Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-08-11
ANECDOTE OF BONAPARTE AT
ST. HELENA.

Mrs. Abel, who when a young girl resi-
ded with her brother at St. Helena at the
cottage named The Brars,' which Napole-
on chose for his temporary residence while
Longwood was preparing for him, furnishes
the following interesting anecdotes of him:
"The Emperor's habits during the time
he stayed with us were very simple and re-
gular. His usual hour for getting up was
eight, and he seldom took any thing but
cup of coffee till one, when he breakfasted or
rather lunched; he dined at eight, and ret-
red at about eleven to his rooms. His man
ner was so unaffectedy kind and amiable
that in few days felt perfectly at ease IN
his society, and looked upon him more as
companion of my own age than as the mighty
warrior at whose name the world grew
pale His spirits were very good, and he
was at times almost malicious in his love of
mirth and glee, not unmixed sometimes with
tinge of malice.
Shortly after his arrival, little girl, Miss
Legg, the daughter ola friend, came to visit
us at the Brars. The poor child had heard
such terrific stories of Bonaparte that when
| told her he was coming up the lawn, she
chung to me in an agony of terror. Forget
ting my own former fears, was cruel TO run
out and tell Napoleon of the child's fright,
begging him to come into the house. He
walked up to her, and brushing up his hair
with his hand, shook his head, making horri-
BILE faces, and giving sort of savage howl.
The little girl screamed so violently that ma
ma was afraid she would go into Mysteries,
and took her out of the room.
Napoleon laughed good deal at the idea
of his being such bugbear, and would hard
ly believe me when told him that had
stood in the same terror of him. When
made this confession, he tried to frghten me
as he had poor Miss Legg, by brushing up
his hair and dIstortlng his features; but he
looked more grotesque and horrible, and
laughed at him. He then as last resource
tried the howl, but was equally unsuccessful
and seemed, thought, little provoked tina
he could not frighlen me. He said the how
was Cossack, and it certainly was barbarou'
enough for any thing"
The following is her description of thu
personal appearance Of Napoleon:
"His appearance on horseback was noble
and imposing. The animal he rode was /;
superb one his color jet black and as HI
proudly stepped up the avenue, arching hi
neck and champing his bit,l thought he look
ed worthy to be the bearer of him who wa
once the ruler of nearly the whole European
world
,, Napoleon's position on horseback, by ad
ding height TO his figure. supplied all that wa
wanting to make me think him the most ina
jes,ic person had ever seen. His dres
was green, and covered with orders, and hi
saddle and housing crimson velvet, richl
y embroidered with gold. He alighted at on
house, and we all moved to the entrance t
:, receive him. Sir George Cockburn intro
. duced us to him. On a nearer approac
= Napoleon, contrasting as his shorter figuI
did with the noble height and aristocrat
:, bearing of Sir George Cockburn, lost some
:" :. thing of the dignity which had so much struc
y me on first seeing him. He was deadly pail
and thought his features, though cold an
immovable, and somewhat stern, we're yer
: beautiful. lie seated himself on one of OF
cottage chairs, and after scanning our lit
=, - apartment with his eagle glance, he compl
20 mented mamma on the pretty situation
:" the Briars.
When once he began to speak, his Ease
w mating smile and kind manner removed ev
ry vestige of the fear with which l had r.
:, garded him. While he was talking to man
N ma had an opportunity of scru,inizing i
,d features, which did with the keenest int
n est; and certainly have never seen al
ID one with so remarkable and striking phys
rh ognomy. The portraits of him give go'
v. general idea of his features, but his smil
~ and the expression of his eye, could not
or transmitted TO convass, and these cOnstitut
,h Napoleon's chief charm. His hair was da
." brown, and as fine and silky as child; 7
ho Their too much so indeed for man, as
lie caused il to look thin. His teeth were eve
II, but rather dark, and afterwards found Il
y, this arose from his constant habit Of eati
7, liquorlce, of which hs always kept supE
81 in his waistcoai pocket"