The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1898-04-23

Mrs. Sara Y. Stevenson il eontribut-
ing to the Century q series of papers on
the French Intervention In Mexico. In
the current number of the magazine
hrs- Stevenson writes Of Mexican So
ciety In Meximilian's Time, 1856" She
says Of the last days Of the empire:
The pomp and dignity Of the court had
vanished, the social life In the capital
no longer conferred about the imperial
palace. Even previous to the depar-
ture of the empress, the Monday reeep-
tions had been discontinued, without
their loss being seriously felt. At best
they had never been other than dull.
formal affairs. The ball room was a
large hall, always insuflciently lighted,
and narrowed in the middle by the
platform where stood the imperial
throne under a canopy Of velvet. Here,
after their new guests had been Official
ly presented in an adjoining hall, the
emperor and empress seated them
selves. Before supper they made a
solemn tour of the ball room. The
dancing then ceased, and the crowd
stood In chilled expectancy, and made
way for them, each in turn receiving
as they passed, a smile, a nod, or some
commonplace word of greeting. Max
imilian was happy in his remarks on
such occasions. Naturally affable and
kindly, like most princes trained to
this sort Of thing, his memory for
faces and names was remarkable. We
were presented at court on the first Of
the imperial fortnightly Mondays, and
with US, Of course, a large number OF
the guests present; and yet,some weeks
later, when making his tour Of the ball
room, the emperor stopped before us,
and inquired about an absent member
of the family, apparently placing us
exactly. Many other instances Of his
memory and power Of observation In
such small matters were related by
others. He was tall, slight and hand
some, although the whole expression
Of his face revealed weakness and indie
cislon. He looked, and was, gentle
man. His dignity was without hau-
teur. His manner was attractive; he
had the faculty of making you feel at
ease; and he possessed far more per-
sonal magnetism than did the empress.
Hers was a strcng. intelligent face, the
lines of which were somewhat hard at
times; and her determined expression
impressed one with the feeling that she
was the better equipped of the two in
diligently to cope with the difficulties
of practical life. II is probable that.
had she been alone, she might have
made a better attempt at solving the
problems than did Macmillan; at
least, such was Marshal BaZaine's opin-
ion, as expressed before me on one oc-
casion, during her brief regency, when
she had shown special irmness and
clear judgment in dealing with certain
complicated state affairs. She, how
ever, was reserved, somewhat lacking
in tact and adaptability; and a certain
haughtiness Of manner, a dignity too
conscious of itself, at first repealed
many who were disposed to feel kindly
towards her. II is more than likely
that under this proud mien she con-
cealed a suffering spirit, or, at least,
the consciousness Of a superiority that
must efface itself. Who will ever know
the travail of her proud heart and the
prolonged strain under which her
mind finally succumbed? For, not
withstanding the prudence and decided
ability with which she had conducted
the difficult affairs of the realm during
the emperor's absence in 1864, 1t was
limited that on his return she was al
lowed little say in public affairs, and
that her advice when given was sell
dom followed. After her departure
even the semblance Of a court disap-
peared.