The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-12
Empress Eugenie
Glad To Die In
Her NatiUe Land

MADRID. July 12--Former Empress
Eugene Of France, who died here yes
terday. was III only few hours be-
fore her death She was exceptionally
well Saturday morning. At midday she
lunched heartily, eating chicken and
some ham.
4 short time later she became ILL.,
experiencing severe abdominal pain. DR.
Geneda. physician to King Alfonso was
called and finding her condition Sc
rious, summoned Or Moreno zancudo
a specialist, and also two other physi-
clans. They were. however, unable to
relieve the patients.
Empress Eugene seemed conscious
who stood by the bedside say she APP
peared glad TO die in Spain, her native
country.
Death occurred shortly before 3
o'clock last night. 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 suffered
from opthalmia and had been operated
on for cataract. Full imperial honors
will be accorded at her funeral
Preparations are under way for the
opening of Empress Eugenie's will. The
only member of the family now in
Madrid is a niece.
Eugenie Marie do Montijo, former
empress of France, was born in Gran
ada, Andalusia. Spain, May 8, 1926 She
was the second daughter of Count Man
ueI Fernandez de Montijo, duke of Pen
eranda, and Maria Manuel Kirkpatrick
Of Closehurn, Dumfriesshlre. Scotland
Her maternal grandfather was William
Kirkpatrick, United States consul at
Malaga, who was a native of Scot
land, but a nationalized American.
The former empress was educated in
France. Spain and England, and tray
eled extensively with her mother on
the European continent. She met her
husband, Emperor Napoleon III. first In
1851, and married him in Notre Dame
Prince Napoleon, her only son, who
was the prince imperial, was born
March 16, 1855,
The empress had great influence over
| her husband and on several occasions
acted as regent during the absence OF
was with his army in the field. This
was in 1859, 1865 and 1870, the latter
date during the Franco Prussian war.
At the outbreak of the Franco-Prus-
sian war there were many persons who
accused Eugene of having been respon-
tiles. Later, her enemies, and they
were numerous, used to say she was
the cause of all the calamities which
befell her. Nevertheless the one-time
empress from the public generally re-
ceived respectful sympathy, and ever
after her beauty had faded and old age
had crept upon her she was reverentlS
greeted by those who saw her seated
In the parks of Paris enjoying the
| warm sunshine and talking with the
| children playing nearby.
Lame, bent and white haired, the
| former empress often was called "Eu'
| ropes queen of sorrow" She was quot
| ed always as praying that death might
end her long term of sadness ant
again bring her to her husband anc
son. In the Tuileries Gardens in Paris
the stern visaged gendarmes looked the
other way when Eugene was pluckint
| flowers.
Some time ago Eugene lost the sigh
of one eye and was fearful of becom-
| ing totally blind With the desire
again to visit her native country
| Spain, she begged that she might bt
taken there before she became entirely
| blind. Her wish was gratified, ant
last April Eugene again saw the beau
ties of Spain-and especially of Anda'
lusia, where she was born. DESPITE he1
% wears she displayed notable vitality