Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-03-24
MAxIMILlAN'S REIGN.
The Closing Days of the Ill Fated Empire
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The Closing Days of the Ill Fated Empire
of Mexico.
Mrs. Sara Y. Stevenson of Mexico
in The Century writes of Mexican
Society In Maximilian's Time,
1866" She says of the last days of
the empire:
The pomp and dignity of the court
had vanished, and 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 affairs The ballroom
was large hall, always insufficient
ly lighted, and narrowed in the mid
die by the platform where stood the
imperial throne under a canopy of
velvet. Here, after their new guests
had been officially presented in an
adjoining hall, the emperor and en-
press seated themselves. Before sup
per they made solemn tour of the
ballroom. The dancing then ceas-
ed, and the crowd stood in chilled
expectancy and made way for them,
each in turn receiving, as they pass
ed, smile, a nod or some common
place word of greeting.
Macmillan was happy in his re-
marks on such occasions. Natural
ly 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 number of the
guests present, and yet, some weeks
later, when making his tour of the
ballroom, the emperor stopped be-
fore us and inquired about an absent
member Of the family, apparently
placing us exactly. Many other in
stances of his memory and power of
observation in such small matters
were related by others.
He was tall, slight and handsome,
although the whole expression Of
his face revealed weakness and in
decision. He looked and was
gentleman. His dignity was with
out hauteur. His manner was at
tractive; he had the faculty of MAX
ing you feel at ease, and he possess
ed far more personal magnetism
than did the empress.
Hers was strong, intelligent
face, the lines of which were some
what hard at times, and her deter
mined expression impressed one
with the feeling that she was the
better equipped Of the two intelli-
gently to cope with the difficulties
of practical life. 1t is probable that,
had she been alone, she might have
made better attempt at solving the
problems than did Macmillan; at
least such was Marshal Bazaine's
opinion, as expressed before me on
one occasion, during her brief re-
gency, when she had shown special
tirmness and clear judgment in deal
ing with certain complicated state
affairs.
She, however, was reserved, some
what lacking in tact and adaptable
ity, and a certain haughtiness of
manner, dignity too conscious of
itself, at first repealed many who
were disposed 20 feel kindly toward
her. 1t is more than likely that
under this proud mien she concealed
a suffering spirit, OF 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 succumbed2
For notwithstanding the prudence
and decided ability with which she
had conducted the difficult affairs of
the realm during the emperor's alb
sence 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 sem
blance of a court disappeared.
French Government Methods.
Some very peculiar methods are