River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-16


The room where the emperor aud NJ.
Bismark we're is that whose wiudew opens
to the left Of the little house. Az first
the victor and the yanquished conyersed
together for moment before the door,
eacG seated on chair, Napoleon wearing
the kept Of general officer, his should.
ers covered with cloak with red lin.
ing, without sword lGen. Rclle had
taken it TO the king Of Prussia Bismark
booted helmeted, sabcr 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
lett. 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 a
sign to the woman to withdraw. She re.
manned outside while they talked. Their
voices were low. The emperor seemed
crushed. II was in this interview that
Napoleon threw upon his people the re.
sponslbility Of war, which his familiars
had declared necessary to the dynasty.
A round table covered with ol.cloth sen.
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 we're some little ornaments Of
porcelain gilded with German gold, a
special metallic composition, 50 called, and
an image representing ST. Vincent dc
Paul. The two shepherds Of men could
contemplate the image Of one who had
never knoen 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, was 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 weaveT'S house was in reality the
house OF two weayerS, the brothers Fourn.
aise, who worked there in common, both
married and both happy. When Ma.
poieon and Blsmark passed that way,
the humble dwelling became on the NOR
row something like an historical monu.
ment. Visitors crowded thither-tour.
lists, travellers. Englishmen. Every
body 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
amateurs Of historical relics even propos-
ed to purchase the five framed gold.pieces.
and to pay very high for them.
They are not for SALE replied the
weaver.
And ne contented himself with selling
photographs of the house.
All this only prohted one Of the
brothers Fournalse, the one into whose
rooms the emperor and NJ. Bismarck had
entered.
TIE house belongs to us both" said
the other. IL was by chance they went
up stairs to the left that is to say to
your room; when they might just as well
have gone up the right-hand staircase
that IS to say, to mine, Let us share.
therefore, the potts of the adventure,
end let us put into common purse these
new earnings, rs we'll as those OF our past
labor
Not at all, made answer that one Of
the brothers Fournaise who had received
the visitors; ut was to my home that
they came, and the profits are all mine.
Each for himself and so much the worse
for you
The women also interfered. Irrita-
tlon and bitterness arose. After so many
years of mutual affection, jealousy di.
yided those wo good hearts, and finally
brought about q separation.
To-day little wall Of stone rises in
the midst of the house of the weavers,
aud seperate their two abodes. They
continue to dwell side by side
they must for their roof is there. But
they 10 longer speak and the Fournaise
who continues N work looks with envy
on the FouTnalse who can, if he peases.
save money VIII lie sitting. with his arms
folded, only using his hands TO pick up
the coins that fall constantly into his lap
since the war.
As was returning TO Sedan, my coach
man said TO me
did you see the five gold.pieces that
Napoleon gave to the weaver's wife r.
Yes
ibid you remark one thing 2"
"What is that e.
Among the five pieces of gold there
are no two alike. There is one Of them
Napoleon l., one Of Louis XVIII, one Of
Charles Y, one Of Louis Philippe, and
one of Napoleon 1.-THE last five reigns'
The last five reignsl Those words
struck me. Chance caused Napoleon ILL.,,
in drawing from his pocket five gold
pieces, to take thence five different coins.
Chance has often incredible, ironical, ter
rble encounters.
The two passwords for the guard Of
the palace Of the Tuileries-- passwords
settled, according to custom, long time
beforehand for the 4th of September.
1870, were-will i be believed p Soult
and Sedan
why write romances, invent tragedies.
seek for the impossible, the astonishing,
and the touching, when there exists that
eternal tragedy, that incredible romance,
that living lmpossiblity called history
4 ROYAL CHRISTENING IN HAWAII
The Honolulu Gazette. describing the
public and private obseryances Of Christ.
mas in that city, says "Saint Andrew 8
Church was filed to overlooking at o.
clock ?. M, to witness a novel scene ia
lonolulu~-the christening Of an infant
Princess, the first christening Of the kind
since that Of Victoria Kamamnln. sister