River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-05-05
MAxIMILIAN'S REIGN.
The Closing Days of the Genial Hut
III-Fatcd Emperor of
Mexico.

The pomp and dignity of the court
had vanished, ana social life in the
capital no longer conferred about the
imperial palace.
Even previous TO the departure of
the empress. the Monday receptions had
been discontinued, without their loss
being seriously felt. AT best they had
never been other than dull, formal af-
fairs. The ballroom was a large hall,
always insufhciently lighted, and mar
rowed in the middle by the platform
where stood the imperial throne under
canopy of velvet. Here. after their
new guests had been officially present
ed in an adjoining hall, the emperor
and empress seated themselves. Before
supper they made a solemn tour of
the ballroom. The dancing then ceased,
and the crowd stood in chilled expect
aney, and made way for them, each in
turn receiving, as they passed, smile,
a nod, or some commonplace word of
greeting.
Macmillan was happy in his remarks
on such occasions. Naturally affable
and kindly, like most princes trained
to this sort of thing, his memory for
names and faces was remarkable. We
were presented at court on the first
of the imperial fortnightly Mondays,
and with us, of course, the larger num-
Der of the guests present; and yet,
some weeks later, when making his
tour of the ballroom, the emperor
stopped before us, and inquired about
an absent member of the family, APP
parently 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 handsome, al
though the whole expression of his face
revealed weakness and indecision. He
looked, and was, a gentleman. His
dignity was without hauteur. His man
ner was attractive; he had the faculty
OF making you feel at ease; and he
possessed far more personal magnet
Ism than did the empress.
Hers was a strong, intelligent face,
the lines of which were somewhat hard
at times; and her determined express
sion impressed one with the feeling
that she was the better equipped of
the two inteIligently to cope with the
difficulties of practical life 1t is prob
able that, had she been alone, she
might have made a better attempt at
solving the problems than did Maximil-
ian; at least such was Marshal Bazaine's
opinion, as expressed before me on one
occasion, during her brief regency,
when she had shown special firmness
and clear judgment in dealing with GER
tain complicated state affairs.
She, however, was reserved, some
what lacking in tact and adaptability;
and a certain haughtiness of manner,
a dignity too conscious of itself, at
first repealed many VINO were disposed
to feel kindly towards her. 1t is more
than likely that under this proud mien
she concealed a suffering spirit, or, at
least, the consciousness Of a superior
ity 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 Notwithstanding the prudence and
decided ability with which she had con-
Quoted the difficult affairs of the realm
during the emperor's absence in 1864,
it was limited that on his return she
was allowed little say in public affairs,
and that her advice when given was
seldom followed. After her departure
even the semblance Of a court disap-
peared.-Mrs. Sara Y. Stevenson, in
Century.