The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-07

all respect, but not at all ss . future empress.
Touching this point, the author of this
book remarks that those who may have
believed that Napoleon III. thought for an in
slant OF obtaining the favor Of Mile. do Montijo
otherwise than by marriage could have had but
little knowledge OF tho character of tho noble
and naughty young girl. or OF tho profound re-
spoct In which the Emperor held her. We are
reminded Of an incident related by NJ. dc Maupas
In his Memories sur 10 Second Empire On a
bright autumnal morning. during this stay at
Compiegno. the Emperor, accompanied by n few
persons only. among whom were Mmc'and Mile.
de Montijo, was walking in the park. The
lawns wcro covered with an abundant dew, and
tho rays Of the sun gave the drops still hanging
on the heritage the glow and transparency Of
diamonds. Mile. dc Montijo called attention
to n clover leaf so gracefully charged
with dewdrops TINT ono might have thought It
n real gem fallen from some ornament. When
the walk was over the Emperor drew aside
Comic Bncchiochi. who started for Paris n few
minutes later. The next day he brought hack a
charming trinket. which was no other than q
%trcfoil, each Of whose leaves bore u superb dia-
inond d~cwdrop. The Count had caused tho leaf
80 much admired by his future sovereign OH the
previous day to be initiated to perfection. In the
evening n lottery was drawn at tho chateau.
and 1t was 80 managed that this trefoil should
be won by Mile. do Montijo. In the Emperor's
mind the trinkct was tho equivalent Of an en-
gagement ring. No ono except himself. how
ever. as yet attached this idea TO the present
which the beautiful spaniard had received.
vi.
To ,vos nm th. ar,t d,y 80 1oSa ,h.t N.no,oan
III. seems TO have formed n fixed resolution 10
marry Mile. de Montijo. II he had hesitatcd, his
hesitation was overcome by an incident which
occurred at the Tuileries, in tho hall OF the Mar
shals, ON the evening OF Dec. 81, 1852. On that
evening tho Emperor showed himself a different
man from Louis XIV, who had allowed the be-
loved Marie Mancini to depart. What took
place was this: Mile. de Montijo. who was lean
ing on the arm Of Col. dc Toulongeon, having
passed In front OF the wife Of a high official, the
latter gave vent to her III humor In some offensive
words. Very much moved, Mile. dc Montijo COM
planned to Napoleon III. and made him under.
stand that she could remain no longer In n court
where she was treated In such n way. The En-
peror answered her, 81 will avenge you" The
next day he asked her in marriage. She was
then living with her mother at IL Place Ven
dome, on the first story. very near the Hotel du
I,hin, where Louis Napoleon had been lodging
when he was elected President OF the republic.
On Jan. II, 1853, the grand balls Of the Second
Empire were inaugurated at the palace
OF the Tuileries. The bail opened with a
quadrille OF honor, which Napoleon III.
danced with Lady Cowley. the Ambassadress
OF England. He danced another quadrille
with Mile. de Montijo. whose resplcndent beauty
and extreme elegance excited universal admira-
ton or all the women present she was assur-
eddy the most beautiful. But up to this moment
no one had guessed that before the end Of the
month she would reign as sovereign In the pal
ace where she was still only an invited guest. 1t
not Mile. de Montijo. but the Ambassadress
OF England whom the Emperor led to supper in
the theatre OF the chateau. where four hundred
took their seats. After this Tuileries ball.
however. people began talking OF the Empcror's
On Jan. 18. 1853. the Marquisc do
wrote to her father. Marshal Castel.
lane: "You must hear. even so far awny, the
echo OF the ruInors Of Paris, where nothing is
talked Of but the marriage OF the Emperor and
Mile. de Montijo. Eth, well. Between our.
selves, IL may rome to pass. The Emperor has
n very violent passion for her, and he
to me to take the thing quite in earnest.
As for her. she conducts herself with reserve
and dignity. From the political point OF view,
this marriage seems. at first glance. to have in.
convcnicnces: but, II II does not take place, II is
more than probable that the Emperor will not
marry at all, seeing that his repugnance to
up 10 the present has been but too well
proven, and that certain old English chains
the reference. OF course. is to Miss Howard, who
had followed Louis Napoleon from London to
parisl. which are still tolerably firm, and
are the terror of those who love him, may
him" Referring to Mile. de Montijo,
the Marquise de Contadcs added: The young
girl is pretty. good, and witty, and, along with
this, l believe she has much energy and nobility
Of soul. I have been watching her a good deal
Of late. and l have observed nothing but what
Is good" About the same time Marshal Castel-
other daughter, the Comtesse de HAITI
field. wife OF the Prussian Ambassador at
Paris. wrote to her father: They are talking
In this town OF the Emperor's marriage with
Mile. dc Montijo. This news needs conflrma-
ton. II IL is true. he will, at least. have n
wife; that is something for him.
II means prefcrmcnt by choice" Tho Mar.
shal. who wus then commanding the army
OF Lyons. replied as follows: For my part, |
] am glad OF H.. / hardly suspected when
her mother. came to me at Perpignan,
July 20, 1884. leading her and her sister by the |
hand. for she had two little girls with her, and a |
little boy named Paco. that tho younger OF the
girls would be Empress Of the French one day.
The Comtesse de Montijo was then fleeing from
Spain. and l gave her letters OF recommendation
to our relatives In Toulouse. l find her described
In my notes Of the period as between thirty and
thirty.five years old, tall, fine looking still. and
with a remarkable mind. Mime. do Montijo was
very kind when I saw her again in lsi9. with
her daughter, Eugenie. In Mile. de Montijo the
Emperor will have a very beautiful. very intclli. |
gent. and, l think, a very good wife. Nine. do |
Montijo will have realized q fine dream"
The rumors concerning the Emperor's betroth-
nj still encountered many unbelievcrs, until
the following notice was published in the Mont.
teur Of Jan. 10, 1853: Tho bureau OF the
Senate, the bureau OF the Corps LcoislatiJ and