Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-16

So to his smoking :ltrs and his prayer,
"Those trials which his wealth-it wisel.
Had any power to sucsor or prevent,
Are now to him ascrihed.
For though the poor neglected be, and grieved
And human justice blinded and deceived,
The sods can not be bribed.
christian Union.
NAPOLEON AT SEDAN.
A Graphic Sketch Of tho Closing Day,
q tho Second Empire.
Lucy II. Hooper sends the following
translation of the last of series of ar
ticles by NJ. Jules Claretie, published in
the Erenement, on "Alsacc and Lorra ne
in 1885," to Appieton's Journal:
At the spot where Marshal MacMahor
was wounded at the commencement o.
the action, Nine. de MacMahon has
caused stone to be set up. The place
is also marked by poplar tree, since be-
come celebrated under the name Of Mac
Mahon's poplar. This solitary tree, ris
ing from br;ck.feld, dominates all the
height.
The emperor came on horseback in
this direction, but he did not ascend the
crest Wherein stands the poplar. Al
the moment that his horse was
slowly climbing the hill, one of his
advance officers, proceeding him at a
gallop, fell mortally wounded.
"Thcrc is danger in that direction q
then said Gen. dc Vassoigno to Napoleon.
The emperor answered not a word, but
turned his horse, and, 1T walk, he re.
turned silent and overwhelmed, to Sc.
Ian gate. At the moment that he passed
the Place Turenne, one Of the city drum.
mers recognized him and was about to
salute him. The emperor, perceiving his
design, made sign to him with his hand.
as If to say, lit is no longer worth
while.''
He directed his course toward the
soas.pref lecture. The Germans had al.
ready commenced the bombardment. On
the bridge Of the Meuse, which was some.
what encountered, . shell falling on the
vehicle ofa WAGNER, cut the wagon in
two, and killed one of the horses. Ma.
poleon, who until then had gone at walk
at once struck spurs into his horse and
reached at gallop the sous.pref lecture,
which is at one side to the right.
There has been preserved, and was
exhibited at the Louvre, in the ancient
Musee des Souverains, the table ON which
Napoleon I. had signed the abdication of
Fontainebleau. It was pierced with lit
tie pen'knife.stabs multiplied with fury
by the vanquished uncle. At the sous.
prefecture the nephew covered with pin.
pricks, or rather with pen.pricks, a ma
hogany table. have seen this drawing.
room Of the capitulation, and the elegant
stages seemed very narrow for such
tragedy.
The apartments of the sous.pref lecture
are preceded by q sort of antechambcr
or hall, which extends from the entrance
door in the guise Of . corridor. 1t was
there that the Cent guards were lodged.
Trusses Of straw had been spread down
for their use. While the battle contin.
ued. the emperor promcnadcd there, 81.
lently smoking or rather fevcrishly light.
ing cigarettes, which he would barely
put to his lips, and then almost ;mmedi.
ate]y throw away. Behind him IN off.
Ger Twas it not Gen. Cssteland y passed
his time IN treading on the matches to
cxtinguish them, and to prevent their
setting fire to the straw. Thus hours
passed.
Gen. De Wimpffen has related that
when he presented himself at the sous.
prefecture that evening to settle the
terms of capitulation with the emperor,
he found him in bed. The room wherein
slept that night he who had been Caesar,
is very simple chamber, with An alcove
hung with red curtains. What must his
dreams have been there! The room of
the prince imperial was Just next to it.
The son could hear the father speak or
sigh. sss -. ssira - ~
The emperor was so much .gitatcd
on the night of that fatal day of the
first Of September that having asked for
a candle, and the servant having brought
one lighted, he said to her:
"And the candle why have you not
lighted it p ..~ ,....
She did not understand what he meant,
Il tell you to light the CANDLE
"But sire"
He perceived his mistake and said,
.ho roo,, ,-;th ~ r.l n,...;r. W
The mornino Of the h.ttl. ,.ee;,.
L. M.rfee v;th !. melancholv .;r he h.S
said to soldier Of the corps Of Gen. La.
brun: "Your regiment is not here, you
ought to be at Metz.'' He thought also
that he was face to face with the ar.
nv Of Prince Frederick Charles. Such
was tho confusion of his sick and troubled
brain. MID Fs3a aH# Mga :. /.
The most striking spot, however, in this
nes is ! the 1ssvers house on the Donche s
road, the little house where Napoleon and
N. Bismarck had that famous interview
which proceeded tho capitulation, and
which the chancellor of William has dc.
scribed in IN autograph letter.
Small. one.story high only, with mod.
est orchard behind, the house Of the
weaver u slsusseo On the lels d nleh'
contempi.te The immsn . s" n.oor uo e :.