The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-09
IMPERIAL. NOOKERV

7 IT. vi Vp
may perhaps, be allowed to entertain some scruples
as 70 tne authenticity of some of the particulars.
IN the Memorial de Sainte- Helene it is recorded
that Napoleon l. declared che had been deenIv at
saob ~ a"9 women differing very widely from
each other the one was endowed with every oracn
which art and refinement could confer tbe otber
was all innocence and simple nature vet both ba
added, were very charming" 1'
Marie Louise had been educated in an extrep,oIr
plain and homey style, and she brought with her
TO the Tuileries, the simple tastes and manners
consequent on the sort of training she had received
in Vienna. Her childish nqirefe is well exempifed
IN the remark which she one day made to her
chamberlain, NJ. de Brissac. That gentleman enter
ed her presence wearing the insignia of newly
created order, in which were figured the Lion of
Gassel, the Horse of Brunswick and the Dragon of
Dghmark. Mon DieuP exclaimed the Empress
III NY done que des betes dams Get ordre Ia +" NJ
de Brissac made very low bow, not in token of
assent but in order to conceal his confusion for he
mistoOK at the moment the sense in which Her Ma
Jesty used the term betes
Marie Louise, who had not been drilled into the
habit OF conining her attention exclusively to the
eiegant occupations customary among ladies of IL
iustrlous rank one day took it into her head tn
make an omelette. In this perhaps there was
feu.nihg f u positively derogatory from her dignity;
Lor IN france many exalted personages have occa-
sionally evlnced penchunt for cookery; for exam
PIE, Conde, Fendome, Regent of France Louis
Nv. and several others. However, derogatory or
not Marie Louise was resolved that an omeiette
w..
furnished with the ingredients and utensils necessa
Ty Tor the operation. These were immediatelr
brought With her pretty rosy fingers and white
ulnPied hands Marie Louise broke the eggs into
oasin, and 1t may be noted, en- passant that these
eggs came from Malmaison, whence Josenhine nsad
frequently to send little dainties for the Emperors
table, The bright blue eyes of the young Empress
peamed with pleasure at the thought of making an
emeette ana she enjoyed in anticipation the salts
faction OF seeing the Emperor partake of it at din
ner. Whilst the Empress beat up her eggs with
aegree ot expertness which might have done honor
to the most practised professor of the culinary art
young lady, Mademoisele N who had
come from Vienna in the suite of Marie-Iouise, was
occupied IN pounding some sugar. an operation
more easily performed as the sugar was made from
beet-root
At length all was ready-the fire burned clearly
the butter was put into the frying-pan and soon
melted, the Empress threw in the eggs, and in
another moment the whole apartment was filled
with that Kitchen smell which has an exciting nfu-
ence on the stomach dinner hour approaches-
Such was the state of things, when suddenly the
Emperor entered without being announced The
Empress who was STOPPING down over the fire.
place, looked up, and endeavored to conceal her
frying pan, whilst she blushed and looked as con-
fused as a school girl caught in fagrunt delicto.-
''What are you about here ?" enquired the Emper-
or, with an air of surprise. "There is strong
smell of fryingp' Then stepping up to the En-,
press, he discovered the whole mistery. $50, you
are trying to make an omelette Bah YOU know
nothing about it. I'll show you how to proceedr'
lie requested Mademoiselle N to get him an
apron, which he very composedly tied around his
waist, and then proceeded to finish the cooking of
the omelette. Unfortunately, it had been too long
on the fire, and one part of it adhered so firmly to
the pan that it could not easily be detached. In
a moment Napoleon whipped out his sword and
gently slipped the point under the rebelous ONE
lette. Having, he believed sufficiently loosened
it, he gave the handle of the frying-pan the tradi
tlonal jerk, and tossed the omeette into the air
but an unlucky fragment, which had adhered to
the bottom OF the pan, prevented it from turning
and it fell to the ground. The Empress and Made
moiselle n greeted this catastrophe with a |
burst of laughter, and Napoleon Joined with that
loud laugh peculiarly his own.
just at this critical juncture, young officer, ~
R, bearing despatch from NJ. Caulaincourt.
the Ambassador to Russia, applied for an interview
with the Emperor. France was AT this time on no |
very friendly terms with Russia owing to certain
of the treaty of Tilsit. The despatch
was OF urgent Importance, and NJ. de Caulancourt |
had directed his messenger to deliver it with all
possible speed. 0beying his instructions to the |
very letter. the officer had left his carriage at |
the frontier, and for greater expedition made the
rest OF the journey on horseback; it must be added
that he had not tasted food for the space four and
twenty hours, Napoleon ordered the courier to be |
immediately admitted, notwithstanding the strange |
scene which the apartment presented; or it NAV be- |
that he wished to the surprise which that scene
would naturally create As might be expected |
the officer not little astonished to see the oc
cupation in which the iustrious parsonage were |
engaged, and perfectly dismayed at beholdirg the |
conqueror OF Marengo with an apron tied before !
him. He delivered his despatch with profound |
bow, and in so doing took advantage of his position
to make cursOry reconnaissance of the cooking |
apparatus and the omelette the latter living on the
ground Napoleon hastily broke the seal of the en-
Velop; atransient cloud lowered on his brow, but |
with his natural sef-command and his pecuIiar f. |
cilty of transition from serious to comic subject
he returned to his Omelette, carefully gathered il |
up with slice, and restored it to the frying pan
placing the uncooked side downward.
'Slre, sald M. It, when somewhat recover
ed from his bewildeTment, ''the Ambassador has |
expressly desired me to take back your Maiesty's |
reply with the least possible DELAY.
"M. de Caulancourt is in prodigious hurry but |
he must not prevent from finishing our omeIette
You see it is just ready. Sit down, Sir, and YOU |
can write the answer to my dictation''
The young officer was in a state of painful per-
plexity. He knew not how to excuse HIMSELF his
hand trembled, and he was overcome bv exhaus.
ton.
'ESire,' he said, in fatering voice. 'it is twen
y-tonr hours since have taken any food and am
30 completely worn out that feel myself quite in
capable of fulfilling the duty with which your Ma
estv desires to entrust me''
'Louise," exclaimed the Emperor, quite delight
ID with the idea that had suddenly crossed his
mind, our omelette is very propos for this good
elbow who has had such hard ride in our service.
low unlucky that it should have fallen on the
ground"
''Sre,' said the officer, "a soldier is not always
disposed to be over-nice: and since your Majesty
las so graciously suggested"
Without further ado the Emperor rang the bell
md ordered a servant to lay cover, together
With bottle OF burgundy and some bread. This
'eing done, the officer sat down and despatched the
melette with true military appetite greatly to the
lmusement OF the Emperor, the Empress and Mdlle !
y, all of whom gazed at him, not without a
ceiling OF selt-gratulation at having prepared an
'melette so precisely in the right nick of time
but Marie Louise had been deprived of the salts
action of fully performing the task she had under
aiken. She desired to make an Omelette all by her
elf, and without any help.
The Emperor guessed her wishes, and said, "I
'eally think our guest could manage another ONE
ette. Poor fellow, he still seems very hungry
81 am, indeed, Sire" replied the officer: sand
ince your Majesty is so gracious"
The Emperor burst into a fit of laughter, and the
Empress taking the hint, set to work with the ca
5erness ana pleasure which she always evinced
When performing an act of kindness. The ingredi-
nts were soon mixed, and this time the operation
# tossing was performed with admirable precision:
he result was most exquisite omelette, which Ma
lie Louise herself put on plate, and placed before
Ter much-honored guest 1t was devoured with
ven more avidity than the first. When it was fin
shed, Marie Louise, addressing the officer, said
CHOW, tell me, which was the best, the Emper-
RS or mine?'
''Your MajestY's," murmured NJ R bowing
lis head over his plate.
''Flatterer p' exclaimed Napoleon but in tone
7hich showed thathe was pleased with the reply.
men taxing long pinch of snuff, he said, "Now
IT us to business, and he proceeded forthwith to
ictate the despatch to Caulaincourt.
The omelette brought good luck to the Young
fcer The recollection of the drOl scene freauent,
: recurred to the mind of the Empress who talked
t it to Mdlle. N. In short the omeette of the
oung officer so frequently became the subject of
Onversation, that at length the idea occurred to
larle Louise that marriage between NJ. R.
nd Mdile. N would be a very pleasant climax
} the adventure.
Napoleon readily seconded the Empress wishes;
ne more readily as NJ. R belonged to an honor
bic family, so that the union could give no um-
rage to the German morgHe of the young ladys
arentS.
Accordingly the marriage took place. and when
he happy couple annually assembled their friends
round them in celebration of their wedding day,
here was always standing dish on the dinner
ble. 1t was an omeette, which Madame R
arsef prepared in the presence of her guests and
hich was distinguished by the name of 'IlOme-
tie de PImperatrce."
lNDIA.-Bombay dates to June 23d have been re-
sived via England. The defeat of the rebel force
nder Bella Rao and the Mana in the Jorwah Pass
: Sir Hope Grant, is more fully described than in
revious accounts. The engagement lasted two
ours. The rebels had taken up a strong position
lpported by two guns. 1t was carried BY storm, I
nd the guns taken. The rebels fed to the Nepau $
Sc hills Jung Bahadoor, ally of the British, !