EUGENIE'S RIDING HABIT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 67

EUGENIE'S RIDING HABIT.

An old legend, which makes no pretence to truth, tells us how a kingdom was lost for want of a horseshoe nail. But a recent volume, of sober historical and biographical purpose, wiitten by the Count d'Herrison of Frauce, makes it appear that the Empress Eugenic, after the battle of Sedan, lost the chance to preserve the Empire of her husband by not possessing exactly the right sort of riding habit.

It was the evening of the 3rd of September, 1870. The news of the surrender of the French army and of the Emperor Napoleon at Sedan had spread about Paris. The city was excited, and there was talk of a revolution, and the banishment of the Imperial family.

At this juncture Emile de Girardin. a man who was trusted by the Empress, and who had had no little experience -during previous changes of Government, arrived at the Palace of the Tuileries.

"If your 'Majesty were to ajipear on horseback in the midst of the people," Girardin said, 'and announce the abdication of the Emperor in favour of the Prince Imperial, your own assumption of the title of Empress Regent, and the appointment of Thiers as Prime Minister, the Empire might be Mved. Something must be done to lura the tide."

The Empiesfc accepted the advice

Bite Avlten this leader of the world's fashion, the reigning Empress of proprieties, sought for a propei costume for her performance, tt con.d not be found !

The only riding-habit in the Tuileries was a fantastic one of green, embroidered with gold and silver, made for a festal hunting occasion ; and the hat was a not less fantastic three-cornered affair, of the epoch of Louin XV.

The Empress felt that it would not do to appear in this festal garb on such an occasion. Her appearance in it might have the opposite effect upon the people from that which «he intended.

The plan had to be given up. ' -the Empress and the Prince Imperial were banished and the Napoleonic Empire was at an end.