Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-03-13
"REMINISCENCES OF NAPOLEON III.


"REMINISCENCES OF NAPOLEON Ill.
The first time that saw the late EN-
peror of the French was at Paris, in the
early summer of 1868. He was then in
the very prime of his years and mental
powers. His sallow complexion had not
yet taken on the sickly hue, the dull pal
Tor, which struck every one who saw him
only within recent years he appeared
robust and active, and a sense of pros
peIity and security seemed to be betrayed
In the expression of his rather heavy,
impossible face. Early on June morn
ing, was wandering among the par
terres of the Tuileries gardens, observing
the antique statues which nestle there
among the flower beds, and are unnoticed
by those who take but superficial glance
at the scene. Presently the gilded gates
of that part of the garden which is in
closed from the public we're flung open
by porter, and light, sp.ingy carriage,
with seat only large enough for two
persons, and drawn by pair of sleek
brown bays, ratified out over the smoothly
graveled carriage-way. A single gentle
man was seated therein he held the
reins, with experienced ease, in one
gloyed hand, and long cigarette, which
he pulled from time to time, in the other.
1t needed but glance to recognize the
solitary driver as Napoleon Ill His hair
was then thick, and light brown, with
but rare sprinkhngs of gray his mus
tache, which in later years dropped, was
waxed In long, bristling points on either
hTc l,04
somewhat ruddy his air that of man
placidly satisfied with himself and with
the world. As have said, he was quite
alone neither outrider preceded, cour-
tier accompanied, nor cent gardes fol-
lowed him. He was SO plainly attired as
to almost appear shabby His hat was
rough, his coat dull black, and the
Legion-of-Honor ribbon, which was
fastened in his button-hole, looked worn
and faded. On inquiry of the porter, 1
found that Napoleon rode out thus soil
tary nearly every day that, on this oc-
casion, ne had gone for some purpose to
place in the vicinity of Vincennes, and
did not expect to return for several hours.
Lit appeared TO me that no more striking
proof could be had of the third Napoleon's
courage than this trihing incident of
which was an accidental witness. Paris
was then, as later, bitterly hostile to his
rule, and had lately manifested its i'll
will IN more than one way and, of all
Paris, the eastern quarter, and the fau-
bourgs beyond, contained at once the
most violent of the Partisan populace,
and that which was most inimical to the
Emperor's person. Yet he rode straight
among them, quite alone, with perfect
openness, and smoking his cigarette with
the same cool nonchalance that he was
accustomed to do in the famous little
" cabinet noir" of the Tuileries. The
first Napoleon never ventured thus to
expose his person to the assaults of his
Partisan subjects. There are multi
tude OF evidences in the late Emperor's
career to show that, while he was not
Warllke In his tastes, but rather indolent
and fond of quiet times, he was physi-
cally brave man. On one occasion, when
he was about twenty-one, he was visiting
the Grand-Duchess of Baden, with his
mother Hortense, at Mannheim, on the
Rhine and walking, on bitter winters
day, along the river bank, with his fair
young cousins, the Grand Dutchess'
daughters, and was engaged in discus
sion with them as to the decline of chiy-
airy. The Princess Mary had been urg-
ing that there were no knights nowadays,
devoted to their ladies fair, as there had
once been, when suddenly a gust of wind
blew flower which adorned her hair into
the Rhine.
"There," the young girl exclaimed,
"what a chance that would be for an
olden knight !" & 80 kFsN
+" That is challenge I dare not re-
fuse" responded Louis Napoleon and,
without further words, he plunged into
the lcy-cold stream, and with difficulty
SWAN to the flower, returning with it in
triumph to the shore The river was
rapid and boisterous, and the venture
was dangerous no coward, however gal
liant, would have thus ventured in it.
On the morning of the opening of the
Great Paris exhibition of 1867, 1 was
standing In oneof the corridors ofthe vast
circular building, where some of the
ehoicer sculptural contributions were
arranged, when the Emperor, with the
Empress on his arm, and attended by a
brilliant suite passed, through in per-
Torrance of the ceremony of the formal
opening. The contrast between the Me-
poleon of 1868 and the Napoleon of 1867
was very striking. He was heavier in
face and body, and more wrinkled, and
much more gray his hair had thinned
and grizzled on his forehead his i'm
perial, worn on the chin, was almost
white his gait was more slow; his ex-
preston that of q worn and wearied man.
There was some reason why, on that day.
his face should wear the paleand anxious
look it did. It was an occasion, indeed,
which illustrated and symbolized the
splendor and power which he had
the beginning of festival
which was to display to the soyereigns of |
Europe, and multitudes from every cor
ner of the earth, the Second Empire in
its acme of glory But he had left at |
home, that morning, his only son and |
hope, stretched in pain upon couch /; |