Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-08-25
HENRI ROCHEFORT.
poIeon's Enemy in Exile-Tne Sian


terne.',
A correspondent of the Courier de
Etats Unis writes from Brussels under dat
of July II: essz e
"Wbat wished most at Brussels was 4
see once more my old friend and conrade
Henry Rochefort. / knew that he cam
from Ostend expressly to see the first per
foemance of 'Patrie' I saw him at the the
atre sitting between his daughter AM
Nine. Francois Hugo. l had seen him
with fiery eye and tren bling nostril, ap
plaud the grand scenes of the drama.
had seen the tears in his eyes at the pas
sages which spoke of the country as ruined
This enthusiasm and emotion, which on
would so little expect from his appearance
were complete revelation, and the sures
index to the extreme joy that the exile fel
at being once more among Partisan sur
roundings. What would it be when h.
should ence more shake a friendly hand
and again hear voice. once SO familiar Il
him, sheak of Paris, of France, of th
boulevards, of all who remember him, an(
even of those who had already forgotten
him
''Sardon and watched for him after tn
performance, but missed him, as we sepa
rated, agreeing to 60 and call on him il
the morning. So, at o'clock the next da,
we rang at No. 81 Rose Joseph H. "a stree
quite deserted, which ends nowhere an(
borders on the country; all the city noises
cease upon the threshold of this solitude
and it is easy to comprehend how bite
this silence, so sweet to lovers and poets
must be to the heart of O boulevard fre
quenter. Rochefort saw US from the win
dow, he recognized US, uttered a joyful eX
clamation, and threw himself into oul
arms. The long embrace, vigorous, furi
Gus, said more than any possible words O
welcome; he embraced not us, but the
fatherland lost to him for SO many months
refound for few hours only; it was the
regrets and sufferings Of year, eompen
stated for by the joy and hope of minute
After the first enthusiasm had passed, as
looked at him with visible emotion, Roche
fort said:
'' You are surprised at my paleness, my
thin face and hollow eyes? Look at M
head, it has showed on it; and to thinf
that when [ left Paris had not single
white hairp
''Then repressing a sigh, Let us go out,
continued he: these walls weigh upon mt
like a prison. Excuse me for moment
ana Will fe]O1n you.
'sWe used the moment to look about us
The house was plain one, of two stories
with basement and a little bit of garden
In Paris it would have been worth 000(
francs at Brussels not 2,000-say 5000
francs worth of happiness the less.
''The evidence of the exquisite taste and
artistic fancy of Rochefort were visible il
every room. Fine pictures, elegant furni-
IL I
everywhere but nothing seemed in its
proper place, or in its proper light, or ap-
propriate surroundings; all seemed merely
provisional and temporary. Our friend re-
marked the impression produced, and said,
with painful smile: I understand your
thoughts, but what can [ do? I am here
like bird on twig. Shall L be here to-
morrow? Who can tell? I expect daily
an invitation to quit Flemish territory.
Already there has been some polite re-
monstrances. Where shall I go? I ask
myself Geneva is forbidden ground:
the Swiss have even greater fear than the
Belgians of being eaten Hp. OF course,
cannot think of Austria or Italy. So there
is left only England. But l fear to take my
children to such climate.
1--WE went out, our hearts full, and
twenty minutes after were seated in the
best restaurant Brussels affords, round a
table served la Fruncaise. In spite of the
heat we were bound to make the Illusion
to dine in box, so that Rochefort
might imagine himself for few minutes at
Brebant's fable in the heart of his beloved
boulevards. After the first course the ice
was broken, and the conversation took 8
less melancholy turn.
'' You must have realized enormous
profits from La Lanterne, said to Roche
fort.
s''Certainly,' replied he. From May,
1868, to May, 1869, I received 100, 00C
francs, and I get still some 5000 francs
per month.
$50 you are rich.
'Just above not being poor. You dc
not comprehend the position of an exile re-
puted wealthy. He is bound to assist his
brothers in misfortune, not only of his own
country but of Switzerland, Italy, &c.
not only work for myself, but for the whole
band of exiles.
''Saldou wished to know what had been
Rochefort's hopes at the time of the cleo,
tions.
''At the first balloting did not think
success doubtful; at the second my conf
dence was less strong, and the result has
only too fully justified my fears
"''And what do you expect at the next
trial p
"I hope everything, and have the same
faith in the First constituency as in the
Seventh
"Do you believe in the legal possibility
of your election?
s. Certainly
I" Can you fancy yourselfin the tribune ?
" 4 hardly know. All [ can say is, that
only few months ago, for the first time IL
my life, was called upon to speak in pub
lie, and got through with it tolerably well
| was terribly afraid, but l threw myself IL
the water and managed to get ashore with
out help
" If the ballotting is favorable, what vii
you do?'
'' My duty. l shall arrive in France, an6
1.-THE hour of departure drew near. HI
held our hands in his, and pressed then
nervously. We heard the engine whistle
in the distance. He pressed us to his
heart, and walked rapidly away
' 'Adieu, said we.
6" 'Au reUoir, he replied; and as he turn
ed to his land of exile, the locomotive bore
US rapidly toward the promised land which
he will perhaps never see.
EMILE BLAyAT.