Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-16
A Story of Sedan.

~ pendant to the German official
report on the battle OF Sedan, the Paris
correspondent of the London Times tells
the subioined story concerning the cot
tage where the two EmpcrorS met: at
is known in the locality he says. las
La Maison du Tissesand,' La Maison
de l'Emperur,' or La Maison DIES DeuX
Freres Ennemis.' The two first titles
explain themselves, but the third is de-
rived from a fact which Is but little
known. and which is another proof that
accession Of fortune is often acquired at
| the expense Of domestic peace. The cot
tage Is one story high, with a tiled roof,
and stands parallel to the road. \ newly
| built wall reaches from the front Of the
house to the road, and divides the build
/ ing in two : but before this historical in
terview this wall did not exist. The
house belonged to two brothers, half to
each. The room in which the celebrated
meeting was held is in the corner of the
cottage nearest to Sedan but in 1871 the
entrance door was at the other extremity
nearest to Donchery, and looked upon
the road in front. When the room was
being prepared for the imteryiew-that is
to say. when the round table and the two
straw chairs which still remain had been
brought in-the Emperor, who was some
distance Off was informed that all was
ready. lie alighted from his carriage,
entered the front door. and went up
,tairs-thEt l. 10 say, he came in at the
right side and entered the room situated
to the left. After the war was over, and
indeed before. "a great many visitors went
to see the house. and. after the manner
= of tourists. were careful TO follow the
. Ffi -
aud 1T i the same room a. Napoleon III
. aud Prince Bismarck. The owner of tn,
room soon began To make "a good thing o
the curiosity of the visitor. lie sole
/ photOgraph- of the house. The fOu
+, pieces Of gold which the Emperor haI
j given To hi- humble hostess lac Ina,
framed and hung OYER the mantlepiecc
= for. curiOu- 10 relate, il was the falle.
4 monarch who paid in this way for the Us
I of the audience chamber. The prOprietO
y found, ia short. that this uneNpectc
). meeting produced Il golden shower, bu
his brother, the owner OF the staircase
put in a claim for a share of the profit,
He said that as the visitors went up hi
staircase he ought, In common justice, I
q get half the proceeds Of the exhibition
:, aud he added that he would stop the wa
- unless his demands were satisfied, Iii
= brother looked at the matter in differ
. ent light. arguing that people did nc
/" come to look at the staircase or the pa
!, sage but at the room. which belonged
% him. Day by day the quarrel got wors'
:. both were equally stubborn and the dc
= nestle peace Of the house was fatally di
y turbed, Soon stone wall was bui
between the two halves Of the house, an
;. the. weaver opened a new door an
y erected a new staircase, 50 that hOwaday
;, visitors 10 longer Use the old staircase o
:, the right, up which the Emperor passel
Z Every day travellers come from all par
= of the world TO stare at the bare walls {
- the room and sit in the straw chairs, !
! ~ that the weaver makes a deal Of none!
- but peace i not restored in the Maiso
~ dies DeuX Frercs Ennemis.n ...