Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-06-06
Napoieon,s A,.emp, to Commit Suicide.

In Montholon's history of the captivity of Ma
poleon st. Helena, it is recorded that he twice
attempted self-destruction, once early in his ca
reer. and again in 1915. On the first Occa-
sion, his life was saved by Demasis, a former
comrade in an artillery regiment. Napoleon was
then in Paris-depressed and suffering from ill
ness. His mother having fed from Corsica, was
at Marscilles, without subsistence, and had writ
ten to him for aid. Napoleon had nothing but
an assignat for hundred sous. Relating this
adventure to Montholon, Napoleon says.
In a state of detection l went out, as If urged
to suicide by an animal instinct, and walked along
the quays, feeling my weakness, but unable to
CONQUER it. In a few moments more l should
have thrown myself into the water, when ran
against an individual, dressed like simple me-
chanic, and who recognized me, threw himself on
my neck, and cried, s. Is it you Napoleon? What
ioy to see YOU againr' 1t was Demasis, a former
comrade Of mine in the artillery regiment. lie
| had emigrated, and had returned to France III
disguise. to see his aged mother. He was about
to 60, when stopping, he said, ''What is the mat
| ter? You do not listen to me. You do not seem
glad to see me. What misfortune threatens p
You look to me like mailman about to kill him.
self"
This direct appeal awokc Napoleon's feelings.
and he told him everything. is that all 20 said
lie, opening his coarse waistcoat, and detachins
belt he added, ''here are thirty thousand francs
cannot, said Napoleon, to this day, explain to
myself my motives for so doing, but seized the
gold as If by a convuisivc movement, and ran like
mailman to send it to my mother. 1t was not
until it was out of my hands that L thought
of what had done. FASTENED back to the spot
where had left DemasiS but he was no longer
there. For several days went out III the morn
inc, returned not until evening, searched every
pl lce where hoped to find him.
The end of the romance is as eccentric as the
beginning. For fifteen years Napoleon saw no
more of his creditor. At the end of that time he
discovered him and asked ''why he had not APP
piled to the Emperor 2" The answer was that he
had no necessity for the money but was afraid OF
being compelled to quit his retirement, where he
| lived happily practising horticulture.
| Napoleon now paid his debt as may be presum-
ed, magn6cently made him accept three hundred
! thousand francs as reimbursement from the
Emperor for the thirty thousand lent to the sub
atern of artillery; and besides made him direc-
| tor general of the gardens of the crown, with a
salary of thirty thousand francs. He also gave a
government place to his brother.
In April, 1915, when Napoleon was at the head
Of his army, preparing to attack the allies, his
Marshals demanded al interview with him.
They were opposed to his plan of operations, and
looked upon attempt to re-enter Paris as hope
less. They proposed that he should abdcate in
favor Of his son. This also the advice of the
Emperor AleAanuer. NupOleoH ulu as WAS pro-
posed but Marmont and his army had surren-
dered on that day. After this the allies rejected
all negotiation. The propositions and offers of
Napoleon to his officers and soldiers were unheed-
ed by them, and he at length signed an unequivo-
cal abdcation for himself and family. This led
to the second attempt upon his own life. lie thus
narrate5 it:
''Fron the time Of the retreat from Russia
said he, 81 had constantly carried roundm my neck,
In ilpf,h 0r of
powder which Ivan had prepared by my orders,
when was in fear of being carried off by the
Cossacks. Ny life no longer belonged to my
country the events of the last few days had
again rendered me master of it. Why should |
endure so much suffering? and who knows that
my death may not place the crown upon the head
Of my son? France WAS saved.
81 hestatcd no longer, but leaping from my
bel, mixed the poison in little water, and drank
it with a sort of happiness.
g But time had taken away its strength; fear
full pains drew forth some groans from me ; they
We're heard and medical assistance arrived. Ii
was not Heavens will that should die so soon.-
St. Helena was my deSti1y!