Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-11-13
Gully Gmpire.
Napolson's Tomb at So. Helena.

saw there, in communication to the Hunts
vile Independent, After stating that he had
made the acquaintance Of young lady on
the island who agreed TO accompany him, be
says;
| With 80 agreeable companion, the time
could not but prove pleasant rs We journeyed
On. On ascending hill, rude and diapi-
dated house revealed itself among the green
lolage and pointing in the direction, "Tbat,"
said she "is Longwood." gszed with ca
gerness upon the spot aud instnctively has
tened my steed AZ my eye took In the scene
before me could but feel solemn aud melan-
oboly. Could the rude, dilapidAted house be.
lore me be the one where dwelt In his exile
the great Napoleon. narrow but wsll-bea-
ten path led US direct to the old house, and
here my lady friend stopped. "This," said
she, "is the house in which Napoleon lived.
We entered, and everywhere the eye could
reach, scene OF gloom aud desolaton pre-
sented itself "Hsre" said she, "iS the room
in which he slept" Casting my eye around
| found the plsstering to the walls mostly
gone; u few planks yet remained upon the
floor, but it required watohiulness on our part
to avoid falling through. On entering his
sitting room, which also had been his library,
|
AN old stool upon which the tired visitor
might sit and rest himself. The windows
we're complete wreck throughout The house,
and every thing around in its neglected state,
to me, at least, but spoke in language the
more convincing of the greatness OF Napo-
leon. After wandering through this aud
viewing each and every spot so repete with
interest TO the visitor, / fastened my footsteps
from the scene Yet ere leave, let me re-
cord one more fact In small room that
gave evidence Of former neatness, whose floor
had long ago yielded 10 the desolators hand,
stood group Of cows, and with their heads
reared above them, they iszly pulled the iod.
der from the racks erected in the identical
spot, where once hung the picture of Jose>
phne, the dearest being on earth to Napoleon.
Wild flowers grew in their native loveli-
ness about the grounds, and the meandering
vines wandered over the aides and root OF this
once noble dwelling. My friend led me from
the spot to oIe OF far more interest than this
Let US follow this path" ssys she, land
will show you where he was buried Togeth.
or we walked through grassy vale, and as
gszed aroundme saw striking evidences of
once beautiful grounds, laid off with all the
taste and care which the genius of Napoleon
could award TO it. We soon reached the spot
to which we were going Here" said she,
sis Napoleon's grave" | stood spellNbound
for moment and gazsd upon the spot as one
lost in reverie A common oblopg stone
vault enclosed by a rail, over which hung the
branches OF a weeping willow, composed his
resting place. A fight OF rude steps led down
to the inner vault There we both went, and
sat down upon the spot where once rested the
body Of Napoleon All was cool, damp and
gloomy within. Yet was wont to sit for
hours and mediate upon the scene.
Throwing aside all prejudice, my friend,
| remarked, land awarding simple justice to
the merits OF true greatness, do you really
think that this spot as g burial place. was
proper tribute, on the part Of the English
nation, TO the genius OF so great 4 man 2
Although an enemy TO Britain, she should
but admire bis great talents and superior
abilities "How much more worthy Of them
as a nation, would II have been, to have all
lowed their enmity and prejudices to be bur
led with him, and now that they could fear
him no longer, how much more becoming il
would have been to have placed u monument
over him snitsble TO his greatness, and TO have
inferred him with shs pomp, ceremony and
honors due his rank
81 can bot admit" says she. although an
English woman, and my prsjudiess as such
are inherent. that ths genius and greatness
of Napoleon in some respects, were unaur-
passed; but, in my opinion, his past actions
we're such toward England as to warrant
her in treating him as she did when living
yet, in death, when she had no longer cause
TO fear him, he should have been treated diff
ferently; but let ns hasten from the scene,
my friend, for | might make confessions
which would not become me as an English !
woman"
III will now guide you, said She " to the
spring where early every norning he used to
repair and taste OF its cool and refreshing
waters" We soon reached Il, and sitting |
down upon a moss-coyered rock, We drank
from the spring where he used daily to sit,
and looking in the direction Of his loved
country, he would drink OF lie waters, saying |
always, France, adore Thea" After lin
gering long enough TO fll bottle from the |
waters OF the spring and gather few pebbles
rs mementoes Of my visit, we retrAced our
steps and soon Joined our party, who, having
finished their rAmble, were lolling in the
shade waiting for us. After abort and pleat.
ant iaunt We reached the residence Of our hos
pitable host. Here q sumptonE repast await
ed us, TO which we did the Amplest Justice
The hOurs passed by, and we we're soon warn
ed by the mellow tint upon the horizon, thst
the sun was abont to bid adeu TO the nhabi-
tanls Of St. Helena. And being booked for q
party at the American Consuls that night, il
was necessary lor us 70 hasten from q scene
which had long ago proved most pleasant,
anil from parAons who had in the short period
Of our acquaintance, rendered themselves
friends, "Whoesons and true" We parted
from our, friends with great regret, bat not be,
fore exaeiing from them promise that should
they ever Wait the United States, they would
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