Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-12

From the beginning of her reign,
the gentle young empress showed
a remarkably charitable disposition
When the French government
voted 100000 with which to buy
her a diamond necklace as a we'd
ding gift she grasecully requested
that the money be used to erect an
orphan asylum for girls. And when
the Prince Imperial, Napoleon
Louis Eugene Jean Joseph, WAS
born in 1855 she marked the event
by endowing an orphanage for boys,
both institutions remaining her
constant care to the end of her hus-
bands reign.
A story is told of how she won a
pardon for a workman accused of
conspiracy against the throne.
mon Dieu," she cried, "he has a
wife and three children to feed. He
has no time for conspiracy" Her
logic obtained the mans freedom.
Another time she was told, during
a conversation, of a heroic officer
who must resign because of over
whclming debts. She promptly paid
the officers obligations.
The year 1853 brought i'll luck in
its train. Felix Orsini attempted
to assassinate the royal couple by
hurting bombs at their carriage.
The emperor was but slightly in
tured and the empress not at all,
though her dress was covered with
the blood of scores of commoners
who stood near the carriage.
About this time Eugene became
Interested in politics and was APP
pointed vice regent during her hus-
bands absence in Lombardy She
fought for the continued occupa-
ton of Rome by France, battled
against unity with England and was
largely instrumental in bringing
about war with Prussia. In PROOF
of this we have the now historical
phrase: This is my war; uttered
by her to General Tur soon after
the outbreak of hostilities.
The life of the empress in the
last days of the empire. following
Immediately after Prussia's sweep
ing victory, was strange ana
piteous one. Immediately after
Napoleon left for Metz, Eugenin
was declared empress regent. When
news of the capitulation of Sedan
and the decree deposing the en-
peror aroused the populace, she
implored the populace to be firm
and hasten to repair the Eeverses.
On September 5. 1870, MODS
gathered at Tuileries and the I'M
perial flag was lowered for the last
time.
1t is now generally conceded that
after Sedan the fate of the imperial
dynasty was in the hands of Eu'
genie. Had she withdrawn to Tours
or Bourges, summoned the assem-
blv and called around her the par
tisans of the empire, she might
have saved the heritage of her SON.
hut she knew she was unpopular,
visions of the fate of Maria Antol-
nette oppressed her, the mutteF-
ing mob terrified her. and she
thought only of escape. the Aus
trian ambassador, and the ltaiian
minister managed her flight IRON
the palace. The street was blocked
with people uttering cries against
the emperor. A gamin recognized
the fugitive and shouted; Here
comes the empress One of Eu-
penie's escorts accused the lad OF
shouting "Vive lie emperor ana
while the crowd was turning mer-
cilessly upon the boy, the empress
and her lady in waiting escaped IN
a cab.
She was taken to the home OF an
American dentist, DR.. Thomas
Evans, who escorted her to the
Yacht of Sir John Burgogne. The
Yacht sailed at midnight for Eng
land and the royal exile was grant
ed the protection of the BRUSH
government. Eugene spent most
of her late life in England, being
we'll endowed with money her hus-
band had wisely invested in British
bonds.
During the last years of her life,
however, Eugene paid long and
frequent visits to the land of her
glory. But few Parisians recog-
nized in the slim, gray haired old