Princess Iturhide. 159 



as most of them do in foreign countries, she also loved to show 

 off her American peculiarities and exaggerate them, even as 

 we may observe with American ladies in Dresden, Vienna, 

 Italy, and especially in German watering-places, where they 

 behave in a manner which they would not dare in their own 

 country. The parties in the Vicomte's house had a certain 

 reputation on account of their gaiety. 



Under such extraordinary circumstances as prevailed in 

 Mexico at that time, there often appear in society all . sorts of 

 dubious characters ; and having no time to examine and select, 

 one is brought in contact with rather queer people. There 

 were in Mexico a great number of adventurers, especially 

 French, who, bearing a well-sounding name, wore to be met in 

 all societies. One of this sort was a French Count, who had 

 a very handsome wife, whom he had married to the horror of 

 his father, who disinherited him for his disobedience. I sup- 

 pose he came to Mexico to take part in the spoils, but it seems 

 that he did not succeed well, for his pretty wife ran about 

 everywhere trying to borrow three hundred dollars ; but even 

 this, for Mexico, small sum she could not get, notwithstanding 

 her prettiness. There are too many handsome ladies in Mex- 

 ico. I suppose she might have succeeded better had she been 

 ugly, but as she was, all her Parisian vivacity and coquetry, 

 which formed a great contrast with the quiet manner of Mex- 

 ican beauties, left the native gentlemen very cold, to her great 

 astonishment and regret. 



Amongst the officers who commanded the Austrian and 

 Belgian troops which were engaged in the cause of the 

 Emperor MaximiHan, were many noblemen of high families, 

 and very worthy and amiable men. The position which Salm 

 occupied made it natural that we associated much with them, 

 though they seemed at first somewhat jealous of my husband. 



There lived also in Mexico a daughter of the unfortunate 

 Emperor Iturbide, who was called Princess Iturbide and 

 Imperial Highness, and 1 paid her a visit. As I only saw 

 her now and then in society, and she had nothing to do with 

 the events happening later, I need not say more of her. For 

 the benefit of Prussian readers, I may, however, mention that 

 Princess Iturbide was strikingly like, both in exterior and 

 manners, to Countess Haake, the ' Pall^st Dame ' of her 

 Majesty the Empress of Germany. , . • 



