Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-12
Condolences in the Life of the Ma
DOleOus

The first Napoleon was in his forty
fifth year when he lost the imperial
throne. The third Napoleon was at the
same period of life (forty-fve) when he
gained it. Napoleon was crowned on
the I'd day of December, 1904. On the
same day of the month Napoleon Ill was
crowned, in 1852. Before he seized the
imperial scepter Napoleon III had been
exiled for year, and imprisoned nearly
six years at the Fortress of Ham. After
he lost the crown, Napoleon / had an
exile of year at Elbs, and an imprison-
ment of six years on the rock at St.
Helena. Count Montholon, an intimate
friend of the first Emperor, who endured
the six years imprisonment at ST. Helena
with him, spent also his time in captivity
with the six-year prisoner, Napoleon Ill,
at Ham.
The first Napoleon was four years Con-
sui of France-.in fact, was elected for
ten years--before he was Emperor. The
third Napoleon was entering the fourth
year of his Presidency of the Republic
had been elected for ten years-when the
imperial scepter dropped into his hand.
The first Napoleon started for St. Helena
on the 9Th of August, 1915 Just one
quarter of century after that, in l84O,
on the 9th of August, the gates OF the
prison at Ham first closed upon his de-
scendant The elder Napoleon CON-
menced his career of prosperity in 1885,
when ne assumed the command OF the
Army of Italy. Just one half of CEN
tury from that period, in 1916, the third
Napoleon escaped from his imprison
ment in Ham and began his wonderful
successes, which did not end until he
mounted the throne of France. r-rs.-
Napoleon l had but one child by his
marriage, and that was son. That con,
stitutes exactly the family of the third
Napoleon. .,
By curious coincidence, the birth Of
the Empress Eugene was on the 9th OF
May, which was the anniversary of the
death Of the old Emperor. She seemed
destined by fortune to perpetuate the
dynasty from the very period its founder
had deceased.
Napoleon / was second son OF his
father. Napoleon III-excluding child
who died in infancy-sustained the same
relation to his father, of those who gained
maturity. -r
One Of the first acts of the Emperor
Napoleon /, after his accession to the
throne, was to take command of the army
in Northern France, at Boulogne, and to
discipline it for that wonderful campaign
against the Russians and Austrians,
which closed at Austerlitz. Napoleon
III had hardly became Emperor when he
proceeded to the same place, and there
superintended and commanded for
months the troops who were to embark
for Sebastopol, in the war then progress
sing against Russia.
These coincidents may be accidents,
but they are certainly accidents OF an ex-
traordinsry chsracter-accidents that are
too many for an easy explanation.
There is much similarity between the
Napoleons and the C@sars. The first Ma
poleon played a part in the worlds his,
tory strongly resembling that of the great
Julius. Julius Caesar was succeeded by
his nephew Augustus; and Napoleon l
has as his representative his nephew
Louis. Augustus, like Louis, was man
of craft rather than man of war. his
| first remark was that the Temple OF
Janus was Shut which, in the Roman
practice, signified peace The third Ma
poleon remarked, early in his reign, that
"the Empire was peace"
So close is the analogy between these
Roman Emperors, who reigned before
Christ. and their French successors OF
eighteen hundred years after, that when
Louis Napoleou's " Life of Cesar sp-
peared hardly point in it was not sup
posed 10 bear intimate relation to his
own family, and that it was only neoes
sary to strike out CO. sar and insert Bona
parte TO tell the whole story.