The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-12

press or frdace, was born in Granda Andalusia Spain. May 5, 1926. She was the second daughter of Count Manuel Fernandez De Montijo, Duke of Peneran- da, and Maria Manuela Kirkpatrick Of Closeburn, Dumfrieshier Scotland. Her maternal grandfather was William Kirk patrick, United States consul at Malaga. who was native of Scotland. but a nationalized American,
 The former empress was educated m France. Spain inl England, md travelled extensively with her mother on the Euro Iean continent. She net her husband Emperor Napoleon iII first in 1851 ana married him in Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris, January 30, 1858 Prince Napoleon, her only son, who was the Prince lnt- perial, was born March 16, 1856.
 The empress had great influence over her husband and on several occasions acted as regent during the absence of the emperor when he was travelling or with his army in the field. This was in 1So9, 1885 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 -Eugenie of having been respon- sib1e for the commencement of hostilities.
 
 merous--used to say that she was the cause of all the calamities which befell her. Nevertheless. the one-time empress from the public generally, received re- speetful sympathy, and even after her beauty had faded and old age had crep upon her. she was reverently greeted cy those who saw her seated in the parks of Paris enjoying the warm sunshine and talking. with the children piayins nearby.
 "EUROPES QUEEN OF SOROWS"
 Lame, bent and white-haired, the TOT mer empress often was called Europe 5 Queen of Sorrow" She was quoted al ways as praying that death might enu her long term of sadness and agaih bring to her her husband and son. Tn LII. tuiIers gardens in Paris the stern-vlsaged gendarmes looked the other way when Eugenie was plucking flowers.
 Some time ago Eugenie lost the slgnt of one of her eyes and was fearIui or becoming totally blind. With the desire again to visit her native country, opain' she begged that she might be taheh there before she became entirely pima. Her wish was gratified, and last Aprli E,ngenie again saw the beauties of span
 and especially Andalusia-where she was born. Despite her 94 years, sne ofS played notable vitality.
 The ex-Empress Eugenie was almos. impatient for the end of her long lease of life It ran 94 years. Forty-four were snarklng in the successive roles of the Snanish countess, Eugenie Marie de Mon- ti4o. travelling through Europe, a vis'tor to the French court. wife or NaPoieott IT. and an occasional regent of the French empire. Then in day the Whoie structure of imperial eminence collapsed- The other half of her life was mournfui, so much so that Eugenie had said: wish I had passed when the shadowy fabric of my dream fell apart
 THE FLIGHT
 That day of disaster was September 4 1870, when she and all Paris had heard of the defeat and capture Of Napoleon at Sedan. The Empress was popularly accused of bringing on that disastrous war with Prussia. Histo- rians have since declared that there IS little to support such charges, but the rotous mobs of Paris. shouting for the new republic which the deputies pro claimed, stormed the palace of the Tuilorios and howled imprecations upon EuEenies head until the Empress became convinced that her life, was Tn peril. Flight~ was decided upon, but one plan after another Tailed. untii an exit was found by way of the Iouvro The Empress. in disguise, ac-' companied only by one of her ladies in waiting. was whirled along in cab to the residence of the American den tist Dr. Thomas J. Evans. Lost to all Paris, the ladies spent the night in the protection of this chivalrous AmerI- can and the next day they were driven off in his carriage for flight across France to the channel and the secret boarding of a yacht for England.
 But exile was not enough. Misfor- tune came in threes. The fall of the empire was followed by the death of the exiled Emperor Napoleon III in England three years later, and the kill ing of his only son, the prince imperial, while in battle with the English against Zulus Sometimes wrote the Elm nress in a letter which has recently come to light bearing date of 1S7S- sometimes on seeing certain children tearing the wings off butterflies and stormenting poor things that cannot show signs of suffering, l have made the comparison that people sometimes pluck out the heart and hurt It With cut Knowing the evil that they do with an eternal smile on their lips This was written the day before her hus- band died.
 The Empress, in the years that fol- lowed, found intimate friends in Eng land and interest in travel. including visits to her former haunts in Paris. Dressed in black she passed almost un- noticed where once she was tue leader of one of the most brilliant courts of the nineteenth century. In her occa- sional interviews she revealed the strain of mournfulness in her life.
 I AM THE PAST
 T am the past. the horizon, she said There is nothing for me but to wait; my winter is nearly over"
 She prepared her last resting place some years ago by ordering an addi- dctine Abbey. which she built at Farnborough and where she buried the exiled Emperor and the prince i'm rerial
 One instance of Eugenies former brilliancy recalls the opening of the Suez canal She was the center of the festivities at Cairo. upon which the Khedive Is said to have spent all of the s1l,0OO.O0O in his treasury. The gown she wore at the Khedival ball cost s25,0Oo, and later it served to pay a debt when she fled from Paris It has since been reported <as brought to America for sale
 It has been estimated that the for tune of the ex-Empress amounts to ssO,00o,oO0. A report was published in Paris several years ago that she had been induced to leave her entire estate to the church. but this has not been confirmed-
 Although /more than s4 years old. the former Empress Eugenie. not only hoped and prayed, but worked for tha victory of the allies in this great world