The Washington bee., 1895-09-21
EMPRESS EUGENE.
Her Attractive Beauty and Kindness Of
Manner to Interiors.

daughters of the Duchess de Tascher
de Ia Pagerie, during the reign of
Emperor Napoleon Ill, and for many
years lived in the Tuileries. She was
treated with the utmost consideration
and had unusual opportunities for
studying the private life of royalty.
She has contributed some of her rem
iniscences to the September Century,
under the title of Life in the Tuileries
Under the Second Empire" Of the ILL
fated Eugene she writes as follows:
I had seen the Empress Eugene pass
by in her carriage more than once be-
fore I entered the Tuileries, and al
though could not but think her beauti-
full, still, like most of those who saw
her only under such circumstances, I
had no idea of her real attractions. A
few days after my arrival at the palace,
as [ was crossing the large courtyard
With the future Princess Won Thurn and
TaX1s, 1 suddenly saw her stop short
and perform the court courtesy
downward plunge instead Of the usual
bend-while the sentinel presented arms
as she hastily whispered: 81 'Imper-
atricep'
There was the Empress, standing be-
fore us at large window on the ground
floor, vision robed In pale blue silk;
the sun, forming a sort of halo around
her, rested on her hair, which seemed all
molten gold. / was absolutely startled,
and my impression was that had never
before seen such a beautiful creature.
l fully understood at that moment the
enthusiasm which I had supposed to be
exaggerated. Her face was beaming
with smiles as she recognized my pupil,
to whom she nodded with the most un-
pretending good-nature. / rema arked,
after we had passed on that had sup
posed her hair to be of darker hue,
whereupon I was told not to judge till
I had seen her in the shade instead Of
the SUN.
The first time that was able to see
the Empress In private life was at st.
Cloud, where the de Tascher family oc-
cupied villa adjoining the palace with
an entrance to the private grounds, Of
which we had key.
One evening had taken a drive with
the duchess, and on our return she had
gone into the garden with her elder
daughter to enjoy the fresh air, re-
questing me to order the lamps for the
drawing-room. 1 had just laid my hand
on the bell when I heard voice asking
for the duchess, and the door suddenly
opening, I saw a lady standing in the
entrance. Supposing her to be a visitor
from Paris, Immediately went toward
her, begging her to come in while I
called the duchess, who was in the gar
den; but saw some hesitation, and al
though the room was nearly dark a ray
Of moonlight resting on her face reveal
ed the Empress Eugene.
I was startled, and hardly knew what
I ought to do, so paused for moment;
whereupon she hastily took flight, clos
ing the door. / ran to the duchess, say
ing: Madame! The Empress Is herer"
She hastily came forward, when the
door opened again & nd the Empress, ac-
companied by the Due de Tascher and
a numerous suite, came in quickly, with
extended hands, which the duchess
kissed. She had previously run ON
alone, leaving the others behind her,
and in the anterQom had asked the ser
want on duty If the duchess was at
home, wishing TO surprise her. The
man, who was half asleep, sprang to
his feet with evident trepidation; on
seeing which she exclaimed, DO you
know me?" Certainly. 1 have the hon.
or of knowing Your Majesty" "Ohi
how tiresomew she cried C'Comme c'est
ennuyeuxEO; Everybody knows me"
She then hastily opened the door before
her, and saw that too recognized her,
on which she few to the duke, saying,
"Tascher! Tascher! l cannot go in
there Is a strange lady" He answered,
laughing. that he thought he knew who
that strange lady must be, and that Her
Majesty need not be alarmed on which
she consented to return. AS the duchess
welcomed her warmly, she said that she
had felt quite shy Gntimidee), when she
saw madame" with smiling bend to-
ward me, on which I was presented in
due form to her very gracious Majesty.
The whole party then went on the ter
race before the house, and after assist
ing in providing seats / withdrew, fear
ing to intrude on their privacy. But in
a few minutes one Of my pupils came
running in; the Empress had asked why
1 had retired, and had expressed a par
ticular wish that 1 should join them. It
was rather an ordeal to go through,
when I found myself standing at the
top of a flight of steps, which I had
to descend in full view of the large court
circle before me; the more so as there
was bright moonlight, and I knew that
I must remain standing till permission
was given to sit down. But the Empress
saw me Immediately, and with her
usual grace of manner desired me to be
seated, using her usual polite crcum-
locution-"Will you not sit DOWN." I
obeyed. with the requisite low courtesy,
and a most pleasant evening followed.
the Empress chatting gayly and famil-
iarly, as she energetically dug UP the
gravel at her feet with a tall walking
stick that she held in her hand, repeat
edly addressing me personally, with
marked courtesy. When an opportun-
ity occurred, she called me to her side,
and rave me a chair with her own hand.
In short, 1t was impossible to show more
kindness and consideration than
noticed toward every one present ana
experienced personally. She spoke
French with marked Spanish accent,
and. to my surprise, her voice had the
harsh cultural sounds so frequent
among Castilians, but which seemed
strangely foreign to that sweet face, 30
delicate in its loveliness. Il