The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-13
sfark Twain-Jenkfns and wilhelm.
ShORe.
tFrom the Bufrllo Fxpress

IA remarkable feature of the present En-.
ropean war Is the extraordinary candor of
the prominent persons who have been en-.
gagged in it. From Bismarck to Napoleon.
from Bazaine to William, the dignItaries
have manifested q miraculous ulacrity in the
frank avowal OF their intentions. plans and
projects, and have seemed happiest when
making clean breast of it to some news
paper correspondent. As a fair illustration
of their amiable candor, have condensed
the following specimen from the New York
Herald correspondents interview with Ma
p0leon.-CARL BYNG.
AS ! was ushered into the reception
room ut Wilhelmshohe the Emperor arose
from L" luxurious fauteuil," Of course,l
and advanced to welcome me, with ex-
tended hand and an air Of extreme gratifi-
cation, that put me perfectly at ease.
Chung zhoo. SIRE" said I, giving his
hand cordial shake. With the exquisite
tact Of practiced courtier, his Majesty
seized the occasion to pay me (and my
countrymen) one Of his neatest compli-
ments, He said: "Perhaps we had better
conduct our conversation in English.
The fact is, you speak French with an
accent that really shames US Parisians.
Pye often remarked this trait in ac-
compliShed Americans, and wondered at
It," The Emperor's remarks were so un-
eXpectedly tlattering that it took my breath
away for moment but under cover Of a
profound bow recovered my fluency, and
observed "Such q compliment from your
Majesty in happier days would have brought
the entire American nobility to your feet"
My direct allusion to his miStortunes af-
fected his Majesty profoundly. The tears
that chased each other silently down his
majestic and imperial purple nose, and
dripped in imperial sorrow from the waXed
ends of his moustache, might have moved
heart OF stone with little assistance.
Surely, thought !, the Emperor who can
thus weep at his own calamities cannot be
utterly heartless.
When the Emperor had recovered his
composure, and had his nose blowed by the
proper officer, opened the conversation
In way that thought least likely to Of
fend his delcacv. told him it Was cur
rently reported that he had feathered his
nest pretty well while Emperor, and I
should take it as specia! favor if he would
| tell me how much he had really stolen. In
America, told him, public men were ex-
pected to lay by something for rainy day,
| and 1t would rather enhance our respect for
| him to be assured that he had exercised a
like justiiiable prudence. He replied !:
! "My, l respect the Herald too much to
! deceive it. have made q nice little thing
Of the whole, and my chamberlain
shall provide YOU with an inventory Of all
that I have gobbed." l asked him if be
had any property in New York. "Well,"
| said he, Il thought owned the New York
World a few months ago; but since the
Sedan affair it has gone back on me-
"Your Majesty was accused Of treachery
at Sedan. Was you really traitor"
Frankly" said he, g. think if / had tried
I ri, hn iaI otf Z l,a ban
instead of surrendering. II this be treason,
| make the most OF it," l said, "Sire, we
Americans are very frank and stral2htfor
ward, especially in answering questions.
Now you needn't answer it you feel the
least bit squeamish about it; but / SHOULD
like to know, I really would be pleased to
know, whether your father was a Bona
parte or Dutch Admiral, rs some have ill.,
! timated:" His Majesty with great cheer
fulness replied, $50 would i!' :.
The engaging freedom with which his
Majesty unbosomed himself embodened
me to pursue my inquiries, and our conver-
sation became almost confidential. l asked
him if Eugene was ever jealous. He re-
piled, "Not as Empress but as Mrs. Ma
poleon l have sometimes thought she was
Inclined to be little too strict with me-"
l said, "Cau you lay your hand on your
heart, sire, and solemnly assure the Herald
that you never gave Der cause Tor jealousy :!
The Emperor (musinely):" You are tight"
At this point the Emperor seemed good
deal cut up, and sighed profoundly. IT,
stead Of answering my question explicitly,
I was sorry to see him put both hands IN
his pocket instead of on his heart.
told him he might deem me rather In
quisitive, but if he knew how deeply inter.
ested We Americans were in such scandal,
was sure he would tell Inc all about the
Bellangcr intrigues referred to in his pri-
vate correspondence, which was discovered
| ut the Tuileries, after the flight Of the En-
press. He said: " My friend, am deeply
| touched by your friendly solctude about
my affairs. Your curiosity is tempered by
an exquisite deicacy that disarms it of any
power to offend. That correspondence, |
grieye to confess" The announcement Of
messenger from Berlin unhappily inter-
rupted the Emperor's remarks at this
point. ! intended to have gradually drawn
Napoleon to speak about private and per-
sonal topics, and should have succeeded
but for that interruption.
AS I was about to withdraw, the EN-
peror embraced me with every mark of