South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-05
BEHIND THE SCENES
With Rulers and Leaders of Wartime Europe
By the Princess Rddziwin
Copyright

she calls 10. where the last empress
OF the French found refuge after
her story life. 10 combines all the
ideas inseparate from English com
fort, together with the stateIiness
inherent 20 the old French chateaux.
The long corridor which runs all
through the house has its walls
hung with old Beauvais tapestry.
which is quite wonderful and was
part Of the gifts which Napoleon III
bestowed upon his bride on her
marriage. II used 20 adorn the
walls OF the empress boudoir i'm the
Tuileries. but happily had been re-
moved Tor the summer months be-
fore the war broke out. escaping
thus the destruction OF the palace.
and IL was later on returned 10
Engenie by Mr. Theirs and the
French government being consid-
cred her private property.
In the same gallery in which now
hang these beautiful panels. can be
admired a priceless collection of
Sevres china, which Napoleon III,
who had assembled il. used to say
was the most complete one in Eu-
rope, containing specimens from the
earlier DAYS of this renowned fac
tory. Among this china figures
breakfast set that had been pref
scented TO Queen Marie Antoinette
after the birth Of the first Dauphin,
and which she had in her turn given
10 her confidential friend and at
.tendant, Madame Campan, before
leaving the Tuileries on the fatal
10th of August, 1892 The latter
had somehow succeeded i'm saving
this relic of her beloved mistress.
which she afterward presented to
her favOrite pupil, HOrtense de
Beauharnais, the daughter OF the
Empress Josephine, and the mother
of Napoleon Ill
Marie AntOinctte.
Speaking Of Marie Antoinette. it
must be noticed here that the En-
press Eugene always had a venera-
ton for her memory, and herself
collected all the souvenirs she could
queen whose fate she is said to
have dreaded for herself. A curious
incident can be related concerning
this superstition Of the consort of
Napoleon III When her engage
ment 20 the emperor became known,
all the dressmakers and jewelers. Of
Paris fastened 10 offer her their
different wares. Among the many
beautiful things which were brought
20 FRn
did bridal veil of rose point, which
had been worn by Marie Antoinette
at her own wedding, passed after
ward In the possession Of her only
daughter, the Duchess d'AngOuleme,
and bequeathed by the latter. to-
gether with many other treasures.
20 her great favorite. the duke Of
Guiche, later duke of Gramont, who
by a curious irony of fate was to be
the last foreign minister of Napol-
con III.
The duke thought it not worth
while TO keep such an expensive
thing, and hearing that the emperor
was about 10 be married, cOntrived
that this historical veil should be
shown 10 the fair Spaniard about TO
take Marie Antoinette's place on the
throne of France. Eugene. how
ever. much as she would have liked
to buy it, found it too expensive.
and reluctantly refused the offer
What was her surprise when, a few
days later, the emperor sent her this
relic OF the beneaded queen, ask
ing her TO wear il on her wedding
Gay, which she did, Notwithstanding
the prophecies of people who said
that it would not bring her luck.
The CgIrse of the Lace"
We know that il did not. but a
curious thing connected with this
lovely piece of lace is that many
years later the empress made "A
present of il TO her favorite niece.
the duchess of Alba. that the lat
ter wore IL at some great court
ceremony i'm Madrid, and immedi-
ately afterward sickened from the
disease from which she never re-
covered The duchess was more SUI
pcrstitious than her aunt. and being
convinced that the veil had brought
her bad luck she left directions
that it should be buried with her.
Notwithstanding its value. This was
done, SO that the hlmy cobwebby
lace. which had been seen in the
chapel Of the castle of Versailles on
the day when the young Austrian
archduchess had plighted her faith
10 the future Louis XVI. and which
I later on had adorned the head Of
the Empress Eugene on her we'd
ding day at Notre Dame. fulfilled
7 its last function in covering The
dead features OF her niece when the
latter lay in her coffin.
People I'm the confidence OF Eu-
genie say that by her will Farnbor-
ough, together with the treasures
which 10 contains, is bequeathed TO
Prince Victor Napoleon's son. the
small boy who is heir TO all the
glories of the Bonapartes. The en-
press Is very fond of this nephew
F by marriage. and also of his wife.
+ the Princess Clementine OF Belgium.
whom she treats with motherly af-
lection and who on her side is most
attentive TO the widow OF Napoleon
III Thanks 10 her. the aged sover-
eign can have AT times the illusion
that she is not quite alone in the