THE FRENCH EMPEROE'S COURT AT COMPIEGNE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 19 February 1870, Page 7

THE FRENCH EMPEROE'S COURT AT COMPIEGNE.

At Compiegne every thing is very gay. The Emperor is positively looking younger, and enters largely into all the revels at the castle. His cousin, the Princess Matilde, has worthily represented the Empress by following in every way her known wishes. The Princess has her own apartments specially reserved for her at Compeigne ; and. as she is a gi*eat lover of the fine arts, hardly a season passes that the Emperor does not place in her rooms some new artistic treasures. She is very witty, and a good talker ; and from four till six every guest can enjoy the pleasure of her society by dropping into her salon and taking a cup of tea before dressing for dinner. It is the only "bitters " patronised to get up an appetite. The theatre is possibly the greatest source of pleasure to all guests. You may lie in bed all day, smoking, novel reading, or card playing ; or go shooting, hunting, or riding, or driving ; " but the play's the thing" wherein you are canght. Dinner over at half-past eight, the company files through the galleries to the theatre, which is very small, plain, and no evidence of imperial luxuries, save the toilettes and diamonds. Not only are the guests proper at the castle accommodated in the imperial box, but the neighbouring gentry and their families are invited to share the pleasures of the evening ; so that the house

is ever full. The spectacle on Saturday evening was very attractive. The Emperor entered leaning on the arm of the Princess Matilde, the Prince Imperial following behind, as happy as a boy could be in his little black vest, over which was the red ribbon of the Legion of Honour. Altogether, about 150 ladies were present in ball costume.. The Princess Matilde wore a robe of dark red satin, with a large belt of the same material. Her head dress was a crown of vine leaves, with grapes interspersed in gold. The Duchess de .Mouchy, a murat, and cousin to his Majesty, wore her ducal diadem, and in her blonde hair sparkled diamonds. Over a tunic of mauve satin, trimmed with white lace, was a robe of white tulle. Her shoulders and arms were covered with diamonds, Marshal Canrobert's lady (nee Flora

Macdonald) is an acknowledged beauty, and her costume of black tulle and alencon sets off beautifully her pale Grecian features. The Princess Dolgoronki looked a royal rose, in a robe of purple satin, upon which diamonds glistened like dewdrops. On Monday there was a dance in honour of the Empress' fete day. Nor was Her Majesty forgotten in Egypt, Her friends rained on her congratulatory telegrams. The Duchess de Mouchy had sent in advance a messenger with a bouquet of choice hothouse flowers from her conservatory, which was presented to the' Empress at the same time with telegraphic felicitations. Eugenic haswritten a rapturous description to- her husband of the overflowing of theNile, which must console the viceroy for many of the breakdowns of his preparations. By all accounts, visitors do not find Egypt a land flowing with milk and honey. The influx of travellers have, like the plague of locusts, eaten up everything, and as of old, something like a little famine is sore in the land. By this time the Empress will have read the two decrees, sent to her by the Emperor, to her relative M. de Lesseps, making him a Senator, with a stipend of 30,000f. a year, and conferring the title of Duke de Suez-