Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-31
TBO Nap8Ieons-Tlfe Uucle and the
EpRheK.

In the life of Queen Hortense, EeeEntly
/ published by the Harpers, We read an IN
| teresting sketch OF tho early life OF the
| present emperor:
Louis and Hortense were an i'll assorted
couple, 5tougha together by the ambition
of Josephine and the exigeneies Of state,
| The empress, with no hope for an heir her
self, and knowing the intense desire OF her
husband for q Successor TO the imperial
crown, arranged this unfortunate marriage
| between his favorite brother and her only
daughter feeling perhaps q dim fore
shadowing that at 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
/ Ghe Senate the two children were declared
heirs TO the empire should Napoleon and
his elder brother Joseph die without issue,
and this decree was submitted to the
people and ratified by vote OF 1881 ,675
to 2, 599
Madame Cochelet in her interesting
memoirs says: 81 have frequently seen
Queen Hortense take her two boys on her
knees and talk with them in order tc form
their ideas IL was acurious conversation
to listen to, in those days of the splendors
OF the empire, when those children were
the heirs OF so mary crowns which the eIa-
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 toe rely upon
their own resources for livelihood. Sup
pose yen had no money, said HorteDse to
the eldest, and were alone III the world,
what would ycu do, Napoleon, to support
yourself2 4 would become q soldier, was
the reply, and would fight SO well that I
should SOON be made an officer 'And,
Louis, said the MOTHER 'how would you
provide for yoQrseH?' The little prince
then only five year8 old, had listened very
thoughtfully 10 all That was SAID, and
knowing that the knapsack and gun were
altogether beyond his strength, he replied:
II would sell violet bouquets like the little
boy at the gates of the TuiltaEies 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 woMld-be violet
seller has just inaugurated war which
promises to desolate half of Enrope, and
stain the flowers of Franco and Germany
with showers of human blood. When Ma
poleon was re-lnaugurated emperor on the
Champ de Mars, June 1916, 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-
cRpt ble mind of young Louis was never
afterward etfaced. Through all the bitter
trials and dishppointments OF his earlier
life he has never forgotten the name he
BEARS and In going forth to meet what
must be tho crlais of his fate, he confdes
that name to his son, and bids him remem-
Der 1t and be worthy of it. The evening
before Napoleon left Paris for the cam
palgn of Waterloo he was sitting In his
cabinet convers1ng 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. ''Wh8t is the matter Louis2" said
Napoleon. ''why do you weep SO p ''Sire. :"
was the sobbing reply, ''my governess has
toid me that you were going away to the
war. Oh do not go do not go ' The
Emperor was much affected. and caressing
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 me, l shall soon come back again. -
"Oh my dear UNCLE" responded Louis,
'those wicked allies wish to kill you. Let
me go with you, dear uncle, let meg 90 with
you y Napoleon comforted him as best
he could, and before sending him away,
turned to Soult and said: embrace the
child, Marshal; he has warm heart and
noble soul. Perhaps he is to be the hope
of my race