Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-02-18

since John Milton sold the lines of Para
disc Lost at something less than farth-
ing apiece, taking his substantial paw in
draft on posterity, payable after death,
with interest; since Samuel Johnson ate
his dinners behind the screen in Caves
parlor, back of the shop, because he was
too much out at the elbows to be present
able at a bridesmaids table; since Oliver
Goldsmith was penning an animated ro-
nance on Animated Nature at lust shil-
lings enough per sheet to keep the bailitfs
from his door and since the tragic ter
mination of poor Chatterton's too briei
career. Certainly the leading authors OF
to-day-or, as they may be termed, the
real autocrats of literature-have no long
er occasion to forgive Napoleon his mis-
deeds, as Tom Campbell did, on the
ground that he shot bookseller. They
are now masters of the situation and lord
in the ascendant; and no longer, as Of
old, retainers of the bookseller, but the
bookseller must wait, hat in hand, on the
bookmaker. Authors, even of the second
class, may now most truly say, Nous
avons change tout celia
FRENCH ANECDOTES.
''In the course of our dinner to-day,
Halleck related numerous stories to Illus
trate various topics, among which was al
anecdote of the Grand Morarquc and one
of his veterans. Louis, being extremely
harrassed by the repea' cd solicitations Of
the old soldier for promotion, said one
day, loud enough to be heard, That gen
tleman is the most troublesome officer ]
have in my army That is precisely thc
charge said the vieux sabreur, which
your maiesty's enemies bring against me.
He was advanced, his wit having won the
promotion which his gallant record failed
to obtain for him.
This story was followed by an account
of the wedding-party of a member of the
Bonaparte family at Eillegrand's, i'll War
rem Street, n. Y. Halleck was the only
American present, all the others being
French. Among the company was Com,
Survilliers, the title assumed in this
country by Jo,.ph Bonaparte; Marshall
Grouchy, who. according to the ox king,
testimony, : id Halleck, was not traitor
to Napoleon; Generals Renaud St. Jean
d'Angely, Van Dam, Desnouettes, Llle-
mand, and other expatriated followers OF
the emperor, who sought a refuge in the
United States. The count talked to Hal
reserve, referring to his former situation
as 'Quand j'etais roi d'E~pague, or Dams
mes bellies atfaires In the course of thu
evening the party became quite hilarious.
and enjoyed themselves "a no other men
on the face of the earth but Frcnchmcu
could have done under similar circum-
stances. The cx-king made a trumpet OF
a newspaper, and blew 1t vigorously; the
marshal sang songs, all present Joining iii
the chorus; the famous cavalry leader.
Lallemand, jumped about on all four..
with four-year old boy on his back ;
while another Waterloo general gave
laughable limitations of suffering
French soldier, and other comicalitlc~.
They romped and played like children.
and although some of the party were old,
others elderly, they were all full Of youth,
full spirit Halleck modcstly rcfrancd
from stating in what manner he contri-
buted to the enjoyment of the evening,
which he characterized as the 'racic,t and
most amusing night | ever passed. E.
among the other entertaining stories
which the poet related of the French mar
shals, was one of Junot who, when made
governor of the Illyrian provinces, one
morning SURPRISED the whole population
by appearing in the Great Square before
his palace on pedestal, mounted on his.
horse, "a Ia Mazeppa, with Il Single tiilet,
himself naked As he was born, As personify-
ing an equestrian statue, The police adj
vanced to stop the seandalous exhibition,
and, to their utter astonishment, found
that it was the gencral-in-chief. Tins
anecdote does not, OF course, appear in the
admirable memoirs of his wife, the Ouch
ess d'Abrantes, work often quoted and
referred to by Mr.. Halleck.