There is a romantic fascination about this woman's life as
brilliant as fiction, but more strange and remarkable in that
it is all sober truth--nay, to her much of it was even sad
reality. Her career was a glorious one, but lonely as the
position of her pictured palm-tree, and oftentimes only upheld
by her own consciousness of the right; she has felt the trials
of minds isolated by greatness. Singularly gifted by nature
with both mental and physical, as well as social superiority,
the Princess united in an unusual degree masculine strength of
character, grasp of thought, philosophical calmness, love of
study and research, joined to an ardent and impassioned love of
the grand, the true, and the beautiful. She had the grace and
tenderness of the most sensitive of women, added to mental
endowments rare in a man. Her beauty, which had been
remarkable, was the result of perfect health, careful training,
and an active nature. Her physical training made her a fearless
swimmer, a bold rider, and an excellent walker--all of which
greatly added to her active habits and powers of observation in
travelling, for she travelled much. Only a person of uncommon
bodily vigour can so enjoy nature in her wildest moods and
grandest aspects.
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