Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-09
THE DETHRONED SOyEREIGNs.
Douu Piatt's Recollections OF the Bona.
parties.

Dorm Piatt's RecolIections OF the Bona.
parties.
To the February Galaxy Dom Piatt
contributes an article, from which we
extract the following;
You are curious to know, Of course,
the sort of people have seen SO nearly,
and of whom the world has heard so
much. This Louis Bonaparte, who
calls himself Napoleon, and, boldly
stepping out, proposes to make real the
immortal memories of the past, is, to
begin with, no Bonaparte at all. We
have pretty well fixed in bronze, marble
and prints the physical characteristics
of this celebrated family. We are all
familiar with the high, thick shoulders,
the short full neck, and the Cesarean
head that mark the famous Corsicans.
Judge of my establishment, then, when
little fellow in gaudy court dress
clanked into the room, with perceptible
limp in his walk, accompanied by the
officers of the imperial household, and
paused before us, as widely different
from the Bonapartes as it was possible
for man to be- Rather under the me-
dunn height, he has narrow dropping
shoulders, and broad hips His legs are
slender, and out of proportion to his
long body. l saw face, with dull,
puttyish complexion, n bottle nose, and
narrow retreating forehead. His mouth
is covered with coarse, thick nous
tache, while a goatee of like material
seeks to hide the weakness that is appar-
ent in retreating chin. His eyes have
all theintensity ofexpression to be found
in deceased mackerel, and one looks
in vain for force of character or intel
lect.
If had a disgust that amounted to
loathing for the Emperor, it was more
than counterbalanced by my admiration
for the Empress Eugene. She was
then to me the most beautiful woman
had ever seen. No artist, however
gifted, could add one charm to that
sweet head and graceful figure Her
face was faultless, and her form SO out
lined and endowed by loving nature
that no one could hesitate to render her
the homage due queen. But when
one came to know her well, one realized
the old fable of the peacock petitioning
for the voice of the nightingale. Our
beautiful queen, our graceful Empress,
is not the wisest of women, and her
temper is-well, to say the least, some
what unreliable and quick, not to say at
times violent.
l met the late Stephen A. Douglas
about the time to which | refer. and
found that he too was struck with her
great beauty, but not impressed 10y
either her tact or temper.
''She came at me somewhat rudely, y
said the Senator, Shy remarkiug, when
| was presented, that she understood |
was at the head of political organize
tion in the United States, called Young
America, that had for an object the
conquest of Cuba y
q believe l have the honor re
sponded the Senator, sol representing
such party, but never knew before
that it was organized for so small al
object as she mere acquisition of Cuba.
'You do confess, then, she contin-
ned, coloring up, THAT such is one OF
its objects ~
"Not at all, your Majesty. The par
ty to which | have the honor TO belong
only seeks to prevent some other and
stronger European power from possess
ing that island, to our great INJURY"
''Then why do you not Join with Eng
land and France in treaty, guaranteeing
this island to Spain ~
"We have had prejudice towards
such European complications since the
time the government of the United
States was invited to JOIN in a treaty
intending to destroy our great uncle the
First Napoleon,
"Well,n she continued warmly
"wele Queen of Spain I'd devote my
last soldier and my last coin to the
preservation of that remaining jewel III
~ crown.
Were your Majesty Queen Of
SPAIN" said Douglas, bowling. III
would not require either soldiers OF
money to make US respect ali your pos
sessions.