The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-05
AvsrarA.s Mvaosseo eMpasss.
Her Wild Rides and sympathy with Tn.
Poor While An Normandy.

Her Wild Rides and sympathy with the
Poor While I'm Normandy.
In 1875 the murdered empress OF Aus
tria. upon the advice Of her physician,
took up her residence In Normandy. in
the Caux country. where she rented the
chateau OF Sassetot. She arrived there
on July 81 with the little Archduchess
Valerie. her daughter. and a suite OF
about so persons. On the day after her
arrival she appeared at Petites-Dalles
where she was to begin the sea bathing
which had been prescribed for her.
During the two months she was there
she took 80 baths. for which she paid
right royalty 5000 francs Every morn
ing the master bather went for his or
ders and IL he was told that the en-
press intended to battle he had every
thing prepared.
Often on her way to or from Sassetot
the empress would stop before some lit
tie cottage. get out Of her carriage.
talk to everybody neal her n caress
the children. Her hand was always
open and her visit was a godsend to the
poor. where her suite also spent
much money and paid for everything
royalty. Every day her grooms bathed
her horses in the surf. The empress
was fond of boating. Sometimes she
went on board a yacht which wal
placed at her disposal by a rich gentle
man from Rouen. but her preference
was for a little sailboat handled by the
son Of the master bather, a boy OF about
IL or Is summers.
AS much as possible she suppressed
all formalities of etiquette. Every day
she her horse and set out un-
accompanied. delighted at the chance
of having a ride alone. and very often.
too. h went great distances straight
ahead. according to her caprice n to
h great despair Of the functionaries
of her court. whom the emperor held
responsible for her safety. In the neigh
borhood of Sassetot everybody knew
her and before her all heads were re-
specially uncovered. Once she strayed
a long distance from the village and
wandered about In places totally un-
known to her. One Of the grooms. who
was dashing through the country
searching for her, found her In a field
where a maid was milking cows. The
empress was chatting Familiarity with
the young woman and drinking out of
a milk can.
The second time she got lost she was
on foot m asked the a of an old
priest. whose little hurch was in a
neighboring village. Taking her for an
ordinary visitor, he showed her the
- III oh NV iCho 6It ttNtItu lhNo
conversation with him. He incidental
ly spoke of the poverty Of his parish
toner's. and was much surprised on re-
ceiving the next day a considerable
sum Of money. which seemed really to
come to him from heaven. for he did
not know that the lady he met IN the
road was the empress Of Austria.
An accident which might have had
grave results put an end. at least for a
time. to these rather imprudent excur-
ions on the part of the empress. On
Sept. IS. 1875. her doctor. having left
her in the castle. after her promise not
to go out. proceeded to Petites-Dalles
to take a bath. After bathing a mes
senger came to him and said that he
was wanted Immediately at the cha-
teau. In great haste the doctor jumped
into a carriage and proceeded to Sasse-
tot. The empress had been thrown
from a horse in the castle park and her
condition appeared to be grave. When
the doctor arrived he found her IN
conscious. Her fainting spell lasted n
long time. and IL was decided to tele-
graph to the emperor. from whom they
at first desired TO conceal the accident.
After the telegram was sent the en-
press regained consciousness and Don
recovered. Her companions implored
her to abandon her wild and breakneck
rides. Shortly afterward IL was report
ed that on receiving the dispatch the
emperor went TO Sassetot incognito 10
see the empress. At the Austrian court
the story OF this visit was always de-
MED. They said that he was on the
point OF starting. but on receipt of re-
assuring news gave up the idea.
The empress quilted Sassetot on Sept.
20, 1875. On leaving she gave substan-
tial evidence OF her generosity. No
body was forgotten. not even the mas
ter bather. the little pilot, the church
where she attended mass, or the poo
OF the country. whom she had already
helped over and over again. She left
Sassetot followed by many regrets n
benedictions. Later. when she was told
of the death of the master bather. who
was drowned while endeavoring to ave
a swimmer I'm danger. she headed a
subscription list for his family with a
sun of money. 1t is not
astonishing that the news OF the sad
death Of the emprese was received nv |