The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-21
Empress Eugene
Mrs. Senator Davis
Meets the Unlucky Queen.

Mrs. Cushman X. Davis, wife OF United
States Senator Davis, Of Minnesota,
While in Paris during the sessions OF the
Peace Commission which arranged the
recent treaty between the United States
and Spain, made the acquaintance of ex-
Empress Eugene Mrs. Davis has given
TO the New York Sunday World the fol-
lowing interesting article. describing as
she is today this estinable woman and
unfortunate sovereign.
to the Sunday World sthe following inter
esting article, describing as she is today
this estimable woman and unfortunate
sovereign.
New Years Of 1900 was one Of the
plcasantest days which have spent in
Washington. 1t was fun of happy Incl
| dents-the Presidents brilliant reception,
the greetings of old friends, the kindly
good feeling expressed by all 1 saw-but
there was one episode which will make
this a day to me memorable. I received
a loving kind message from woman
whom 1 knew but slightly, but who has
made more lasting impression on my
mind than any other.
I mean Eugene. ex-Empress Of the
! French.
This message was delivered by Senior
Don Juan Rfano, first secretary of the
Spanish Legation. I had met Senior
Riano in Paris, where he was connected
| with the Peace Commission sent by
Spain.
Just before coming to this country
Senior Riano paid his respects to the ven
| cradle ex-Empress. He told her that he
was coming to Washington and she
seemed quite interested.
You will see again Mrs. Davis, whom
knew in Paris" she said. present her
my greetings and tell her I have never
forgotten her sympathy and womanly
I gentIeness to one who has been SO I'M
fortunate"
! Senior Riano asked if he should deliver
the message as soon as he arrived The
Empress said: mo; wait until the New
/ Year. Tell he r that she has a warm
! place in my heart and that 1 hope she
will be happy and prosperous"
1 have frequently been asked to de-
scribe this lady, who has seen more vicis-
STUDIES than usually befall the daughters
! of Eve, whether princess or peasant.
Imagine a tall, slender woman, with
| pale clear complexion and lustrous dark
| eyes. so expressive, so sad, so full of
memories that they seem to haunt you.
! The Empress is past sixty-two, but she
does not look fifty. 1t has been said that
| her hair is perfectly white. This is in
accurate. She has the strangest, yet the
/ most pleasing hair I have ever seen. 1t
would seem that every other hair is
white and the rest still retain the raven
hue of youth. The effect is that of sill
very sheen, remarkable but beautiful to
see.
In manner, Eugene is what you would
expect from one who has stood in the
light which beats upon a throne. She
speaks seldom of her misfortunes, never
of the loss of her social position, some
times of her husband and hero son.
She is full of interesting illusions to
the past, but she touches them calmly,
as though she were speaking imperson-
ally One feels in her presence the in
fuence which those who have suffered,
and suffered bravely, must exert on those
around them.
1t is difficult to believe that this sad
faced, quiet woman was once the capric>
ious, imperious creature she is repre-
scented by her contemporaries as having
been.
how completely time has changed her,
if, indeed, she ever were so naughty and
unapproachable as has been represent
ed
The American contingent of the Peace
Commission had been in Paris but a
short time when we learned that the ex-
Empress was in the same hotel. We
heard also that her health was feeble
and that she had come to the French
capital for treatment. We judged that
she did not wish to be troubled by
strangers.
One day in the corridor I accidentally
saw the lady, and I was so impressed
with her appearance that I ventured to
send my card. saying that an American
woman sent her greeting and hoped she
would soon recover her health.
To my great JOY but also to my amaze
ment, received an invitation to come to
her room. Afterward I was invited TO
breakfast. 1 saw her many times and
always received the same gentle greeting
and the same gracious words. I learned /
that she suffers intensely that at times .
her life is a continuous torture, yet she
bears the pain without a complaint. She
is a noble woman, giving much of her
income in charity. and aiding many who, (
like herself have suffered from the fau +
Of the empire.
Another thing which impressed great |.
ly was the fact that, being of Spanish !
BIRTH it WAS not possible that she could 4
feel cordially for America after the Sc
we're lesson Of the Spanish war Yet she T.
never directly or indirectly alluded TO our
presence in Paris as the result Of her /
country's misfortune
I feared at first that perhaps it would (
add pain to her already suffering heart 70 /
meet the ladies Of the Commission. /
soon discovered that such fortitude as (
hers was not dismayed by such consid- /
erations.
1 feel that in knowing this good woman /
as closely as I did have been more priv (
neged than had the acquaintance come I
during her prosperous days.
As one of the poets has said: Many /
can use a throne and be great. but few 1
can lose a throne and be great Ter" The
ex-Empress to-day-'the woman OF sor-
rows" as she calls herseIf-is more po- /
tent for good more striking example /
Of CHRISTIAN endurance than the prouiest
crowned head that receives the homage /
of the multitude.
feel better for having known her 4
feel infinitely grateful for her New /
Years greeting and I shall send mess
age Of my appreciation ana the loving .
and universal sympathy felt for her by
the American people
Destiny has measured out 70 Eugene