so delightful a tone; 1t WAS vibrat-
ing, clear, and at the same lime soft and
insinuating. Her majestic appearance was
softened by her grace, by her charming,
familiar manner, that expressed so much
goodness, SO much affection. She was not
then and never has been beautiful, but in
her blue ewes was reflected tender. p0eti-
cal soul. Her nose was long. her lips very
thick, and yet one felt that the distinction,
elegance and languor of this woman were
capable OF inspiring affection and even
passionate love. She was richly endowed
with intelligence; she composed and sang
romances with exquisite charm, she drew
and painted, not without artistic talent.
Prince Louis (Na oleon lid was GER
"a My the dearest possession OF MS mother;
She loved him to alteration. She was proud
of him! 1t seemed that she foresaw the
high destiny waiting for him.
This young man, ppnsive, silent, sahcti-
fed by the prestige of the name he bore.
inspired me with real respect l made him
the hero of my imagination. Queen Hor-
tense called him her douX terrehreuX, and,
| in reality, Prince Louis was always a
thin ker; he continually reflected. but never
expressed his thoughts l believe that he
meditated on his future destiny, while
| under the shade of the terrace at the little
chateau Of Arenenberg.
prince Louis WAS too small for his strong
| head, which merited large body, but he
was agreeable and pleasaDtin appearance.
His blue eyes. little faded in color, DOS
sessed an ineXpressible charm. Ordinarily
yelled. as If he looked within, at times. they
expressed great benevolence, great good
ness. They must have been eloquent when
he talked of love; the residents of the
chateau were much occupied with the
affections OF this young prince, whose heart
was tickle as it was tender.
AT Arenenberg the simple country life
was surrounded by all the pOmp of court
etlnupttp The Cnpan laSidpa bor
Gus domestics, bad two ladies in waiting
and her faithful physician, DR.. Conneau,
who, later. will be found attached to the
destiny of Hortense's son.
The Strasbourg affair and the danger to
her son caused SUCH terrible condition
to the Queen that she never recovered
from It's effects. She asked to rest beside
her mother at Renil, near La MalmaIson
and Count de Tascher de la Pagerie ac-
companied her body TO its last abode"
The author recalls the Boulogne affair.
the imprisonment at Ham, the escape and
the despair of the Bonaparte family; the
mem bers OF this family accused the Prince
of running his cause by his senseess esca-
pades. and these events led to the rupture
OF the engagement of marriage with his
cousin. Princess Mathilde.
After the proclamation of the repuhlic
the Prince returned to France. and in De-
cember. 1S49, was elected to the Presidency,
The evening before the coup d'etat pre-.
pared by Saint Armand, Minister Of War,
MRrny and Persigny. representing the peo-
pie, and Maupas. Prefect of Police, there
was soiree at the Elvsee Palace. About
10 O'Clock the Prince. leaning against the
mantel. called Colonel Vieyra, chief of
staff in the National Guard. and said to
him:
Colonel. are yon sufficiently master of
your face 10 conceal emotion?"
u think so. Monseigneur."
We'll, it is for tonight. You have not
moved. That is we'll"
To the Princess of Baden, who was
present with the Duchess of Hamilton.
the Prince said calmly and TRANQUILITY as
these ladies left the palace: Marie
think of me Tonight"
The Princess was affected, she knew not
why, but She understood the next morn
ing. when Count Bacciochi announced
| Paris is oursp'
When Countess Stephanie speaks of the
Emperor's marriage, she says:
Germany looked with no favor npon
the second empire and the petty hatreds
OF little German courts prevented all mat
rimonlal alliance with German Princess.
ana decided the Emperor to make a mar
rlage OF inclination. Another great act of
| hls.life that brought on him endless crit-
cism. We must not blame foreigners who
abused the Prince, since his own family
mad no faith in him. and tried Tn belittle