Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-26

Ro che fort - A visit 10 NapoIeon's
Exiled Enemy-The Lanterne."
I A correspondent of the Courier des
Flats Unis writes from Brussels under
date of July l7th: 1ab'g g ioa rb 80,
What wished most at Brussels was to
see once more my old friend and com
rade, Henri Rochetort. ! knew that he
came from Ostend expressly to see the
first performance of Pairie." saw
him at the theater, sitting between his
daughter and Madame Francois Hugo.
/ had seen him, with fiery eye aud
trembling nostril, applaud the grand
scenes of the drama. l had seen the
tears in his eyes at the passages which
spoke of the country ruined. This en-
thusissm and emotion, which one would
sc little expect from his appearance,
were complete revelation, and the
surest index to the extreme joy that the
exile felt at being once more among
Parisian surroundings. What would il
be when he should once more shake q
friendly hand, and again hear o voice
once so familiar speak to him OF Paris,
of France, of the boulevards, Of all who
remember him, and even of those who
had already forgotten him Z
Sardou and l watched for him after
the performance, but missed him, and we
separated, agreeing to 60 and call on him
in the morning. So, at eight o'clock the
next day we rang at No 81 Rue Joseph
III, a street quite deserted, which ends
nowhere and borders on the country; all
the city noises cease upon the threshold
of this solitude. and it is easy to compre-
hend how bitter this silence, so sweet to
lovers and poets, must be to the heart of
boulevard frequenter. Rochefort saw
US from the window, he recognized US,
uttered joyful exclamation and threw
himself into our arms. The long en-
brace, vigorous, furious. said more than
any possible words of welcome; he en-
braced not US, but the fatherland lost TO
him for SO many months, rebound for o
few hours only; it was the regrets and
suffering of q year, compensated for by
the Joy and hope of a minute. After
enthusiasm had passed, as looked at him
with visible emotion, Rochefort said;
"You are surprised at my paleness, my
thin face and hollow eyes2 Look at my
head, it has showed on it; and to think
that whom left Paris | had not single
white hair ~
Then repressing sigh, Let uC go
out" continued he ; " these walls weigh
upon me like a prison. Excuse me for q
moment, and will rejoin you"
We used the moment to look about US,
The house was plain one, of two stories,
with basement and little bit of gar
den. In Paris it would have been worth |
ten thousand francs; at Brussels not |
two thousand--say eight thousand francs
worth of happiness tho less. yIut !
The evidence of the exquisite taste |
and artistic fancy of Rocnefort were
visible in every room. Fine pictures,
elegant furniture, choice books, beautiful
china, were everywhere; but nothing
seemed in its proper place, in it's proper |
light, or appropriate surroundings; all
seemed merely provisional and tempo.
rary. Our friend remarked the in
preston produced, and said, with pain
ful smile, j understand your thoughts,
but what can | dot ! am here like a
bird on twig. Shall be here to-mor-
row. Who can tell2 ! expect daily an
invitation to quit Flemish territory. AL
ready there have been some polite re-
mon strances. Where shall Igof ask
myself. Geneva is forbidden ground /;
the Swiss have even greater fear than
the Relgians of being eaten up OF
course / cannot think of Austria or Italy,
So there ia left only hngland. But |
fear to take my children TO such a
1isai quo ,.i'"
We went out, our hearts full, and
twenty minutes after were seated in the
best restaurant Brussels affords, round q
table served a la Frsncsise. In spite Of
the heat We we're deternined 10 raaks the
illusion complete to dine in box, so that
hochefort might imagine himself few
minutes at Brebant's table in the heart of
his beloved boulevards. After the FIRST
course the ice was broken, and the con-
took less melancholy turn.
You must have realized enormous
profits from La Lanterne," said ! to
Rochefost la@l.
Certainly, replied be. "From May,
1868, to May, 1869, / received one hun,
dred and sixty thousand francs, aud
get still some eight thousand francs per
month
$50 you are rioh.' NI
"Just above not being poor. You do
not comprehend the position of an exile
reputed wealthy. He is bound to assist
his brothers in misfortune, not only of
bis own country, but of Switzerland,
Italy, etc. l not only work for myself,
but for the whole band of syileg.i
-SaFdou wished 10 know what had been
hopes at the tune Of the cleo
lions. lUr |
AT the first balloting / did not think |
success doubtful; at the second my con.
fidence was less strong, and the resnlt I
has only too fully justified r1y fears.
"And what do you expect ct the next |
IrialI" I
II hope everything, and have the same |
faiih in the First constituency as iB the /
Seventh" la'
"Do you believe in the legal possibiI I
ty of your election z H.i
"Csrtaisly.9
"Can yoa fancy yourself in the Trt
bunei"
II hardly know. All ! can say is that !