Cañon City record., 1898-11-03
MAxIMlLIAn,s REIGN.
ms C,ssass D.ys Of the M vss.d x-,s,v


xAs Csssiss Days Of the m vAs.d x~,sr-
il - Nsxses.
! Mrs. Sara Y. Stevenson Of Mexico
IN The Century writes Of Mexican
Society In Maximilian's Time.
1885," She says of the last DAYS Of
the empire:
The pomp and dignity of the court
lad vanished, and social life in the
carital no longer centered 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 a 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. - they pass
ed, q smile, nod or some common
place word of greeting.
Macmillan was happy In his re-
marks on such occasions. Natural
" 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 mum Der 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.
Hara rntoIIrnorf
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 Itis probable that,
had she been alone, she might have
made better attempt at solving the
problems than did Maximilian; 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
firmness and clear judgment in deal |
ing with certain complicated state |
affairs.
She, however, was reserved, some
what lacking in tact and adaptable |
ity, and certain haughtiness of |
manner, dignity too conscious of |
itself, at first repelled many who
were disposed to feel kindly toward |
her. 1t is more than likely that |
under this proud mien she concealed |
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 succumbedi |
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.