Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/242

222 book, indulged a little in authorship, or yielded to the allurements of pencil and crayon, not forgetting to scan the journals and mark interesting articles for Maximilian's perusal, adding keen observations of her own. Receptions were not frequent, but during the winter her saloons were open every Monday. On these occasions the cambric, muslin, or plain silk and woollen dresses gave way to décolleté robes of rich material, with a profusion of ornaments and jewelry; and she manifested an almost childlike pleasure in impressing one class with her beauty and taste, and another with the glitter of her apparel. She joined in quadrilles to a limited extent. A series of court regulations served to check certain easy manners that provincialism had introduced among an otherwise ceremonious people.

Maximilian personally objected to formality, as shown by his preference for the country. He delighted in white linen suits and a Panamá hat, or one of soft white felt with low crown; yet a plain civil dress was usually worn, of black frock-coat and vest, with light-colored pantaloons, gray overcoat, and in the city, a gray high-crowned hat. On great occasions he could be seen in a simple dark green uniform, with gold-embroidered collar, red sash, and white gold-striped trousers. He wore little jewelry. On special occasions he donned the national dress, preferably the ranchero's, with a view to flatter the masses. He certainly enjoyed the life with which this was connected, riding, roaming, and exercising, especially swimming. Billiards formed a favorite