River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-16
NAPOLEON IN RUSSIA.
How he Entered The Cars Dominions
in 1872 and How he Left Them.
sunday New York World.

/ Sunday New York World
AS Napoleon was about to cross the
Russian frontier he paused, little
faint with hunger, at the Polish village
of Skrawedze and made his wav. ac.
companied by his staff, to the priests
house to ask if he mad anything eat.
able.
The priest understood no French and
could speak nothing Polish, and
Napoleon was unable to convey to him
his meaning till he reflected that the
Polish ecclesiastic was a Catholic and
naturally had learned Latin. Lets
try him with the Roman Catholic lam
guage" said the emperor, and straight
way entered into conversation with
him In the tongue Of the Caesars.
The priest had nothing TO give-noth-
ing. The foragers had swept the viii
lage bare, fact whereat the worthy
ecclesiastic did not murmur, for were
they not attempting the liberation of
MS country There's a priest" said
the emperor, as with laugh he clapped
the good man on the shoulder, there's
a priest who doesn't set his heart on
the things of this world"
Laughter, however, does not fiji an
empty stomach, and the emperor in de-
jected perplexity was gazing out of the
window into the yard, when he espiej a
hen, the solitary survivor of the sack of
Skrawedze.
"Reverendissime, ecce est pulla," he
cried with elation; and, summonne his
aides, dashed into the garden in pursuit
of the chicken, which was speedily cap
tured and wrung as to its neck.
IF you are as good a cook as you are
a clergyman" said the Emperor to his
host, Il shall have a famous bowl of
chicken BROTH" But the priest was un.
versed in culinary lore and every she in
the city had fled. Two aides-de-camp,
however. set about the important labor,
and soon Napoleon had, with soldiers
iron spoon. eaten his bowl of broth,
thickened with broken biscuit, and half
of the fowl. Then after doze of half
an hour he mounted his horse and pre-
pared to tide forward.
The Poles, meanwhile, had gathered
outside, and were acclaiming him as
Father" and Savior" but he paid no
attention TO their homage, and passed
on, taking with him the priest as a
guide. The unfortunate ecclesiastic
had not even had the remainder Of the
last inmate Of his hen house wherewith
to stay his stomach, and, compelled to
walk rapidly through the mud, was
completely exhausted when at last
they reached the highway near the
frontier.
The Emperor babe Berthier send the
priest back with an escort, having first
counted out to him a sum of 10000
francs to be distributed among his poor
relatives and pensioners, then shook
hands with him. "Vale, reverendis-
sime," he said, "memento mel ad altare
Del" and rode across the frontier into
Russia.
The French army tie fragments of
it rather-bleeding, freezing, dying, was
toiling homewards across the snow
covered plains. Napoleon foremost
was hurrying to Paris, followed very
closely by the Cossack scouts, when he
reached q small town on the Polish
frontier and entered its tavern (kqG,
hous) There was a throng of custom
ers in its principal room as he strobe
in, and going to the fre-plrce turned
his back to the grateful warmth.
Nine. Mitzulewicz, the hostess, strove
to push aside this unknown French Of
hcer who 50 uncavalierly hindered her
cooking apparatus. He wore the uni
form of the Cnasseurs of the Guard
and over it cloak of velvet and fur
with upon his head huge fur cap.
cts he! lis Napoleon" whispered
tutor who was present to his charge,
a young lad, and the wondering and
awed boy drew near, curious to see the
great emperor and to hear what he was
saying to the hostess.
Listen, you pretty little Pole, what
q pretty little woman you arep were
the words that the youth heard. At
that moment an officer of the Polish
Krasnski Regiment, the first that had
crossed the Niemen and which at the
passage had lost 500 men and horses,
swept away by the current, entered the
tavern, and seeing the newly-arrived
guest bowed reverently before him,
mailing him rs "Sire"
Chow did you recognize me p Said
the emperor.
"The emperor gave me this at
Wagram," answered the officer, touch
ing the cross Of the Legion that he
wore.
Il am the emperor" said Napoleon;
81 have no need to deny it here. Go,
bring the sous-prefet to me at once.
"Of with your hats-the emperor
cried the officer, as he quilted the apart
ment. Napoleon thanked the astonished
and confused occupants as they rose,
desired them to continue their occupa-
tions or amusements needless of his
presence, and set himself to teasing
maliciousIy the hostess, who no longer
protested against his monopolizing the
fire.
There was also in the room the wife
of the second Judge ofthe town, q young
and very handsome woman; to her Ma
poleon paid violent court. You are
very pretty little thingw ne said, pinch
ing her ear and patting her cheek, after
his accustomed fashion.
Rapp, Caulincourt and some Polish
officers of the escort meanwhile had en-
tered, and the sous refet had FASTENED
to the tavern. It was ride of fifty
versts through the woods to the nearest
place of real safety, and already the
Cossacks were securing the frontiers.
While the official who had offered to find
a guide, was preparing for his departure
Napoleon dined voraclously upon leg
of mutton and carrots. II was whisper
ed that this was the first meal to which
he had sat down since his departure from
Moscow.
Looking up, he saw upon the wall
framed engraving of the interview at
Tllsit." Glow things change in life"
he said, "Tiisit in 1897 and now-take
that picture down." Then he went on
to praise loudly the courtesy and good
qualities of the Car, and expressed his
admiration Of the military talents of
Constantine. Then ne fell to his NUT
ton and carrots, remarking to an officer
that, apropos of handsome women, the
Queen Louisa of Prussia was the most
charming creature he had ever met.
III.
At that n 0ment it was announced
that the sledges were in readiness, the
Emperor was asked TO review the Ma
tional Guard of the town, which had
been turned out in his honor. The sap
4 L a