Smyrna times., 1901-02-20
A Remarkable
~-Woman.

celeDfaLeU countess ue OdSIlSlOlne
Under the Empire she was considered
a beauty. In her old age she practi-
cally left the world and buried her
self in small compartment in the Rue
de la Paix She lived in an atmos-
phere stuffy with heat, enveloped in
furs. She shut out the sun, and re-
placed it by gas. For twenty odd
years her shutters were never open,
much to the amazemeUt of her neigh
bors.
They considered her curiosity and
called her ''la folle," the mad woman.
She lived alone without servants. Her
meals were served from a restaurant
nearby and the garcon waited outside
until she had finished the repast.
Proprietor of vast domains, NADIA me
de Castigloine lived in a melange of
luxury and misery, which has been
said to resemble some grand old palace
of Genoa and Venice, where one sees
the dirty linen hung npon magnificent
onyx pillars.
Regretted by few, it can at least be
said of this poor Countess that the
only person she ever harmed was her
self. A former ledy-in- waiting to the
Empress Eugenie, Madame Carette
wrote of her: MADAME de Castigloine
was an incompatible beauty;
IL 4 i % Aol
to our times. But though perfect in
face and form, a living statue, she
lacked charm. On her lovely features
rested an expression of hauteur, of
hardness and cynicism, which made
one think of the divinities of the an
clients, whose wrath was appeased only
by human sacrifices.
The pride of the woman was immense
She stopped to no one. Prince j E.
rome once invited her to ball given
in honor of the Empress. Engenie APP
peared ravishingly beautiful in cos
tune of white tulle, trimmed profusely
with Parma viOlets. The Emperor and
the Empress left early at l O'Clock.
Descending the stairs they met the
Countess de Castiglione, just arriving.
You come too late, madam" gal
lantly said the Emperor.
''It is you, Sire, who leave to soon,"
hantily returned the lady, proceeding
on her way with her usual air of cold
disdain.
Another time being asked to take
part in some tableaux vivants, to be
given for the benefit of the poor, she
consented on condition she might
choose her own costume. The giver
of the entertainment, the Duchess of
Pagerie, delighted to secure the aid of
the celebrated beauty, gladly consen-
ted. On the evening of the fete, there
appeared on the raising of the curtain,
figure completely covered in the
brown robe of a hermit. The cowl
was drawn over the face, concealing
the features, and the scmbre figure
figure was seated at the entrance of the
grotto. The audience waited in sill
ence. A brilliant vision of lovliness
was undoubtedly concealed beneath
that robe and cowl, and would sud
| denly dazzle their expectant vision.
But not this extraordinary figure
moved not, and the curtain fell at last
before this remarkable exhibition of
bad taste.
Another curious freak is told of the
countess in connection with the court
physician, DIR. Arnal. She was at
Havre very i'll, and sent for the Empe-
pOr's doctor to visit her.
An extensive practice made this a
difficult matter for the medical man,
his patients being in Paris. However, to
oblige the countess, he hearranged to reach
Havre by night, prescribe for the inva-
lid and return Immediately. This plan
was carried out and the doctor stood
before the door of the sick room at 9
O'Clock in the morning. The door
keeper met him with the request that
he call again as Madame la Countess
was not yet prepared to receive him,
At 10 o'clock he returned, and was
again sent away. The entire morning
was spent in this way the doctor each
time insisting that his time was prec-
ious, and that he must go back to
Paris. Finally, after having posi-
lively declared that it was the last
time and that he would not return,
DIR. Arnal was admitted at in the af-
ternoOon.
Entering, he found the patient
really ill. Extended on couch she
presented curious spectacle. She
was robed in magnificent furs and
priceless lace. Her hair was coiffed
high, and decorated with diamond
stars, as for a ball. Her person was
| bedecked with the complete contents