ment, following the after-dinner drive. In his driving he put on a certain pomp, his carriage being frequently drawn by six white mules, and attended by a groom and a mounted escort in advance, dressed in apparel of soft leather. He retired between eight and nine, reading in bed for half an hour, always some instructive book, for novels he never touched.
The imperial pair paid great attention to religion, partly for effect, as may be judged from their descending one day from their carriage and kneeling in the street while the host passed. Another silly performance was to wash the feet of twelve poor persons on Maundy-Thursday, in imitation of the pope and amidst great ceremony.[1] The devotion of the empress and her frank benevolent disposition were generally recognized. Not so with her husband, whose geniality and kind-heartedness proved insufficient to counteract the often intrusive liberalism in views, and the cold wit and innate bent for raillery which spared not even friends and partisans.[2] This examination into the private life of the emperor and empress does not tend to elevate our estimation of their strength of mind or originality of character.
The failure of the last conservative plot had by no means stilled the efforts of the discontented. Santa
- ↑ The ceremony took place at noon in the great reception-room of the national palace, to which tickets admitted a large number. On one side of the room stood a table and bench for twelve old men, on the other for twelve women, both parties dressed in black, with white collars. The emperor in the uniform of a Mexican general, and the empress in black, served at the respective tables, pouring out wine and water, and changing plates. The dinner over, a dozen boys and girls removed the foot-gear of the old folk, and the imperial couple knelt and washed their feet, concluding with each person by kissing one of the feet. Let us hope that God was well pleased at this foolishness.
- ↑ For other details concerning the mode of life and traits of the sovereigns, see Kollonitz, Reise nach Mexico; II., Court of Mexico, passim; Hall's Life of Max., passim, especially the first half; Basch, Erinnerungen aus Mexico; Id., Recuerdos, passim; Max. y Carlota Adven., passim, the authors of which had all associated with the imperial pair. Additional points may be found in the books quoted for Maximilian's acceptance of the throne and arrival in Mexico, including those by Domenech, Flint, Kératry, Détroyat, etc. Kératry speaks of his leaning to mysticism, which fostered his belief in the divine right of kings, and himself as a chosen one. Max., 161.
