Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-08-08
ANECDOTE OF NAPOLEON.

DuIluS oH0 Vi ehO So"P"'S"S :" ~
ny, the Emperor, wrapped in his ceebra-
ted grey great coat, was riding about in
the environs of Munich, attended only by
two ordely officers. He met on the road
a very pretty looking female, who, by her
dress, was evidently viyaRdier. She
was weeping, and was leading by the hand
a little boy about five years of age
Struck by the beauty Of the woman and
her distress, the Emperor pulled up his
horse, by the roadside, and said: sa-,1
"What is the mater with you, my
dear!" n.5 -..a@".
The woman not knowing the individual
/ by whom she was addressed and being
much discomposed by grief made no re-
| ply. The little boy, however, was more
communicative, and he frankl ly answered:
"My mother is crying, sir, because my
father has beat her." ...-..t
"Where is your father % ..~.
s'Close by here. He is one Of the SEN
tinels on duty with the baggage"
The Emperor again addressed himself
to the woman and inquired the name of
her husband but she refused to tell, be-
ing fearful lest the Captain, as she sup
posed the Emperor to be, would cause
her husband TO be punished. Napoleon,
am sorry TO say, had but little confidence
in the fair sex. On this occasion, his
habitual suspicious occurred to his mind,
and he said: ....
'Malpeste! your husband has been beat
ing you; you are weeping, and yet you
are so afraid of getting him into trouble
that you will not even tell me his name.
This is very inconsistent! May it not
f be that you are little in fault yourself ?"
"Alas, Captain he has athousand good
qualities, though he has one very bad one
; he is jealous terribly jealous; and
when he gets into passion, he cannot re-
strain his violence"
''But that is rather serious; in one of
his fits Of jealousy he may infict on You
some severe injury--perhaps kill YOU"
"And even if he did, should not wish
any harm 10 come to him, for | am sure
he would not do it willingly. He loves
me 700 we'll for that"
"And if l guess rightly, you love him. -
THAT is very natural, Captain; he is
my lawful husband, and the father Of my
: dear boy.''
3 So saying, she fondly kissed her child,
who, by the way in which he returned
f her caresses, proved his affection FOR his
t mother. Napoleon was moved by this
: touching figure, in spite Of the heart Of
: iron, of marble, or of adamant, which has
SO often been allotted to him.
"Well," said he, again turning to the
| tS,pI Iottor an3 hre nr
e love each other do not choose that he
d should beat you'll AMI am one Of The
Emperor's aides-de- camp, and vii
e mention the affair to his Majes,y-tell mt
! your husbands name.''
eff you were the Emperor himself,
would not tell you, for l know he woul'
e be punished.
= "Sily woman! all l want is to teacl
him TO behave we'll to you, and 10 trea
you with the respect you deserve"
"That would make me very happy
.e Captain; but though he i'll treats me,
: will not get him punished"
The Emperor shrugged up his shoul
ders, made some remark upon female Oh
stinacy, and galopped off.
i When he was out Of the wonlan's hear
n ing, he said to the officers who accompa
= MED him:
: "Well, gentlemen, what do you think
e of that afiectionate creature? There ar,
e not many such women at the. Tuilleries.-
g A wife like that is a treasure TO her hus
: band"
e In the course of few minutes the bag
- gage, of which the boy had spoken, came
: up. 1t was escorted by company OF !ht
e 52l. Napoleon despatched one of The
: officers, who was riding with him, to de-
e sire the commander Of the escort TO come
s to him.
: "Have you yivandiere in your com
e pany?"
$ "Yes, sire," replied the Captain.
y sHas she child ?'
r eyes, little Gentil, whom we are all SC
e fond Of"
e elias not the woman been beaten BY
e her husband ?"
: IL was not aware of the circumstances
o till some time after the occurrence.
;. have reprimanded the man? -
: "Is he generally well conducted ?"
d "He is the best behaved man in the
company. AIo ID very Jo"iou' VI i'' WIZ
: but without reason. The woman's con.
o duet is irreproachable."
II "Does he know me by sight?'
y IL cannot say, Sire-but, as he has just
Il arrived from Spain, think it is probable
r he does not
# "Try and ascertain whether he has ev-
5 er seen me, and if he has not bring him
e hither. Say you wish TO conduct him be,
r fore the General OF the division.'
C On inquiry, it appeared that Napoleon
: had never been seen by the grenadier
= who was very fine looking man, about
5 five and twenty. When he was conduct et
h to Napoleon, the latter said in familia,
:. tone.
y "What is the reason, my lad, that yo,
n beat your wife. She is a young and pret
n ty woman, and better wife than you ar,
e a husband. Such conduct is Lisgracefu
o in French grenadier.''
e "Bah, General if women are to be be
= lieved, they are never in the wrong.
% have forbidden my wife to talk to any
if man whatever and yet, i'll spite OF m,
t, commands, | find her CONSTANT y go<sipin;
a with one or other of my comrades"
h ttNn,x there is yollr mistake. Yo,