Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-22
How Louis NapOIeen Lives.
His Tastes, Table, Temper
,-- TX 4a and Habits

IC6rresp onasoce Of Boston CONT Bullstin.l
In his own palace Napoleon is one of
the easiest, simplest and least ceremo-
nious of men. He never fails. indeed,
of a certain dignity which forbids un-
due familiarity from the highest princes
of the blood; yet his social manners
ara unrestraiRed, and his private hsb-
its are not hampeTed, by an obsolete
system of court ceremonial. Nobody
who has seen him will doubt that, in
contrast with his uncle, he is a good
liver. The best Of French and Ger
man wines are daily served on his Ia
bic, and you may be sure the viands
are Of the best, and are prepared with
the very highest excellence of the
FreDch-a Napoleon l., per contra,
was noted for his remarkable abstemi-
business.
The Emperor spends most of the
year in his several rural chateaux; and
the reason of this is that he has fora
long time made it his first care to pre-
serve his health. He rises early, when
ont of town, taking a single cup of
coffee, IN the French fashion, immedi
ately after dressing. He then walks
for an interval N the private gardens
of the chateau where he Is staying.
usually accompanied by his little son
with whom he conVerses earnestly all
the time-and by some fsvoTite gentle
man of his household. In the course
of the morning he finds time to re-
ceive officials and ministers on affairs of
state, and often reads an hour before
breakfast If his heslth Is less strong
than usual, he has daily. morning con-
sultations with his physicians. The
royal breakfast takes place little sf-
ter noon, and is simple and wholesome
fruit always being one of the articles
of food. The Emperor not seldom
takes short nap after breakfast and
the afternoon is taken up with public
affairs, riding, walking, and occasion
ally shooting expedition.
The greater part of his official duties
are concluded in the morning. In the
cabinet council the Emperor is said to
be unusually silent, rather ehciting the
opinions of others than giving his own;
while the empress Eugenie. who is al
ways present, gives her opinions ear
nestiy and openly, and argues as freely
as do the ministers themselves. Napo-
leon, having heard the sentiment of
his ministers briefly states his own de-
cision, and gives directions for the cary
ing out of the policy decided on. The
counsellor who has most influence with
him is undoubtedly Rouher, Minister
of State; and this aristocratic and anti
revolutionary statesman is nearly al
ways in accord with the Empress, who
takes the side of the Jesuitical priest
party. But the fact remains that the
Emperor invariably decides for himself
in the end and if any of his minis
tiers don't like it, they are at liberty to
retire. There have often been serious
ruptures between Eugenie and her
lord, and this was the case when he
went into the Italian war in 1889; but
there is every reason to believe that
her Majesty is well satisfied with his
recent conduct toward the Garibaldi-
ans.
The Emperor takes the keenest in
terest in the education of his little son,
the Prince Imperial. He very often
presents him to those whom he receives,
and with evident pride and especially
does he do this whens deputation of
citizens appears before him for any
purpose. There is apparently strong
affection between the father and son /;
and they treat each other with great
familiarity, even before others. The
Emperor often looks tired and care
worn, but never so sad and gloomy as
when his little son is suffering from
one of those attacks which have of late
been frequent. He is not oYerfond of
society, and seems TO prefer to be eth
er alone, or with one or two intimate
friends most of the time, yet on the
occasion of a grand ball at the Tuiler-
les he acts the host with unsurpassed
dignity and grace.
I The Empress, on the contrary, though
past forty, is still gay, extravagantly
fond of dress and show, and always
anxious to be surrounded bys brilliant
social circle. She has gathered about
her, as ladies Of her household, some
of the most beautiful, accomplished,
and we'll read danes of the capital !;
and spends great deal of time with
them. She also has for companion
ship the members of the Murat- Bona
parte family, some of whom-for in
stance. the Duke and Duchess de Mou-
chy and the Princes Achille and Jos-
chin Murst-are just such gay, fash
ionable people as she likes to be with.
Another marked contrast between the
Emperor and Empress is that while
the latter is very pious and enthusi-
asiic religionist, Napoleon manifests
little or no interest in religious mat
tiers. Sunday is one of his hardest
working days; and though Eugene
never fails to be present in the TUiler-
les chapel at the morning mathis, her
spouse is scarcely ever TO be seen there.