Year: 1871

From tho London Court Journal.


The Emperor Napoleon life at CHS
elhurst is thus described by one who has
the privilege of becoming acquainted
with the social doings there:


During the forenoon all is silent in
tile mansion. The Empress, after pray
ers, breakfasts with the Prince Imperial,
who then walks out in the park for a
short time, the rule of resuming his
studies in the morning being broken
through during the indispostion of the
Emperor, to whom the society of his son
| is the chief solace of his exile. The
Prince remains with his father during
the whole process Of the toilet, then as
sists at his late breakfast, which, con-
trary to the custom of the Tuileries, is
taken alone. During this time the con-
yersation between father and son is
maintained with interest and affection.
The boy has cheered and soothed
the bodily pain and mental agony of
the Emperor, who is sometimes seen to
smile as the former recounts his expert
ence of England and the English, and
offers Judgment according to his lights
concerning the habits of French boys as
compared with those of England.
When the Emperor leaves his own apart
ment, the Prince Imperial repairs to
his studies. But his Majesty declares
that already the glory of the day is over,
although he feels the necessity of the
separation for while. The mornings
report of the state of Paris is still fur
nished by Pietri, but is never once allu-
ded to. Even the Empress herself
never dares to venture an opinion on the
subject. She has her own reporters,
and is always prepared for the event be-
fore it happens. What has struck the
friends of the Imperial family most Of
all is the comparative solitude in which
each of its members seeks to live.
There is something touching in the soli-
tary walks of the Emperor up and down
the avenue, leaning on his cane, and
stopping every now and then to remove
the pebbles from his path, according to
the habit of all men engaged in deep
thought. His Majesty has grown much
fatter since his arrival at Chiselhurst.
But he walks with far more ease than on
his first arrival in England, and now
only requires the arm of a friend to
help him up the steps of the hall door
of the mansion"


A charming anecdote, worthy of the
ancient days of chivalry, is being whis-
pered about among the higher circles in
London. 1t seems that one Of our young
Catholic heroes of high life, always a
great admirer of the Empress Eugene,
paid visit to Chiselhurst, last week,
previous to his departure for Paris.
" What can | bring your Majesty from
BabylonY = the name by which the
doomed city is always denominated now
by the Ultramontane party-said the
young nebleman, as he bent low over
Her Majesty's fair hand. Nothing
replied the Empress, sadly; then sud
denly correcting her speech, said, quiet
ly, Yes, there is one thing should
love. Bring me rose from the garden
of the Tuileriesl" The young man
promised to execute this apparently easy
commission, and departed in sadness.
On Friday he reappeared at Chiselhurst
with case of morocco in his hand,
which he reverently presented on bended
knee to the Empress. 1t was the Golden
Rose, gift of the Pope to Her Majesty
that he had brought " from the Tuile-
ries." How he had obtained it, or
through what long course of adventure
he had traced it to the party willing to
part with it, will never be known, nor
yet at what sacrifice it was obtained,
But great was the joy of the illustrious
lady on beholding it, and pardonable the
feeling which induces her to hope that
it will bring Blessing at last to her
house and stay the wrath of heaven. 1t
had always formed part of the altar deco
ration of the chapel at the Tuileries