EMPRESS EUGENIE,

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 85, 12 April 1899, Page 8

EMPRESS EUGENIE,

The English home of the Empress Eugenic is the loadstone that attracts the eager attention of thousands of people all the world over. The chequered career of the fallen sovereign is a source of neverfailing interest, and there are few who will grudge her the peace which has fallen on her closing years in the shelter of her quiet English home.

I went, down from London to Farnborough last summer (writes a correspondent of 'M.A.P.') to see the place where the exiled Emperor, and ill-fated Prince Imperial are sleeping.

Farn.horough Station is a small place. There is a lodge at the gate, and a smiling Scottish lassie, in a clean frock, gives me a gentle curtsey as she leads the way up the gravel walk, through rows of majestic yew; trees, to .the top of the hill, and I Come into full view of the church, and also the house where live the White robed and white capped monks who guard the place., ■ . '

While I am looking and wondering there appears a stout monk, who respectfully bows and bids me follow. He does not ask my business, for he had many visitors. I follow him down a -small, flight of stone .steps to the rear of the. church. Ivy and rich wisteria have twined themselves lovingly together, and are.gently creeping up the sides of the sacred edifice. All around the church have been planted flowers; but always and everywhere I see shy violets rearing their heads. They are Eugene's favourite flower, and the monks have planted them there for her sake. •

The door leading to the mausoleum swings back at a touch from the monk, and we two are soon standing on a tiled floor that is scrupulously clean. There are a few chairs, and a handsome altar, where the monks say mass, and where the only other person ever present on such occasions is th,e ex-Empress. It is in fact a private chapel. To the right of the altar is the granite sarcophagus containing the remains of the Emperor.

As I looked from the church to the house 1 saw the dark robed figure of the ex-Empress picking her way along, leaning upon her cane. A private path leads from the house to the church, and tomake it more convenient a small footbridge has been constructed over " the railway track. Slowly, and oh! so painfully, she mounted the steps and crossed into the-churchyard. She was alone. Her eyes were fixed upon the ground. One of the monks hurried to meet her, and received from her hands a" bunch of violets. The ex-Empress greeted him cordially.

Following at a respectful distance, he left her at the door of the tomb. I 'loitered around the ground for quite an hour, and then she appeared.

I had an excellent opportunity to get a good look at her as she slowly moved about. When she straightened her form she seemed to be tall. Her figure is quite full; her waist has lost its graceful curved lines; her-hair is silvery grey; her cheeks are wrinkled; and there is no longer beauty in the face that all the world at one time was willing to concede was the freshest, fairest, and • loveliest of all faces. Her' black cashmere cloak, trimmed with crape, her widow's bonnet with its long veil hanging over her shoulders, and her black gloves, made her a striking figure as she walked in the sunshine. Her face was ashy pale, and never a smile passed over it

Leaving her I walked over to her mansion, Farnborough Hall, across the railroad track. It is no flimsy, inconsistent structure, but a substantial and admirable specimen of early English, the lower part of red brick, with dressings and mullioned windows of stone, and the upper aslo of brick, picturesquely relieved by columns in-teak. The whole building has a comfortable, home . like look, and the' eye rests with content on the beautifully wooded and park like grounds surrounding it.

It is in such a house as this that Eugenic lives and mourns. Her days are long and tedious. She is an early riser—a victim to insomnia, and sometimes she never closes her eyes in sleep for three nights. She has two tried women friends who are with her, take care of the house, and do what they can to make jcheerful her days. A force of ten servants complete her household. \

Breakfast is served early, and after this meal there are letters to be read and answered, newspapers from London and France, and perhaps a visit to be made to someone in the village who is ill. Then, before luncheon, comes the daily visit to the mausoleum, and after this, luncheon and a walk through the beautiful grounds. Dinner is served at seven o'clock and after this more Writing, reading and perhaps some simple game until bedr time.

The wealth to keep up this quasi-royal state must be considerable, but the- Empress is credited with having plenty, and something to spare. Sometimes the exEmpross goes to London forj a brief visit. When she does four servants accompany her. She goes to Paris, too, quite often, but few care for her in the gay city, where her most constant followers nowadays are the police agents told oft fo v r her protection.