The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-10-01
ANEoDoTE OF NAPOLEON.

During one of the campaigns in Germany,
the Emperor, in bis celebrated grey great coat,
was riding sl,ou, in the environs of Munich, al.
tended only by two orderly officers. He mel
on the road very pretty looking female, who,
by her dress, was evidently vivandiere. She
was weeping. and was leading by the hand
little hoy about FIVE years of5age. Struck by
the beauty Of the woman. and her distress, the
Emperor pulled up his horse, by the road side
and said: 7'-' ~
What is the matter with yon, my dear?'
The woman, not knowing the individual by
whom she was addressed, and being much dis.
composed by grief, made no reply. The little
bny, however, was more communicative, and
he frankly ansWered-:
My mother Is crying, sir, because my father
beat her ~ -
Where is your fatber!'
.Close by here. He is one Of the sentinels'
ou3duly with the baggage r3,{.a -.
The Emperor again addressed himself 10 The
woman, and inquired the name of her husband,
hut she refused 10 tell being afraid the Captain,
as she supposed the Emperor to be. wnud cause
her husband TO he punished. Napoleon am
sorry to say, had but little confidence in The
fair sex. Onihis occasion, bis 9hahua suspi.
cons returned TO his mind. and be said
sMalpeste your husband has been beating
you; you are weeping, and yet you are 20 afraid
Of getting him into trouble. that you will not
even tell me his name. This is very inconsis-
tent. May It not be that you are little in the
fault yourselfr -,
.Alas, Captain! he has thousand goodquaI.
tiles, though he has one very bad one be is
jealous, terribly jealous, and when he gets into
passion, cannot restrain his violenca.' 49,
But thai is rather serious in one Of his fits
ofjealousy he may inact on you some very Sc.
we're injury, perhaps kill you.' ~
And even if he did, should not wish any
harm to come 10 him, forI am sure he would
no, do i, willingly. He loves me too we'll for
that .s.s ,..,., ~ ~
M And i'll guess rightly. you love him.
That is very natural, Captain; he ismy law.
ful husband and the father Of my dear boy
So saying. she f,ndly kissed her child. who,
by The way he returned her caresses, proved his
affection for his mother. Napoleon was mo-
we'd by this touching picture in spite Of the heart
"f iron, Of marble or of adamant, which has so
often been allotted to him. a.
sWell,' said he again, turning TO the woman,
whether you and your husband love each other
or not, do not choose that he should heat you
II am one of the Emperor's aides.de camp,
and will mention the affair 10 his Majesty
tell me your husbands name .-.sygr .
.lfyou were the Emperor himself, would
not tell you, for know he would be punished :
Silly woman I all want is TO teach him TO
behave well to you, and to treat you with the
respect you deserve
THAT would make me very happy, Captain,
but though he i'll treats, will not get him pun.
shed.' -. .,szs..:i d. &c..
The Emperor shrugged ~ bis shoulders and
made some remark upon female modesty, and
galnpcd off. -
When he was out Of the woman's hearing,
he said 10 the officers who accompanied him:
well, gentlemen, what do you think Of that
aaeclionale creature! There are not many
such women at the Iuicries. A wife like that
is a treasure TO her husband.
In The course ofa few minutes the baggage
Of which the boy had spoken, came up. Ii was
escorted by company of the Fifty. Second
Napoleon despatched one OF the officers who
was riding with him, 10 desire the. commander
Of The escort to come to him.
.fiave you a vivanIiere in your company"
Yes, Sire replied the Captain.
Has she not child?'
yes, little GeniiI, whom we are all so fond
Of
Has not this woman been beaten by her
husbandP
i was not aware OF the circumstance till some
time after The occurrence. have reprmand.
ed the man. :.
is be generally we'll conducted 7
He is the hes, behaved man in the company.
He is very jealous uf his vile but without rea
son. The womau's conduct is irreproachabIe.
'Does he know me by sight?'
i cannot say. Size, hut as he has just arrived
fion Spain. think it is probable he docs not.
TRY and ascertain whether he has ever seen
me, and il he has not, bring him hither. Say
sou wish to conduct him before the General Of
the divisinn.'
On inquiry, it appeared that Napoleon had
never been seen by the grenadier. who was
very fine looking man ofabout FIVE and twenty.
When he was conducted to Napoleon, the lat.
ter said in familiar tone:
what is the reason, my lad, tha. you beat
your wife She is young and pretty woman,
and he,ler wife than you are husband. Such
conduct is tisgracsiu in French grenadler.'
Bah. General ir women are to he believed.
81 hor fnrIkIHhnn