Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-25
Two NapOle0ns--The Uncle and the
NpnhpW

NtpHtNs
In the life of Queen Horteuse, recently
published by the Harpers, we read an in
teresting sketch OF the early life of the
present emperor:
Louis and Hortense were an i'll assorted
couple, brought together by the ambition
of Josephine and the exigencies Of state.
The empress, with no hope for m heir her
self, and knowing the intense desire of her
husband for a successor TO the imperial
crown, arranged this unfortunate marriage
between his favorite brother and her only
daughter-feeling perhaps a dim fore
shadowing that al some distant day her
grandchild might sit upon the throne Of
France, and find more happiness there
than ever she had tasted. By decree OF
the Senate the two children Were declared
heirs to the empire should Napoleon and
his elder brother )oseph die withou; issue,
and his decree was submitted TO the
people and ratified by q vote of 1921 675
to 1859,
Madame Cochelet in her interesting
memoirs says; II have frequently seen
Queen Hortense take her two boys on her
knees and talk with them in order to form
their ideas. II was a curious conversation
to listen to, in those days of the splendors
of the empire, when those children were
the heirs of so many crowns which the en-
peror was distributing to his brothers, his
officers and his allies, Having questioned
them on everything they knew already. she
passed in review whatever they should
know besides, if they were TO rely upon
their own resources for a livelihood Sup
pose you had no money, said Hortense to
the eldest, and were alone in the world,
what would you do, Napoleon, to support
yourself? Iwould become a soldier, was
the reply, and would fight so well that /
should soon be made an officer. And,
Louis, said the mother how would you
provide for yourselty The little prince
then only five years old, had listened very
| thoughtfully to all that was SAID, and
knowing that the knapsack and gun were
altogether beyond his strength, he replied;
81 would sell violet bouquets like the little
1 boy at the gates of the Tuileries from whom
we used to purchase them every day. In
( this case the child can hardly be said to be
! father to the man, for the would-be violet
/ seller has lust inauGurated war which
promises to desoate half Of Europe, and
! stain the flowers of France and Germany
with showers of human blood. When Ma
| poleon was re-inaugurated emperor on the
I Champ de Mars, June 1915, the two boys
/ sat beside him on the platform, and amid
( the roar of artillery and strains Of music
/ from an hundred bands, he presented them
/ to the deputies of the people and to the
/ army. as in the direct line Of inheritance
! to the throne.
/ The impression then made upon the sus-
/ cept bic mind of young Louis was never
/ afterward effaced. Through all the bitter
/ trials and disappoihtments of his earlier
/ life he has never forgotten the name he
bears, and in going forth to meet what
must be the crisis OF his fate, he confides
that name to his son, and bids him remem-
Der il and be worthy of it. The evening
before Napoleon left Paris for the cam
paign Of Waterloo he Was sitting in his
/ cabinet converslng with Marshal Soult.
/ The door of the apartment was softly
] pushed open and the little Prince Louis
rushed in, and throwing himself on his
knees before the Emperor burst into
tears. what is the matter Louis?" said
Napoleon, "why do you weep so?" Sire. "
was the sobbing reply my governess has
told me that you We're going away to the
war. Oh do not 90 do not go!' The
Emperor was much affected, and caresslng
the child tenderly, said: This is not the
first time, my boy, that have been to the
war; why are you so affected? Do not fear
for NE, | shall soon come back again. -
ooh my dear uncle" responded Louis,
''those wicked allies wish to kill you. Let
me 90 with you, dear uncle, let mego with
you'll Napoleon comforted him as best
he could, and before sending him away
turned TO Soult and said Embrace the
child Marshal; be has warm heart and
noble soul. Perhaps he is to be the hope
g, taan -