The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-06
Anecdotes of Napoleon.

Count d'0rsenne one day accompanied
the Emperor on recOnnOitering eXcur-
sion. The Emperor had been complain
ing of thirst, and some one seeing a
0iUdRdiefe, or sutler woman, at a little
distance, called to her. The woman did
not know Napoleon or any OF his escort.
She cave the Emperor a glass of spring
water mixed with little brandy, and
then courtesied for payment.
| "rhere, my good woman" pointing to
Count d'Orsenne, "there is the EN-
peror; ask him for the money. He pays
| for us ALL"
The Uiodi,dtere blushed and looked en-
| barrasseA; Lhen, turning TO the Count,
she scanned his splendid uniform with
the eye of connoisseur, and said:
"He! pooh, nonsense! Do you think l
am TOOL enough 10 believe that? The
Emperor is not such coXGomb. You,
sir, look much more like him yourself"
The Emperor was much amused at
this remark, and he gave the woman a
| double louis.
Count Daru, who was one of the party
on the evening when Prince Cambaceres
related the above anecdote, said:
| "YOur amusing story, Monseigneur,
reminds me of another also relating TO
one of those camp-Iollowing nymphs
called UiUdndjereS. You know how care.
FULLY the Emperor preserved his incog-
nito when he was with the army. 1t was
well he did SO; for he frequently ven
tured into places where, had he been
| known, he would have incurred the
greatest risks. During one of the cam.
paigns in Germany the Emperor,
wrapped in his celebrated gray great
coat, was riding about in the enYirone
of Munich, attended only by two orderly
officers. He met on the road very
lpretty looking female, who by her dress
was evidently a UiUGndiere. She was
weeping, and was leading by the haad
little boy about five years OF age. Struck
by the beauty of the woman aud her dis
tress, the Emperor pulled up his horse
} by the roadside and said:
"What Is the matter with you, my
dearW
The woman, not knowing the indi
vidual by whom she was addressed, anG
being much discomposed by grief, made
no reply. The little boy, however, was
more communicative, and he frankly an
IsWered:
"My mother is crying, sir, because my
father has beat her,"
"Where is your iatherp
"Close by here. He is one of the sen
tinels on duty with the baggage"
The Emperor again addressed himsel
to the woman, and inquired the name O.
her husband; but she refused to tell
: being fearful lest the captain, as she
supposed the Emperor to be, would
cause her husband to be punished. Ma
poleon, am sorry to say, had but little
confidence , in the fair sex. On this oc
casion his habitual suspicious occurred
to his mind and he said:
"MdlpeSte, your husband has beer
beaung you; you are weeping, and yet
you are so afraid of getting him into
trouble that you will not even tell his
name. This is very Inconsistent MAY
it not be that you are little in faul
lyourseltW
"Alas, Captain! he has a thousand
good qualities, though he has one very
bad one-he is Enthusiastically Jealous
and when he gets into passion, he can
not restrain his Violence"
"But that is rather serious; in one Of
his fits Of jealously he may infiict on yor
some severe injury-perhaps kill you"
"And even if he did, l should not wish
any harm to come to him; for l am sure
he would not do it willluly. He loves
me too we'll for that"
"And il guess right, you love him.
"Ihat is very natural, Captain; he IL
my lawful husband, and the father of my
dear boy"
So saying, she fondly kissed her child
who, by the way in which he returned
her caresses, proved his affection for his
mother. Napoleon was moved by this
touching picture, IN spite of the heart Of
iron, or marble, or of adamant, which
has SO often been allotted to him.
"Well," said he, again turning to the
woman, "whether you and your husband
love each other or not, do not choose
that he should beat you'll AMI am one
of the Emperor's aide-de-camp, and
will mention the affair to his Majesty
tell me your husbands name"
"If you were the Emperor himself
would not tell it you, for l know ht
would be punished"
"Silly woman! All want is to teach
him to behave we'll to you and to treat
you with the respect you deserve"
"Fhat would make me very happy
CAPTAIN; but though he ill treats me
will not get him punished"
The Emperor shrugged his shoulders
made some remark upon female obstin
acy and galloped of.
When he was out of the woman's he ar
ing he said to the officers who accompa
MED him:
"Well, gentlemen, what do you thinl
! OF thai aHGCJlOnaIe cfeaJufeI Ilefe are
not many such women at the Tuileries
A wife like that is treasure to her nus
band"
In the course Of few minutes th,
baggage, OF which the boy had spoken
came up. 1t was escorted by company
of the Fiity-second. Napoleon dis
patched one of the officers who wa
riding with him to desire The commando
of the escort to come to him.
"Have you vivandiere i'll your com
pany?'
Yes, SIRE" replied the captain.
"Has she child?"
"Yes, little Gentil, whom we are all S,
fond OIL"
"Has not the woman been beaten b.
her husbandW
81 was not aware of the circumstance
till some time after the occurrence.
lhaVe reprimanded the man."
"Is he generally well conductedw
"IIe is the best behaved man in tht
company. He is very jealous of his
wife, but without reason. The Woman's
conduct is irreproachable."
"Does he know me by sightT
81 can not say, sire; but, as he has
lust arrived from SPAN, think it is
probable he does not"
| "Try and ascertain whether he has
ever seen me; and if he has not, bring