Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-17
A story of SEDAN.

AS q pendant to the German official
report on the battle of Sedan, the Paris
correspondent of the London Times tells
the subjoined story concerning the cot
tage where the two Emperors met: 1T
is known in the locality" he says, "as
La Maison du Tissesand La Maison
de lEmperur, or La Maison des Duck
Freres Ennemis. The two frs. 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 tiled roof,
and stands parallel 10 the road. A newly
built wall reaches from the front of the
house to the road, and divides the build.
ing 10 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 Donchely, and looked upon
the road in 'front.' When the room was
being prepared for the interview-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. He alighted from bis carriage,
entered the front door, and went up
stairs-that is to say he came in at the
right side aud entered the room situated
to the Left. After the war was over, and
indeed before, great many visitors went
to see the house, and, after the manner
OF tourists, were careful to follow the
same road, to 60 up the same staircase
and SIT in the same room as Napoleon III
and Prince Bismarck The owner of the
room soon began to make good thing OF
the curiosity OF the visitors. He sold
photographs Of the house. The four
pieces Of gold which the Emperor had
given to his humble hostess he had
framed aud hung over the mantlepiece,
for, curious to relate, it was the fallen
monarch whe paid in this way for the use
ofthe audience chamber. The proprietor
found, in short, that this unexpected
meeting produced golden shower, but
his brother, the owner Of the staircase,
putin claim for share Of the profits.
He said that as the visitors went up his
staircase he ought, in common justice, to
get half the proceeds of the exhibition,
and be added that he would stop the way
unless his demands were satisfied, His
brother looked at the matter in differ
ent light, arguing that people did not
come to look at the staircase or the pas
sage, but at the room, which belonged to
him. Day by day the quarrel got worse,
both we're equally stubborn, aud the do.
mestic peace of the house was fatally dis
turbed. Soon a stone wall was built
between the two halves of the house, and
the weaver opened a new door and
erected new staircase so that Nowadays
visitors no longer use the old staircase on
the right, up which the Emperor passed
Every day travellers come from ell parts
OF the world to stare at the bare walls of
the room and sit in the straw chairs, so
that the weaver makes deal of money,
but peace is not restored in the 'Maison
des Deux Freres Ennemis.