The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-08-18
A PateIaed-up Emperor.

When Napoleon married Eugenie, sew
enteen years ago, he was considered q
brOl1en-dOwn blase. He was even then
subject to iufirmiUies which caused him no
little annoyance in the performance of his
duties as Emperor, and at times threaten
ed his life. He has been an invalid ever
since, requiring the constant attendance
of the best physicians the Empire could
afford. His son is also a victim of his
fathers excesses. He requires constant
patching and tinkering to keep him pre-
sentable at court. A career of disobedi-
ence to the laws Of health eliminates in
! him, and renders him an object of pity
even to his enemies. His Imperial father
IS as badly affected as was a certain cap
tain in the wars of Napoleon I. There is
this difference, however, between the val
liant captain and the Emperor. He lost
his bodily perfection in the service of his
country under the great Napoleon, while
the present Emperor lost his by excesses in
London, New York and Paris. The cap
tain had an iron constitution, and could
endure surgical repair without incOnven-
lence. For instance, when he lost a leg in
battle, he Immediately procured a wooden
one, which he could use so well that it did
not prevent his going on fighting for his
country all the same. When a cannon
ball carried away his stomach, he had a
leather one inserted in its place, which
was, if anything, better than the original.
When his brains were injured by having
the top of his head shot off, he had them
scoOped up and repaired. An uuexploded
shell that was buried between his shoul-
ders at one of the great battles, he carried
till the day of his death, of which, in fact,
it was the real cause, in this wise: While
the captain was sitting by the fire, dream
ing of his campaigns, his wooden leg by
accident began to burn, and in a short
time the fire communicated with the shell,
which exploded, blowing him to atoms.--
He was much astonished at the noise, and
having served his country long and well,
he did not think it worth while to pick
himself up, and put himself together; so he
then and there ended his career. The EN-
| peror of France has had quite as much
need of repair, as had the gallant captain,
but has not been able to stand the surgic-
al operations necessary. Instead of re-
newing, his physicians have resorted to
constant patching up. The consequence
is that he is infirm all over, from the crown
of his head 10 the sOles of his feet. He
cannot ride on horseback, and the En-
press has procured for him a light carriage
to use in his military campaigns. Wheth-
or it is to be drawn by a horse the report
does not say. Quite likely it is some such
arrangement as Iegless and paralytic beg
gars use to push themselves about the
streets-a sort of hand velOcipede in which
the Emperor can trundle himself over the
battle field. A pretty spectacle that will
be to French soldiers, who have read of
the old Napoleon in that well-known sur
tout and hat, as being everywhere present
a The fold Of oarvaun 1iSopura oiY Y,rr
contrast will that be to the endurance of
William Of Prussia, who is able to keep
his saddle from 8 in the morning till in
the afternoon. War is tragedy; but the
part Napoleon and his son are playing in
the present one, is the broadest of comedy,
descending sometimes to farce. For in
stance, at a grand dinner lately given by
the Emperor at the Palace of st. Cloud, to
the officers of the guard quarter5d there
the Lancers, EOltigeurs, and Cent GaUrds.
After dinner the party repaired to the gard
en-, where coffee was served, and where
the conversation became general. Al at
once the young Prince was looked for, and
he was seen coming in, dragging some
thing after him, ami which was found to
be his campaign-bed. He went through
the farce Of putting it in order, and lay
ing down upon it. Of course this incident
was telegraphed all over the Empire as in
dicative of The Princes warlike DISPOSE
ton. Never was there greater military
mountebank than the present Emperor
of France, nor more perfect jumping jack
than he is making out of his son. 1t IS a
great pity Gen. McMahOn had not let him
have his way when at Magenta, in 1859,
he was, through his military stupidity,
riding straight into the Austrian lines.-
TChicago Republican.