The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-06-13
Selected Stlistellanp,
NAPoLEoN's THREE WARNINGS.

The celebrated Fouche, Duke of
Otranto, was retained for time, it is
we'll known, in the service of the Bour.
bons, alter their res grafton to the
throne Of France. He retired to the
town of AK, in Provence, aud there
lived in aff1uent ease upon the gains Of
his long and busy career. Curiosity at
tracted many visitors around this re-
markable man, and he was habitually
free in communicating his reminis-
cences of the great events which it had
deem his lot to witness. On one occa.
sion the company assembled in his sa-
loon heard from his lips the following
story
BY degrees as Napoleon assumed the
power and authority of a King, every
thing about him, even in the days of
the consulate, began to wear a court
like appearance. All the old monar-
chial habitudes were revived one by
one. Among the other revivals of this
kind, the custom Of attending mass pre-
yious to the hour of audience was res
stored, and Bonaparte himself Was
punctual in appearance at the chapel
OF St. Cloud on such occasions.
At one particular time the punctuality
of Bonaparte in his attendance on mass
was rather distressing to his wife. The
quick and jealous Josephine had dis.
covered that the eyes OF her husband
was too much directed to a window in
the gallery, where there regularly ap-
peared the form and face of young girl
of uncommon beauty. The chestnut
tresscs, the brilliant eyes, and graceful
figure of this parsonage, caused more
uneasiness to the consups wife, as the
strangers glances were bent no less
often upon Bonaparte than his were
upon her.
Who is that young girl ?" said Jose.
phine one day, at the close of the SER
vice " what can she seek from the
First Consul l observed her drop a
billet just down at his feet. He picked
it up ; saw him."
No one could tell Josephine who the
object Of her notice precisely was,
though there were somo who declared
her to be an omigrant lately returned,
and one who was probably desirous OF
the intervention Of the First Consul in
favor of her family. 2.
With such guesses as these the con-
suPs wife was obliged to rest satisfied
for thetime ....
Alter the audience OF the same day
passed, Bonapartc expressed wish for
a drive in the park, and accordingly
went out, accompanied by his wife, his
brother Joseph, Generals Duroc and
Cambaccres and Hortense Beauharnois,
wife of Louis Bonaparte.
The King of Prussia had Just presen.
ted Napoleon with a suberb set OF
horses, four IN number, and these were
harnessed to an open chariot for the
party. The Consul took it into his
head to drive IN person, and mounted
into the coachman's place. The chariot
set off, but just as it was turning into
the park, it went crash against stone
at the gate, and the First Consul was
thrown to the ground. lie attempted
to rise, but again fell plostrate III a
stunned or insensible condi ion. Mean
while, the horses sprang forward with
the ohvriot, and were only stopped when
Duroc, at the risk of his life, threw
himself out in a swooning state. The
rest of the party quickly returned to
the First Consul and carried him back |
to his apartments. On recovering his
senses fully, the first thing which he
did was to put his hand into his pocket
and pull out the slip of paper dropped
at his feet in the chapel Leaning over
his shoulder Josephine read these
words |: Do not drive out in your car.
riage tosday."
This can have no allusion to our late
accident" said Bonaparte. No one
could ioresee that was to play the part
of a coachmau to-day, or that | should
be awkward enough to drive against a
stone. Go, Duroc, and examine the
chariot"
Duroc oboyed, Soon after he return.
ed, very pale, and took the first Consul
aside.
Citizen Consul" said he, 4" had you
not struck the stone, aud stopped our
drive, wc had all been lost"
How" was the reply. ..
" There was in the carriage, con.
oealed behind the back seat a bomb,
"a massive bomb, and with a slow
match attached to it-kindled Things
lad been so arranged that in a quarter
ot an hour we should have been scat
cred among the trees in the Park of
St. Cloud. There must be some treacb.
Try close at hand. Fouche must be told
If this-Dubois must be warned"
Not a word, then," replied Bona.
,arte. The knowledge Of one plot but
,ngenders a second. Let Josephine
omain ignorant of the danger she has
.scaped. Hortense, Joseph, GAMBIA !
,eres, tell none of them aud let the
Government journals say not a word
bout my fall" ....