Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-06-12
The Price of two Potatoes in 1905.

Inc following anecdote OF the hrSt Ma
{ pol"on this necessity of discriminating
= cen the two Napoleons is little in
! conveniently is related i'll letter from a
( correspondent, who was q considerable
time in the French Military service, and
. who vouches for It's authenticity. We
might say of it, 81 non zero ben Ao-
vato'
This evening. before the battle of UIm,
when Napoleon the First in company with
Marshal Berthier, was walking incognitio
through the camp, and listening to the talk
OF his soldiers, he saw in a group not far
off a grenader of the Guard, who was
roasting some potatoes in the ashes.
4 should like roast potatoe, above all
things said the Emperor to the Marshal.
Ask the owner of them if he will sell one ,
In obedience to the order, Berthier ad
vanced to the group. and asked to whom
the potatoes belonged. \ grenadier step
ped forward and said, They are mine
viii you sell me one?'
1 have only five, and that's hardly
enough for supper
Il viii give you two Napoleons, if YOU
will sell me one
i don't want your gold shall be kill
cd, perhaps, tomorrow, and | don't want
the enemy to find me with an empty stom-
ach'
Berthier reported the soldiers answer
TO the Emperor, who was standing little
in the back ground.
Let's see if shall be luckier than you,
said the latter, and going up TO the grena-
dier, he asked him if he would sell him
potatoe.
Not by long shot, answered the gren-
adler. Il haven't got enough FOR myself
But You may set your own price
Come. am hungry, and haven't eaten
today
Il tell YOU haven't enough for myself;
besides all that, do You think don't know
YOU in spite Of your Disguise
Who am l, then?
Bah. the little corporal as they call him.
am right
We'll, since YOU know me, Will you sell
me potatoe?'
No, but if you would have me come and
dine with YOU when We get back to Paris,
YOU may sup with me tonight
'Done! said Napoleon. On the word of
little corporal; ON the word of an Empe-
ror'
We'll and good Our potatoes ought to
be done by this; there are the largest ones,
the rest I'll eat myself
The Emperor sat down at his potatoes,
and then returned with Berthier to his tent
remarking, the rogue is good soldier, III
wager
Two nonths afterwards, Napoleon the
Great was in the midst of a brilliant court
at the palace of the Tuileries, and was Just
sitting down to dine. when the word was
brought him that a grenadier was without
trying to force the guard at the door, say
ing that he had been invited by the Empe-
ror. Let him come In, said his majesty.
The soldier entered, presented arms, and
said to the Emperor:
DO YOU remember once having supped
with me off my roast potatoes?
oh, is that YOU? Yes, yes, remem
Der, said the Emperor; and so you have
come to dine W tn me, have YOU? Russian,
lay another cover on your table for this
brave fellow Again the grenadier pre-
secuted arms. and said:
Y grenadier of the Guards does not cat
with lackeys. Your majesty told me that
| should eat with you; that was the bargain,
and trusting to your word, | have come
hither.'
True, true said the Emperor. Lay
aside your arms mon omt, and draw up to
the table
Dinner over, the grenadier went, and at
his usual place took up his carbine, and
turning to the Emperor, presented arms,
and said:
y mere private ought not to dine at the
table Of bis Emperor
All | understand YOU said Napole-
on. i name you Chevalier of the Legion of
Honor, and Lieutenant in my company of
Guards
Thank YOU heartily TlseI Empereur'
answered the soldier, and he then with
drew.