The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-23


group of generals conversed in low tones
at little distance.
In few moments, perhaps because the
air was cool, the two interlocutors wished
to enter the house. There are two en-
frances, one to the right, the other to the
left. They took, behind the house. the
staircase of the left hand part. little,
steep, winding staircase of wood. They
reached the first and solitary story. guild
ed by the woman of the house and, open
ing the door Of a narrow chamber stu.
ated to the right Of the entrance, they
shut themselves up there, after making
sign to the woman to withdraw. She re.
manned outside while they talked. Their
voices were low. The emperor seemed
crushed. It was in this interview that
Napoleon threw upon his people the re-
sponsibility Of war, which his fanliliars
had declared necessary to the dynasty.
A round table covered with oil-cloth sep
arated the two men; placed before the
window, their gaze upon the land where
death had done its work, they remained.
Bismark at the right of the mantel-piece
and Napoleon at the left. On the man
tel-piece were some little ornaments Of
porcelain gilded with German gold, a
special metallic composition, so called, and
an image representing St. Vincent de
Paul. The two shepherds Of men could
contemplate the image of one who had
never know n what it was to shed the
blood of others.
The woman of the house has caused
the five gold-pieces that Napoleon put
into her hand when the conversation was
over to be set in frame and su pended
against the wall.
Incredible and ironical as it may seem,
, this interview of Donchery, which marked
the fall of an empire, as destined at the
same time to bring an unexpected rivalry
: into the house OF the weaver, formerly so
: peaceful and so industrious an abode.
, This weaver's house was in reality the
house Of two weavers, the brothers Fourn-
< aisc. who worked there in common, both
/ married and both happy. When Ma.
!, poleon and Bismark passed that way.
the humble dwelling became on the NOR
5 row something like an historical monu-
t ment. Visitors crowded thither-tour
h lists, travellers, Englishmen. Every
+ tody paid to see the room Of the
: interview, and to cast glance at the five
= LOUIS left by the emperor and at the
+ image Of St. Vincent de Paul. Some
j. amateurs Of historical relics even lropos-
ed to purchase the five framed gold-pieces,
). and to paw very high for them.
t ''They are not for SALE replied the
a weaver.
And he contented himself with selling
e photographs Of the house.
r All this only profited one Of the
e brothers Fournaise. the one into whose
IS rooms the emperor and NJ. Bismarck had
|. entered.
n "The house belongs to US both. said
y the other. 1T was by chance they went
j. up stairs to the left that is to say te
t. your room; when they might just as well
v have gone up the right.hand staircase :
l. that is to say, to mine. Let US share
i. therefore, the potts of. the adventure
d and let US put into common purse thes.
o new earnings, as we'll as those Of our past
ir labor
IS Not at all, made answer that one o
the brothers Fournaise who had receivet
!, the visitors lit was to my home tina
they came, and the profits are all mine
10 Each for himself and so much the worS
r. for YOU
IN The women also interfered. Irrita
r. tion and bitterness arose. After SO man,
&c years Of mutual affection, jealousy dl
is vided those Two good hearts, and finall,
of brought about separation.
i. To- day little wall of stone rises il
or the midst Of the house Of the weavers
and seperate their two abodss. The,
~ continue to dwell side by side
~ they must for their roof is there. Blu
~ they no longer speak and the Journals
=. who continues to work looks with env,
- on the rournaise who can, il he pleases
:. save money while sitting. with his arm
- folded, only using his hands to pick u
:. the coins that fall constantly INTO his la
since the war.
AsI vas returning to Sedan, my coach
= man said to me:
y. ~ ibid you see the FIVE gold.pieces tina
Napoleon gave to the weaver's wife 7!
Yes
= did you remark one thing
what is that -
:, Among the five pieces Of gold thcr
- are no two alike. There is one Of then
Napoleon l., one Of Louis XVIII, one Q
!, Charles X. one of Louis Philippe, an
- one Of Napoleon III.--the last five rel yns.
- The last five reignsi Those word
- struck me. Chance caused Napoleon III
- in drawing from his pocket five COL
pieces, to take thence FIVE different coins
s, Chance has often incredible, iroaical. ter
- rible encounters.
~ The two passwords for the guard Q
"a the palace Of the Tuilcr;es--pass-word
= settled, according to custom. long tim
= beforehand for the 4th of September
!. 1870. wcre-will It be believed Soul
- and Sedan!
Why write romances, invent tragedies
- seek for the impossible, the astonishing
y. and the touching, when there exists tia
70 eternal tragedy, that incredible romano
hs that living impossibilitv called history |!
81 EYnuANcc unTCI