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

booted, helmeted, a saber at his side. A
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 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-
sponsbility Of war, which his fanliliars
had declared necessary to the dynasty
4 round table covered with oi-cloth sep.
arated the two men; placed before the
window, their gaze upon the land where
death had done its work, they remained,
Bismalk at the right of the mantel.plece
and Napoleon at the left. On the man
tel-piece were some little ornaments Of
porcelain gllded 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 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 a 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 50
peaceful and 50 industrious az abode.
This weavcr,s house was ii reality the
house Of TWO weave-s, the brothers Fourn-
< aisc. VINO worked there in common. both
| married and both happy. " hen Ma
po'eon and Blsmark passed that way.
the huu.i le dwelling became on the nor
5 row something like an historical nonu-
t mcnt. Visitors crowded thther-tour.
i lists, travellers, Englishmen. Every
( bodv paid 10 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
. amateurs Of historical relics even I.ropo>-
ed 20 purchase the five framed gold-pece>,
and to pay very high for them.
I ''They are not for sale replied the
a weaver.
And he contented himself with selling
e photographs of the house.
I All this only protited one of the
c brothers Fournalse, the one into whose
! rooms the emperor and Nj. Bismarck had
|. entered.
II 'sihe house belongs to US both, said
i the other 1t was by chance they went
i up stairs TO the left that IS 10 say to
t YOUR room, when they might just "a well
v have gone up the righthand staircase :
+ that is to say, to name, Let US shal &
+ therefore. the potts off the adventure
ii and let Us put into 4 common purse the>t
o new earnings. as we'll as those Of our past
If labor.
: Not at all made answer that one Q
the brothers Fournaise who mad received
II the visitors 1T was to ny home tina
they came. and the profits are all mine
le Each for himself and SO much me wor>'
r, for you.
in The women also interfe-cd. Irrta
r. ton and bitterness arose. After SO man
sc years OF mutual affection, jealousy dl
is vided those two good hearts. and tlnali,
Of brought about a separation.
/, To day a little wall Of stone rises Il
o. the midst Of the house OF the weavers
and seperate their two abodss. The,
-, continue 10 dwell side by side
- they must for their roof is there. Blu
~ they no longer speak and the Journals
!. who continues 10 work looks with env-
= on the Fournaise who can, il he pieases
j. sove money while sitting. with his arm
- folded. only using his hands to pick u
:. the coins that fail constantly nto his la
since the war.
ASIw was returning to Sedan, my coach
= man said to me:
- Did you see the five gold-peces tina
Napoleon gave TO the weaver 5 wife
Yes
a. Did you remark one thing
Nv hat is that =
=, Among the five pieces Of gold tner
~ are no two alike. There is one IF Their
- Napoleon T.. one Of Louis XNIll., one c
!, Charles X. one Of Louis Philippe, an
- one Of Napoleon III. the last five re. ns.
- The last five seigns. Those word
!. struck me. Chance caused Napoleon III
-. in drawing from his pocket five sol
- pieces, To take thence Eve different; coin:
=, Chance has often Incredible. iroaical, tel
-. rihle encounters.
~ The two passwords for the guard G
= the palace Of tne TuiicrieS- pass word
settled, according - custom. loa- tim
!, beforehand for the 4th Of September
!. lS-o. were-will It be believed .--Sou
- and Sedan
49, Why write romances, invent tragedie:
- seek for the impossible, the astonishing
- and the touching. when there exists tia
va eternal tragedy, that incredible romano
h that living impossibility called history
If
sh Tv0llnkl0Y ll0TTl