Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-08

sanity even before we neared the coast
of France In that unhappy summer OF
1866, 1t Is generally assumed that her
mental malady first asserted itself dur
ing her interview with the pope. Oct. 1
of that year, The fact is that her
majesty became ravins maniac In
the castle OF st, Cloud.
These are the circumstances; When
our steamer landed a. Brest there was
nobody to offer a royal welcome, or
any kind OF welcome. Neither the
French government nor the Belgian em-
hassy was represented. The same hap
pened upon our arrival In Paris, The
empress tremhled from head to foot as
she stepped into the hired coach that
brought us TO our hotel, The day
passed without n word from Emperor
Napoleon, On the second day the EN-
press Eugcnle's chamberlain came to
invite her majesty to breakfast ut st.
Cloud, She refused the invitation, but
said she would come to ST. Cloud the
following afternoon, At the castle my
mistress and their majesties Of France
were closeted for an hour or longer,
remaining in the anteroom,
suddenly heard the Empress Car
lotta cry out In agonized tones, which
were full Of contempt at the same time.
Indeed l should have known who you
are and who am. should not have
dishonored the blood OF the Bourbons
in my veins by humhing myself before
a Bonaparte, who Is nothing but an
adventurer'
IA second later heard sound as
II n heavy body had struck the floor.
| ran to the door, which was locked
but after little while the Emperor
Napoleon came out with troubled
tress on lounge, and kncellng by her
side the Empress Eugene who was
rubbing her hands and feet. She had
opened her corsets had pulled on her
stockings, and In short, done every
thing to arouse her from the fainting
spell
THE emperor's statement that no
could do nothing for his majesty Of
Mexico had brought on this trouble, said
Eugenle, Then abe got up to get a
glass Of water, but, as abe held II to
my mistress lips, the Empress Carlotta
awoke and threw the water over her
friends dress, crying; Away, cursed
murderer; away with your posonw and
then, failing on my neck, she added;
You are witness to this plot, They
want to poison me. For Gods sake do
not leave met
After that abe had lucid intervals
for some time, but she collapsed again
during tho historic interview with Pope
Plus TX, and Il was this scene at the
vatican which first attracted tho at
tentlon OF Europe to the mental IT.
responsibility OF the unfortunate Car
lotta.
It was while abe was travelling about
from court to court seeking aid for
Mnximilian that his last letter, written
n few hours before his execution, reach
cd her, This letter, II Ii said, Carlotta
has never been able to read under
standlngly, II Is as follows;
My Dear Carlotta II God permit
that your health be restored and you
should read these few lines, you will
learn the cruelty with which fate has
stricken mo since your departure for
Europe. You took with you not only
my heart but my good fortune. Why
did | not give heed to your voiceP SO
many untownrd events! Alas! 30 many
sudden blows have shattered all my
hopes, 30 that death ls a happy deliy-
arance not an agony to me- | shall
die glorously, like soldier. like
monarch -vanquished, but not diBhon-
ored. II your sufferlngs are too great,
and God shall call you soon to Join me.
shall bless His divine hand which has
weighed so heavily upon u.s. Farewell.
Farewell. Your poor Macmillan"
During the first year OF her secluded
life Carlotta was most fastdlous In the
matter Of her dress and In the little
details which govern the life Of royalty.
She always Insisted on having new
pair OF white kid gloves placed on the
breakfast table so that she could cat
without soillng her hands by touching
any piece OF food. She used to wear
a dozen pair Of now gloves every day
and she changed her gown every hour.
She wore the most elaborate court cos
tunes and always required the attend
ance OF numerous pages to carry her
train.
Her love Of fnery and display soon
died away, and then her mania spread
In the opposite direction TO such an
extent that II was with much difficulty
that her attendants could induce her
TO make the necessary changes OF
clothing. In her youth she was most
devout woman. and while chaplain
has always been attached to her palace
she has not tolerated him In her pres
ence for years.
For her relatives particularly the
Belgium king. she has the greatest
distrust The last time Leopold visited
her, some three years ago, she few at
him and catching hold OF his long
whiskers dragged him about the apart