The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-05-12
From the Home Journal. !.
LOUIS NAPOLEON IN EEw YORK.


Toe ready credu,ity leads to grevious error ;
ssyeci.ily as it affects opinion of human
character. To believe what is scandalousiy
narrated of conspicuous men, would often ieau
80 the conclusion that infamy is the road to re-
Howu; and that, in order to become great, Il CO +
tain previous viciouSness of lie Is necessary III
Is "a lamentable comment upon human nature,
that n majority Of mankind delight in evil speak
lug, as well thinking; and go the work OF
6etraction with somewhat the eagcrness of
burglar to rifiing casket. Defamation, under
various guiSes is INDUCED IL almost universally.
Merit is rarely acknowledged. Greatness by
natural causes is termed greatness thrust upon
one, and, therefore, without merit while great
ness achieved, is that of which the possessor is,
invariably, unscorthy. The perusal Of certain
newspaper items, concerning the career OF
Louis NGpoLsou az NenV York. has led to these re-
marks The items refec. no credit upon ither
the ingenuity of their authors, the sagacity of
their publishers. Wonder at the intelligence of
the brilliant .'coup-d'etat," )" bywhieh Louis gain
ed the throne of France, had hardly ceased, be-
fore the newspapers began. He came sorrow
ing but undaunted exile, to this city, in 1887.
The fact is undeniable !; but what proportion OF
the population of 1853 even dreamed of it =
However, the fact leaks out ; and Immediately
II tremendous majority of our present innumer
able Gothamites remember him perfectly =
Most all he'c him By sight, at least; and a ma
iority, by heart; ''baii fellows, well met -
'hob-a-nobbed with him many a time !" If we
credit the items referred to, the Prince, during
his rather secluded stay in this city, must have
been favored with troops of confidential friends,
and scores of bosom companions How unfor-
tunate that so large and intimate q circle of
Guaintance have for his memory so little love
and praise
We read in some Of the papers of his frequent
ing low haunts, imbibing intolerable tpple, and
even, occasionally, indulging in pugilistic COM
bats with the ''b'hoys - that he was more than
cOmnellp6 In sssie N T0mbE
and that, moreover be ungratefully cheated the
magnanimous attorney who got him out
read all this, and more, sad aauseaTa )" and, by
way of curious inquiry, have taken pains to
ascertain from the few surviving and accessible
persons who really did know him at that time,
what manner of man he was, and what they
thought of him. My efforts have been amply
rewarded. The breath of reproach comes from
no one Of the highly respectable gentlemen to
whose polite attention l am indebted for all the
information have been enabled to gather con-
corning the character, bearing and conduct of
the Prince, during his sojourn among US. On
the contrary, have heard, on all hands, naught
but hearty and generous encOmiums, such
men rarely trust themselves to bestow upon
their fellows the more hearty and generous,
too, in proportion to the intimacy of the parties
and facilities for observation. Mr. Lispenard
Stewart OF this city, who frequently saw him in
the polite circles of that day, speaks of him
as an engaging, yet forbidding person, usally
shade Of sadness. which, though interesting to
contemplate, deferred Mr.. S. from what he fear
cd might be intrusive approach. Mr. s. says
that his brother, Rev. MIR. Stewart, Chaplin in
the United States Navy, very intimate with
Louis, his sympathizing friend and frequent
companion and he always entertained and ex-
pressed the opinion that Louis Napoleon
a superior man, and l,redicted that he would in
time shOUO himself great. Captain Shumway, an
artist of this city, who, at the request of Chap
faI aPt ofad0 ott,T.a
ness of tbs Prince, is oyerflowing with agreeable
"reminiscences of beth his personal features and
general department He speaks of him, in tn
first place, rs the most punctual man to business
engagements lie ever knew never varying, dur
ing his numerous appointments, thirty seconds
from the exact time fixed upon for sitting. On
one occasion, Shumwsy, himself, being obivious,
was recalled TO his duty by encountering Louis
in the street, hasteuing towards his studio to
meet an engagement, which, though made by
the artist, had been by him entirely forgotten.
The Prince expressed great delight on seeing
hne mezzotint engraving of one of the Imperial
Guard, which Shumway had hung in his studio,
and remarked, that he had .'neyer seen one like
II IN Paris or elsewhere" and begged and obtain
ed permission to borrow in order that he might
copy 1T. On another occasion, entering the
came apartment, and observing musket stand
ing against the wall, he eagerly caught it up,
brandisEed 1t In moment, and then went through
the manual with uncommon grace and dexterity
circumstances trivial enough in themselves
Jet pregnant with future presage to the eye of
the only observer. The artist further describes
him as, at that time, a remarkably handsome
man, and of most pleasing demeanor, ''rather
quick, impulsive. nervous playing with the chair
arms inipertinently, while sitting for his pic
ture. The outlines of his face, the massive cheek
and colour of the eye, striklingly resembled
those OF Napoleon l. His remarkably luxuriant
brown moustache was, in itself, heroic. His
complexion was rich, fresh and healthful. His
dress was dark-blue frock coat exauisitely fit
ted to noble figure His height appeared
about five feet eight inches and his age about
thirty. Such is the personal portrait of Louis
Napoleon, rs given by Captain Shumway who,
OF course, during the numerous sittings, had Pc
culiar opportunities of closely and critically OBJ
serving him. The miniature was exhibited in
the National Academy OF Design, at Clinton Hall !;
and. II we mistake not is still in the possession
Of Chaplain Stewart.
regret the difficulty of obtaining incident
enough to fairly portray interesting a sub
jecf 4 on have to search with lamp' in or
der 10 ind person, nowadays, who enioyed
the acquaintance Of the Prince during his stay
IN this city anG when you have found him. he
can only tell you that Louis was n most remark
able and interesting person. A gentleman with
whom conversed the other day, speaks of him.
as ''one upon whose placid, correct and unosten-
tatious department the ripple of scandel could
not plausibly appear, steadfast in faith of COM
ing advancement, his eye fixed to the future, on
the star of Destiny in which now his sceptre
gieams. He was accomplished gentleman,
oil noble person, dignifed yet pleasing manners
man who anywhere, and under any circum-
stances. EOuQ vii 1Ubi i1a ba 4 Ia