The New York herald., 1921-05-01
EUGENE. BY Augustin Filcn. Fun
& wagnalls Company.
Reviewed by E. w. POWELL.

Reviewed by L. w. Nv LAA-.
Empress Eugene differed in every
thing from that society at the head OF
which circumstances had placed her,
and of which she will remain the ac-
cepted type to future generations.
Those around her were testers or self.
fish schemers. She remained con-
vinced idealist in the midst of a society
bent wholly upon selfish ENDS. ;.
She did not understand these people
and they never understood her. This
woman. so much admired. was in real
ity very little known"
In his recollections of the Empress.
NJ. Filon, her sons tutor her chosen
secretary while she acted as Regent
and her devoted admirer always, pre-
sents her as "a woman of mind and
heart" to whom sincerity was the
first Of all the virtues. without which
the others could not exist" II have
never heard her utter a falsehood,' he
declares. "She was far simpler and
more natural than any of the ladies
who surrounded her In fact she was
notably frank" she was an ardent
iebater. also and seemed to like best
those who contradicted her most bold
ly"; and. quoting from his diary: "She
combines a chivalrous and impulsive
nature with a brilliance which abso-
lutely dumfounds me. No economic
or financial question is beyond her
Literature. history and art are COM
mon topics of conversation with her.
The novelty of her outlook, the te-
merity. even, of her views, impress and
onthraIl her listeners. Although her
mode of expression is occasionally
faulty. it is fun of color and vivacity.
She displays wonderful precision when
she talks on business matters and she
rises to real heights of eloquence on
those subjects which touch moral and
political questions"
In regard to the education of her
son. TO whom she was devoted. her
ideas were advanced, laying stress, as
she did. on "the development of char
acter above all things. She wanted
instilled into him independent judg-
ment combined with proper respect
for the rights of others initiative and
the courage to think which she said
must precede the courage TO act.
In her relation to the Emperor, NJ
Filon calls Eugene his second con-
science" "In the early days he had
loved and desired her passionately for
her eyes. her smile her exquisite
grace. for the indescribable fascina-
ton which radiated from her and made
her as one apart" Then he came ever
10 discover unsupported depths Of
moral beauty Each day he respected
and admired her more and more.
Whatever his ntidelities, he always
loved her. Eugene herself late IN
life once admitted this TO the author.
eI think she said. when man
breaks away and seeks other women
he l. impolled by boredom and curl
osity Its the Sameness. that fatal
sameness."
One IL given to understand that
there were Wild angry words from the
Empress when the Emperor's role at
Sedan was reported to her. and II Is
not denied that there were probably
scenes over other women.
There was nearly twenty years diff
ference between the ages Of Eugene
and Napoleon III remarks NJ. F'ilon,
"and such q gulf Is not easily bridged
even by those women who seem espe-
cially designed by nature 20 love men
much older than themselves. I 10 not
believe the Empress was one Of these
women. Her feeling for the Emperor
was probably less Of passionate affec-
tion, but deeper than friendship, and
grew steadily IN intensity until the
fatal day she discovered his unfaith-
fulness. In her youth he had fired
her imagination as an unhappy Prince
Charming IN the end she saw IN him
a great and honest man who wanted
to- do good and who pursued his aim
sometimes by roundabout path
After the fall Of Tho empire they We're
reunited IN devoted understanding
Tho Empress realized that her duty was