Litchfield enquirer., 1858-01-14
The Second Napoleon.

There IS 10 schOolboy throughout our land but is thoroughly versed iu the history of Ma poleon l., whose star, rising from the obscurity of the Corsican island, and reigning dominant over the powers and principaities of Europe for while, finally descended into the eclipse of the ocean rock. Napoleon III. is equally we'll known by the interruptions policy and cool de- termination with which he has succeeded in establishing himself on the throne of his illus trious uncle. Bnt of Napoleon 1.-the con- meeting link in the chain of empire-little is known, save that he gave signs of rare romise and perished in early youth A brief sketch of his life and few of the more interesting events connected with his stay in Vienna, may not be uninteresting incidents now that the Bonaparte dynasty is again in the ascendant
 There is melancholy interest pertaining to every reminscence of the short life of this cher ishcd heir of the great Napoleon. The uur- vailed brilliance which surrounded the dawn of of his existence, the clouds which come down over his early childhood, and the brief joyless record of his monotonous soiourn at the court of Austria, ending with his sudden death at the age of twenty one, combine to form his- tory whose romano eexcels that of any novel ever written.
 He was born amid the regal splendors of the Tuileries on the 2Oth of March, 1871 |. l High hopes were entertained of his future greatness, and Napoleon hims,lf intoxicated by the almost unbroken series of his magnif- cent successes, announced the birth of the im- peral heir, not by the accustomed formula, It is prince," but by the naughty proclamation, It is King of Rome"
 The royal child born in the purple and in vested with kingly honors long before his in- fant brow could bear the weight of diadem was christened in the splendid chapel of the Tuileries, with the same pomp and ceremony which were observed year or two ago at the baptism of the young King of Algeria. The ceremony itself was precisely similar to that of 1856, and during its imposing progress many heart in the assembled multitude went back to the trumphal christening of the king of Rome, in that self-same chapel, forty-fve years ago, and thence to the dark burial vaults of Vienna, where for twenty years he had slept undisturbed by the changing tide of empire. Probably no brighter prospects ever opened before the life of an imperial heir, than that which apparently awaited the little Napoleon Francis Joseph, upon his earthly career but three years afterwards, his father, the emperor "tAo Soihi1SliCu to dUulCdUG GIlIOHC, duu CuG infant king left Paris never to see it more.
 He was taken by the empress Maria Louisa to Vienna, at the wish of Francis of Austria, his maternal grandfather. Iu 1915 came Ma poleon's second abdication,, which tile allied sovereigns refused to accept in favor of his son, and with this event the magnificent future which had seemed to open for the young prince closed for ever. He was placed under the guardianship of the Emperor of Austria his title of King of Rome was abolished, and thenccforth, his footing at the court of his H. lustrious grandfather was that of German Prince, under the name of Duke of Reichstadt by which he is now universally known.
 No studded and formal plan had been adopt ed for the education of the little Napoleon, before he came tu his Austrian home, but his mind was singularly quick to observe and re- tain the most passing occurrence, and it is far 1 from likely that five years in such an eventful | life as his had left no impression upon his memory. Bnt this no one could ever ascer- tain, for he was of most uncUmmunicative tenn perament and did not like most children con fde his rcmembrances to others nor speak of what was most prominent in his recollections. 1 One day while playing with the imperial family of Austria, with whom he was a great favorite, one of the young archdukes showed him little silver medal, of which numbers had been circulated among his people in honor of his birth. His bust was delineated upon its surface.
 Do you kuow who that is," he was asked. It is me, when was king of Rome." The child was of very singular disposition afectionate yet reserved and extremely sensi. tive to the slightest ridicule. Ideas of his lost position and the fallen greatness of his father were ever present to his mind. His childish command over his feelings was extreme, as ex- emplifed in the following instance
 I Until Maria Louisa left Vienna for her own state of Parma, Madame Marchaud had been the child's constant nurse, remaining with him i all night, and taking the whole charge of his risii,v, dressing, tc. lie vas pags;rmatalv at.