Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1872 — Crazy Carlotta. [ARTICLE]

Crazy Carlotta.

Th,e recent stories about the Empress Charlotte of Mexico being at the point of death were so far from being true that it now turns out that this unhappy lady is in the possession of perfect bodily health. Her mental malady, however, is worse than ever. She still remains at the Chateau of Tervuereu. Her madness has degenerated into a kind of childishness, but is unaccompanied by any violence, such as is generally the case with female lunatics. The Etrtpress’ mind is overcast, disdainful, and sometimes imperious, but quiet and gentle, and as nearly all her caprices are satisfied, she has no reasonto feel tormented. She lives’ very retired and almost alone in two rooms of the Chateau, where she takes upon herself the care of her little housekeeping. The only person she will converse vvith—and to whom she appears attached! and who has any’ influence over her—is the learned aud clever Dr. ll—, who is now charged exclusively with her treatment. She receives him every morning 7 for half an hour, and is calm after each of these interviews. The nine-aud-twenty other persons of all ranks who form her household are far from enjoying such a favor ; the Empress ascepts their attentions, but with repugnance, and often rejects them. She dines always alone, and standing. She fetches her own plates from the adjoining room ; she arranges her own dishes, and clears the table. The Empress is always chilly, and insists on having a blazing tire. She" lights and attends to it herself. She is also fpnd of having a number of candles burning. In order to prevent an accident, a guard with lock and key waft placed before the fire; this precaution annoyed her greatly, and she complained to all the servants, and wanted the key. Dr. 11—- took the part of the Empress, and, having pretended to scold the servants, ordered the key to be given to her. Jjjjnce then she has kept it, and always talks of the great victory she won over the doctor. The greatest part of her time is occupied in sending telegraphic dispatches to Napoleon 111., whbm she still believes to be on the throne, and conversing with spirits, which she says haunt the upper stories of the Chateau, whose language she boasts of knowing, and whose advice she follow’s. Now’ and then she 'orders a rich toilet to be made, which she places on chairs and dummies, and goes through the ceremony of a court reception. In her eyes, these dresses and bonnets represent ladies of France and Mexico. She flatters some, insults others, and so passes a part of her time. She never wears any of these fine toilets, and always appears in her dressing gown. Not long ago she cut off all her fine hair and put it on one of her dummies; nevertheless, she insists on having her hair dressed every morning, and a domestic has to go through the ceremony. Sometimes she takes a walk, or rides about’in the park. No affection has remained in her heart, not even tor her brother. She will not see either the King or Queen, and her family are obliged to content themselves with looking at her unobserved when she goes into the park. The fear of being poisoned" has disappeared, and she eats anything with a good appetite. All hope of cure has been ■ given up, and the doctors say that her health is such as promises a long life Cor. London Echo.