The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-28
WIT is STILL KEEN t:
NDSPIRIT STRONG
Empress Eugene, Half-For-.
gotten, Rounding Out
Allotted Span.
SHE IS NOW IS YEARS OLD
Shared Throne With Last En-.
peror Of France, and Was
VI Fashions Arbiter.
SHE IS NOW IS YEARS OLD:

Especial Gable to Tho Times Dispatch,). K
London. May 2T.--The recent eiyhty-
NTH birthday anniversary OF E,mpres.
Eugene, she who shared the throne
with the last Emperor OF France ana
contributed, as fashions artiter. to tba
pomp and glory OF the last DAYS Of, tho X
French monarchy. again lends interest +
to stories of this charming old woman
who bereft of fortune and power Is
quietly living out her allotted span OF
life In half-forgotten, lonely little
house at Marlborough d
This Charming. frail. white bairea 4.
old woman. whose wit is still keen and
whose Spirit is still strong, and 'whosa
courage has always been great, lives
In dream world of old ghosts ana
memories. To the present generation
the rall of the French empire seems ~
oelong to ancient history, and the duse
OF time and forgetfulncss seematto
nave tallen upon the pages In which \
us piundcrings and tragedy are writ
ten: The world has moved on a naca
since Napoleon III. introduced his brida
70 the FRENCH Senate and lccisIatiya
Assembly After the disaster or Sedan Z
ftaHee rose from the ashes OF Its ruins
with new hope and vigor. and the nov
france seems 10 have but little In com 4
mon With Its second empire. New n,en
and new manners have come 10 rulelit
Inc Ola societies OF the ffties and
slNties nave disappeared like the housn
u Gnu parts before HauSmann buIlt
me bouievards. But the Empress
Eugenie' almost the last survivor OF
mat period. hugs 10 her heart tho
Mttherea flowers of this remcm hrance.
ana Is haunted by ghost faces of old
friends long forgotten In their prevosl
ana In the quiet rooms of her ISngl,sh
mousse contures up again the vision or
the splendor of those gay DAYS in
which she was the Empress OF fashion.
Inc daughter OF the Count de
Aohtl1o and eat-granddauEhter or
kirkpatrick of Dumfries shire She
had the hot blood OF the Spanish race
the clear brain aud brave heart OF the
Scottsh strain. She was twenty six
years OF age when she married the
lniduie-aged Emperor, and her lustrous
southern spirit ana youthful saietv
charmed those who we're tempted 70 Ia
| her SWANS she was the greatest
/ lady In court which was extrayaEant
| IN It's brilliant pngeantry.liA Il
| Paris was supreme in intellectual
renown. crowded with men and wo-
men of genius. FREQ In its entertain
mcnt to all who could add to its In
terest or knowledge or amusement
The Empress was the .patroness OF art
and letters. MS OF fashion and beauty. 4
For time Napoleon's foreign policy
| seemed brilliant In its success, and the
Empress shared his prestige In Europe.
But corruption was eating into the
heart OF the militar: administration.
and political Adventures We're a dan.
ger TO the state until at last the en-
pre- was dragged to the edge OF the
abyss by the fatal war with Germany:
The part that the Empress played in
that time OF disaster belongs to hts
tory. When the crash camo she fed
10 England, where She was joined at
Chrislchurst In Kent, by the exiIed
Emperor, who lived there until his
death in 1873. Their hopes were CEN
tired in their son. the Prince Imperial,
lad OF promise and courage yolun-
teerinE to serve with the English artil-S
iery in tie Zulu campaign OF 1879. he
was killed n June |. when recon
NOTHING by HuIus In ambush. was
a tragic blow to the Empress EugenieM
and she retired then into life OF
very close secluson. And as the years
passed many royal guests. many great
men and women. called upon her. stay.
ihS W ~ iiiNic NiiiiS Win inns woman
Of the old regime whose conversation
unlocked old cupboards OF history
The English royal family have always
given her their affection. and next
to the destiny of France. which still
claims her ardent love, she has more
enthusiasm for England. the home OF
her cong exile ,5s M
To-day AT eighty-hvc years OF age,
this gracious woman still has the hom-
ne al . L.. 10
privileged TO listen to her charming
conversati ton. end though she has many
tragic memories time has healed tho
old wounds. ane he;' sadness is like
the fain. perfume Of rose leaves. which :
brings tears TO the eyes OF those who
loved and lost in ;hcI summer 81 far
OFT days.