Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-10
Romance in Real Life.

Romance in Real Life.
A few years ago there lived in New York q
young Frenchman, whose pocket was under.
stood to be often empty, and whose head was
generally considered to boast avacuum as
great He was man of few words. his silence
even going to the verge Of unsociabi'ity, and
his acquaintances consequently were limted d.
Some said his habits were coarse. his conduct,
liceutious. and his honesty more than ques
tonable, aud. perhaps, there was as much
truth in these statements as there usually IL
respecting idle and self willed young men, with
no fixed .igious principles. strong passions.
and tastes above their means. Suddenly this
stranger disappeared from New York, and soon
ceased to be remembered there. except BY
few who laughed occasionally at what they
considered an insane dream, which, it seems,
haunted this young adventurer. He entertain.
ed, SO they said. he absurd idea that destiny
had great things in store for him. He believed
in short, that he would yet mount the throne
of one of the most powerful European king.
doms. ard that nothing which could be done
to prevent the accomplishment Of his fate
would succeed. He might, indeed. be kept ont
of his inheritance for while; but Of his tri.
umph ultimately there was no doubt whatever.
This man as the reader may have guessed,
was the nephew and heir Of Napoleon.
Twice. in pursuance of the destiny which
he believed to be his, he invaded France, once
4 cc,a I, &c ysr.f ~ th;s ufrv
The last time his means seemed So inadequate
10 the end he aimed at, that most men laughed
in derision; in fact, one general shout OF con
tempt went up from one portion of Europe to
another. 1t was the fashion 10 call him a fool
except with few who called him insane, For
several years he fingered iu prison condemned
to Incarceration for life; in consequence of his
last invasion of France, and fingered there
practically forgotten by the world. At last,
however he managed to escape: But 80 unini-
portant was he considered generally, that the
news was scarcely regarded by any one. He
now went TO London, but only to find the YER
dict Of New York repeated. Even the few
sagacious nieti, who, like Peel. thought they
saw more in him than met the general eye, for
bore to state their opinion publicly, lest their
reputation for sagaci,y might suffer. All at
once, however, his dreams turned up realities.
Louis Philippe was dethroned. a so-called re-
public was established in France. and the
nation at large was called on to elect Presi,
dent; the fool Of Boulogne. .as he was nicknam-
ed, offered himself as candidate. He was
elected by an immense majority. Once in his
seat he set to work to PROSTATE all other rivals,
and destroy every party but his own; and
strange as II was then considered, this bold
undertaking has succeeded. Cavaignac, Theirs.
Mont alembert. and every other leader Of emi,
nence, he outmanevred and ruined. He is
now consequently. Emperor Of France.
But this is not all. Scarcely had he been
seated in his imperial chair. when the horizon
of eastern Europe became ominous with war
Month by month Ire clouds have thickened. in
spite of momentary glimpses Of sunshine, and
now there is every prospect of the commence
ment of a general European struggle. II only
depends, in truth, on the will Of this man. the
former adventursr in New York. the "fool oi
Bo ulogne," to say whether war shall break ou'
or not. England. trembling for her manufsc-
turing end commercial inteiests. 10 willing to
permit Nicholas to occupy the Danubian Prin-
cipalities. sooner than to draw the sword.-
But if the French Emperor declares that this
occupation cannot be submitted TO; if he says
that France. sooner than permit the outrage.
will cross the Rhine alone, England in self
defence. will be compelled to take arms; and
the armiDg of these two powers involves. as
every one knows, . continental war. Thus
Louis Napoleon holds in his hands the dest,-
Eies of Europe. His decision will turn the
scale. He can save Turkey. or give the Gear
Constantnople. He can raise. Hungary. Italy.
aud Poland to their feet. or keep them pros
trate, and do either with word. The man
who, a few years ago. could scarcely command
dinner in New York, now orders the fate of
war or peace. il Europe. and psrhaps.t the fate
of western civilization. Is not this romancef
Where, even in the Arabian Knights. is there
anything to surpass itf-Philadelphia Bull
letip.