The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-15

he was by nature and mixing with thl!
class in his daily life in London he mus
have been hampered when he came to the
throne and supreme power, not only by
the pecuniaTy applications of many. bu1
by the wish to re-estaiblisll g .lal rela'
tioTls.
In choosing his wife Napoleon III. de.
clared THAT che had consulted his reason
and his conviction that he had placed IN
dependence and qualities of heart and do
1nestic happiness above dynastic prelu'
dices and the calculations Of ambition
History will recall adds Sir William
Fraser, that the lady chosen by the EN-
peror proved herself to be a warm friend
of her adopted country, and an energetic
advocate Of all measures that would ben
efi& France; more than this, placed in the
most exceptional position, both socially
and as "A handsome woman, no whisper
Of scandal has ever attached to her name
Determined to play an honorable and pr,}-
dent part in her great position she ful-
filed the anticipations of her husband
Speaking with an American of some
eminence Sir William Fraser described
Napoleon Ill with hesitation as "iav:ng
the eyes of that most intelligent Of ami
mails, the pig Gen. r. observed ''tha1
was the term applied to Washington, the
pig-eyed Washington After hearing
this Sir William does not hesitate to
write down his impression OF the Emper-
Gr's eyes, and he reminds his readers that
"a pig was taught to play whist SO years
before a dog"
The last time Sir William Fraser saw
Napoleon III. was a few months before
his death. On reaching Chiselhurst he
says: II was ushered into the long cor
ridor which runs the length Of the house
by certainly addressed servant There
the Duke of Bessano met me and at once
led me into the principal drawing-room
where the Emperor was seated He shook
hands and motioned me to a chair; we
sat for half an hour ait a buhl table; he
spoke on general topics; I, of course, was
unable by etiquette, to ask him ques-
tinns, but SO far as I was able I endeav
oTed to lead ITO interesting matters. lie
spoke Of the changes which had taken
place in England and ] alluded to our
revolution in 1867; remarked chat we
mad passed through N 1852 apd 1867 near
ly so great change as France had in
1880 and subsequent years. The Emperor
said and repeated several times, o, you
have so much good sense! You have SO
much good sense. You cannot be de-
st1uyed!' I suggested that low wages and
empty stonachs were formidable rivals
to sood sense. However, he seemed to
hold to his opinions. I suggested that
or building our Parliament house close
to the river and OUR objection to q pre-
dominance Of lawyers in the House of
Commons had tended to our durability.
This remark appeared to please him. He
said more than once: What sagacity
what sagacity! 0, what sagacity!' and |
think expressed some wish that the
French people had done the same. Speak
ing of the republic said: Your Maieestty tty
lett them too rich; they can dispense with
YOU for "a time, but only for a time He
replied: Yes, the republic OF '4S wa:
bankrupt ] did my best to allure the
Emperor to express an opinion on Lord
Eeaoonsdeld. The imperial countenance
clouded over at once. ] suggested that
the Emperor had met him frequently at
Lady Rlessington's receptions at. Gore
House in former days. At last Napoleon
III. sad: 7 am told thar he speaks we'll y
S.r William Fraser is not much of styl-
list, but he kept full notebook