The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-11-10

Napoleon acted toward Eugene with chivai
rous loyalty. He laid before her all the dlsad-
vantages of the brilliant yet uncertain posi-
ton he was offering her. He explained to hef
his unpopularity with the old French arlsto-
Gratis, the bad will of certain great powers, the
possibility of his being assassinated by some
secret ociety of which he had become mem
Der in his adventurous youth. There were nos
tlities even in the army, in his opinion the
most serious danger; but he could cut them
short by declaring war;
81 would not have it otherwise" she an
swered. 81 will take my risks beside yot- so
may be worthy"
AS queen she lacked dignity. She had
not been born to the solemn self-appreciation
of royalty; and she was a mixture Of lightness
and austerity generosity and sense, kindness
and Indifference, in which the TRANSITIONS
were abrupt and disconcerting to French order
illness.
Alone among the sovereigns OF Europe
Queen Victoria had received her cordially;
more, she had taken up Eugene and imposed
her on the courts of Europe. Yet even at
Windsor where the imperial couple were re-
ceived with extraordinary pomp, Eugenie's in
souciance threatened to play her bad turn
that would have illustrated her upimperial
attitude
A quarter of an hour before they were to be
received by Victoria and her beloved consort
In the throne room, EuSenle ulScONeIeu lndl,
among the hundred trunks of the French visi-
tors hers alone had not arrived! The en-
peror was deeply mortified that the discovery
should have been made so late, as showing
lack of discipline and serene orderliness, and
on his advice Eugene had already begun to
pretend headache due to suppressed seasick-
ness when one of her ladies dared to offer
her choice of gowns. s-E -s,', . 4.
A blue dress of the simplest description
H. ~, L,ofr lead oil EGroa
ladies and maids fell upon it deftly, and In
few minutes the blue gown was readjusted 10
the empress. So Eugenie-without jewels,
flowers at her corsage and flowers in her hair
appeared before the British court in her own
dazzling beauty. She made an immense sue
cess. ~. nd A.
What most touched victoria's heart, 1t may
be told, was the pathetic and pretty way in
which the young couple spontaneously con1ded
certain doubts and fears to her as an expe-
rienced matron and mother Of eight. They
had been married two years, and yet there
was no heir. When the little princeimperial
was born, one lady only was permitted to be
present with the doctors and the serving
women all the time. This was the Countess of
Ely, Queen Victorias intimate fried. sent over
from England to help along.
AS had been done for the King of Rome 1t
was announced in advance that should the in
one times but hundred.
1t happened after midnight and the Paris
ians awakening, counted the cannonshots
When they got past twenty-one. the Parisians
rolled over in their beds and yawned: well.
she is lucky!"
The bigamous old Jerome had bitterly per.
secuted her as an interloper. His son. plon-
Plon, her Halter and detractor by inheritance,
was not persona grata with Eugene. So Ma,
DOIeOn who eniOved smoking cioarettes with
the reprobate father of the present pretender,
Victor, was forced to visit him secretly. One
day. some time after the marriage, he came,
sat down, and said
prince. does your wife make you scenes 2"
NO." replied the husband of ClotildI, the
daughter of Victor Emmanuel
There Is no living with Eugenie" sighed
Napoleon. "The moment give audience with
another woman I risk violent quarrel"
Crack her on the side of the face the next
time she makes you scene" suggested Plon
Plon.
Don't think of It," exclaimed the emperor
"You don't know Eugene; she would open
window of the Tuileries and cry 'Police!'"
To the end women took advantage of this
breezy independence, natural exuberance and
ineradicable Internationally of Eugene te
lay traps for her. Hers was a continuous per
Torrance of the Lady walking amid the rout O;
Comus. Among others, Nine. de Metternich
wife OF the Austrian ambassador seemed tc
have vowed Eugepie's destruction Once al
Fontanebleau, she almost led her into coins
to the races in short skirts -
my deay Pauline" someone asked her
would you counsel your own sovereign Il
get herself up IN short skirts?"
THAT is different" replied the Metternich
my empress is royal princess, a real EN-
press, while yours my dear, is Mademoi
selle de Montijo!" gr.erJ
Was she only Madenloiselle de Montfjo?
Did she not keep her word $50 may be
worthy" to the Empire and to France?
Twenty years later. in her dealings with
Bismarck after the F-anco-Prussian war Eu
genie had practically concluded treaty while
refusing to concede IAN inch of French terri
tory" The Republicans, taking the deal out of
her hands. agreed to the loss of Alsace and
Lorraine.