The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-11-13
From the New Orleans Picaune.
NAPOLEONs REVENGE.

r
The Cosican readeaa is nearly accomplish
cd, for the humiliation of england approached
its contamination when Queen Victoria stood
rcvcrentially before the tomb of her country's
mortal enemy, in the weried torchligt which
ffckered along the walls Of The Invalides.--
She stood there as the dependent of his nep-
hew-a suppliant to the mercy of the Napo-
leonc race, which knows no mercy for its
foe-a Queen in namo beside an Emperor in
fact Did the spirit of Hudson Lowe hover
around the scene? Did the laugh of the
"Old Guard" which, according to the Ger
man legend, attends the nightly reviews
lepeta corporal on the dreary shore of St.
Helena, ring scornfully through the sombro
walls? No; it was but fancy, but the VEN
geance of the Napoleons was q reality.
The visit of Queen Victoria to Paris was
little more than a conqueror's pageant in
which she acted the part of distinguished
captive, which could not be endured by her
for moment, if single drop of Boadicea's
blood remained in the vensof modern royalty.
She was received with magniicencc which
threw her efforts at display on the oc-
casion of Napolcon's visit to London into jthe
shade, and showed, as Stcme says, that
''they do these things better in France" but
the cheers with which the Emperor was greet
ed in London were not bestowed upon the
Queen in Paris, and she passed onward toward
st. Cloud, spectacle to be gazed at, and
not a guest to be honored.
Some years ago this same Victoria refused
to permit distinguished English actress to
appear at the private theatricals in Windsor
Palace, because her character was not sans
reproache, and yet she was compelled to ac-
cept the companionship, during her ten days
sojoum in Paris, Of the Emperor's cousin
the notorious Mathilde, who is the Ninoned,
Euclos, the most brilliant and brazen courte-
zan of the present day. Mathilde is divorced
from her husband on account of her immune
rable infdelities, and is living with "fast''
attache of the Court. In the same carriage
with herthc prudish Victoria rode to the Grand
Opera and beheld Albert-somewhat noted
for his ceptibility-exposed to all her witch
cry and fascinatiou, while beside her sat her
superior and her master-the "madman OF
Bonlogne," who was one fhcr special consta-
bles in 40! Who says that truth is not
stranger than fiction! Who hints after this,
that history is not greater romance maker
than Walter Scott or Alexandra Dumas?
Il noticed says correspondent Of the
London Press, "that while the Emperor con-
versed with the Queen, in the royal box at
the Opera, sinister smile, half of triumph
and half of sarcasm, parted his lips occasion,
ally, and fickered over his inscrutable eoun-
tenancc" What did that smile mean? 1t
was faint revelation of the profound thoughts
which were swelling in his heart. 1t said
st. Helena is avenged. The parvenu is the
master of the hereditary sovereign. The tri-
umph of France is almost complete. The
houseless wanderer-the madman of former
years-the prisoner of Ham-the dependent
of Mrs. Howard-Athc special constable OF
of London, is the rnler of France to day, and
France is the ruler of England. Craft has
retribution, the.grand denouepent of the dra.
ma, has not arrived yet-not yet, oh, Destiny
not yet. 1t advances, however, darkly
and steadily Gas the shadow of the gnomon.'
Gaze on, poor gidcd puppet at the pantominf
on the stage, and dream not of the tragedy
which awaits your country and yourself. Sc
said that smile. Such was the meaning Of
the faint revelation of the secrets of that hith
crto inscrutable eountenance.
Victoria has returned to England amid the
congratulations Of the London press, Bui
what has she learned during her visit9 That
France has magnificent army on her owl
soil, while England has scarcely single sol
der; that the French people are aroused ant
invigorated by thu Eastern war, while tho
Englis are crushed and depressed; that the
birthnght of genius is moro potent than thai
of blood; that she is n mere pawn, though
wearing a royal crown, on the chessboard OF
European politics, in the hands of the most
skillful and mastery player of his time
Such is the bitter lesson she must have learn
cd, unless the imbccility of George III, be
inheritable with his crown.