Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-12
EX-EMPR ESS Of
FRANCE PASSED
AWAY YESTERDAY
Eugene Dies Quietly After
a Long Illness; Full I'm
periaI HonorS Will Be AC-
corded at Her Funeral.

Madrid, July 1.-THE former
Empress Eugene of France died
here this morning.
Death occurred shortly before 3
o'clock from acute intestinal in
flammation. She passed away
quietly in the presence only of her
lady in waiting. Her nephew, the
Duke of Alba, at whose residence
she died, was in France, and the
other members of the family were
absent.
Empress Eugene had long suf-
| fered from opthalmia and had been
perial honors will be accorded at
| her funeral.
Eugene Marie de Montijo, for
mer Empress of France. was born
! in Granada. Andulasia. Spain, May
Is, 1926. Her maternal grand
father was William Kirkpatrick,
United States consul at Malaga,
who was a native Of Scotland but
naturalized American.
She was educated in France,
Spain and England, She met her
husband, Emperor Napoleon III,
first in 1851. and married him in
NOtre Dame cathedral, Paris. jan
uary 80, 1853. Prince Napoleon,
her only son. who was the prince
imperial, was born March 1G, 1856.
The empress had great influence
over her husband and on several
occasions acted as regent during
his absence.
At the outbreak of the Franco
Prussian war many accused Eu-
genie of having been responsible
for the commencement of hostili-
| ties. Nevertheless the one time
empress generally received respect
| full sympathy. and even after old
age had crept upon her, she was
reverently greeted by those who
saw her in Paris parks enjoying
sunshine and talking with children.
In the Tuileries gardens, the
stern visaged gendarmes looked the
other way when she was plucking
| flowers.
Some time ago Eugene lost the
sight of one of her eyes and she
| begged that she might be taken to
Spain before she became entirely
blind. Her wish was gratified and
last April Eugene again saw the
beauties of Spain Despite her "a
years she displayed notable vitality.
Lovers of propriety and admir-
ers of womanly spirit delight n
contendng that the blow of little
riding whip across the legs of Ma
poleon III. made the Countess Eu-
genie de Montijo the empress of
France.
| Mile. de Montiio had been ridi-
culed and openly insulted by
French royalty at Tuileries, even
| though Napoleon was madly in
love with her. Once, during a
horse back ride, the emperor anX-
iously inquired of the beautiful
Spanish countess if she had ever
been in love.
IT may have had fancies, sire"
she answered, "but | have never
forgotten that l am Mile. de Mon
tito
That day they became separated
from the main party and returned
to the palace very late. and alone.
Napoleon, in defiance of all tradi-
ton and ceremony, escorted Mile,
Eugene to the very door of her
boudoir, and he fingered there
longer than was prudent. In an
other few minutes there would
| have been more than scandal
the fair Montijo would have been
compromised. She saved the sit
uation by ordering her imperial
| lover to retire, and when he laugh
! ingly fingered she emphasized her
request with a smart blow from her
riding whip.
Very soon after this occurrence
| the Due de Morny waited on
Madame de Montijo with a letter
from Napoleon formally requesting
her daughters hand. During the
winter and spring of 1852 the CAV
and elegant society of Paris was
enlivened by the presence of a
young -to-be who came
from one of the noblest families of
Spain, the same Countess de Mon
tito it had once despised. The fol-
lowing year the marriage took
place with all the splendor and
nnmn of the French court.