Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-05-20
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JOSEPHINE TIE STAR OF NAPOLEON

iAole III Lue circles OF JuaJ metropolis ever
devoted 10 gaiety. The terrible convul-
sions OF the time Lad thrown the whole
fabric of society into confusion. Great
efforts were now made to revive the fes-
tlVities of former days. Two centres Of
I society were naturally formed The FIRST
included that IN which Josephine moved
1t was composed Of those remains Of the
ancient nobility who had returned to Par
Is with the remains of their families and
their shattered fortunes. Rigid economy
was necessary to keep up any appearance
I of elegance. But that polish which al
most invariably descends from an illustri-
Gus ancestry. marked all their intercourse.
The humlliatiOns through which the no
bles had passed. had not diminished the
|eXcluslyeaess of their taste. The other
circle was composed of merchants and
bankers, who had acquired opuleuce d
midst the couhscatious aud storms Of rev
olutiOu. The passion for display was
prominent in all their assemblies, as Is
necessarily the case with those whose
passport to distinction is wealth.
At the theatres and all places Of pub
lie festivity there were presented studied
memorials of the scenes Of horror through
which they had recently passed. One Of
them. the most fashionable Assembly then
known IN Paris, was called The Ball Of
the Victims No one was admitted 10
this Assembly, who had not lost some
near relative by the cuillotine The most
fashionable mode of dressing the hair,
was called a Ia cuilIo.iue" The hair
was arranged in the manner in which 1t
had been adjusted by the eNecutlouer, for
the unimpeded operations Of the axe.
Josephine. a young widow, with beauty,
grace, Intelligence aud property, was sure
to attract attention, and to meet with ad-
mirers who would seek her hand
A new insurrection by the Populace Of
Paris was at this time planned against the
Convention. The ezasperated people were
again to march upon the Iulllerles. The
members were in extreme CONSERVATION
The mob could bring tens of thousands
against them, well armed with muskets
and heavy artillery. There were but five
hundred regular troops, with which to re
sist the onset. Menou, the officer in com
mand, acknowledged his inability to meet.
the crisis. and surrendered Lis power to
Barras lie Immediately, as by Il sudden
thought. exclaimed. I know the man Who
can deGeud us 1T is q little Ca-slcau.
who dares do anything. and is perfectly
reckless of consequences
The little Corsican, Napoleon Bona
parte, tie 3ay-star of whose fame was just
beginning to rise over the smoulderiug
ruins of G0ulon, was presented to the
Convention. His fragile form was almost
feminine in its proportions, but an eagle
eve calmly rested in his palIid and enact
atcd cJuuteuance. He had been severely
sick and the Convention looked with
amazement upon this feeble youth, as the
one presented to rescue them from the
peril
The President looked upon him doubt
inglv. and said " Are YOU willing TO un-
dertake our defence Pr
Yes r was the calm, laconic reply.
But are YOU aware Of the magnitude
Of the undertaking
[ am in the habit Of accomplishing
: everything I undertake" was the imPer-
turbable response.
From that moment his authority was
. established Every member of the Con
yenti0u felt the mysterious fascination Of
his master mind Barras surrendered
the whole command into his hands He
instantly called in all the national forces
that were around Paris. and disposed fifty
pieces Of artillery under the command OF
, Murat. so as to rake all the avenues to
the Convention His calm aud almost
superhUman energy sought no repose that
night The delay Of few moments would
have placed this very park Of artillery
which secured his victory. in the hands of
the insurgents When the morning dawn
ed. the Tuilleries. as if by magic, had as
sumed the aspect of a fortified camp TT
S The little C0rsicau was calmly awaiting
the onset. as secure Of triumph rs If the
: victory was already achieved
But In every quarter of Paris, during
= the night. the Insurgents had been mus
e teriug their forces. and the mutterIugs of
: the approaching storm were dlsmally ech-
ocd through The streets of the metropolis
Above thirty thousand men, all armed
with muskets and artillery, in regular
military array. and under experienced
j generals came pouring down upon the
feeble band which surrounded the Con
T yeution
5 VIII the little Corsican dare to fire up
i on the people VIII this pale and slen-
{ der youth. yho had hardly vet entered
d upon the period of manhood, dare TO del
!. uce the payemeuts of Paris with the blood
I Of her own citizens VIII he venture
+ upon a contest So unequal, when failure IS
j., certain death
Napoleon. with his colorless cheek, his
flashing eye, and his air Of mysterious
melancholy, stood in silence, as the gath
7 erinC thousands crowded down upon him.
lie offered no parley, be uttered not a
word Of warning, be condescended to no
threats. The Insurgents, believing that
be would not dare to fire upon them, ad-
Z vanced within fifty yards of his muslet
battery. when he opened his columns. and
D his voice was heard in the streets Of Par
IS. The thunder Of his tones was pre-
coded By the lightniug's bolt 4 gener-
! al discharge of grape shot, from guns load
d ed to their muzz.es, covered the ground
/ with the dead and dying No mortal
could withstand such conflict The
advancing foe wavered Tor an instant. and