The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-09-25
Anecdotes Of Louis Napoleon.

Anecdotes OF Louis Napoleon
The anecdotes of his childhood are de.
lightful, as showing his ingenious
nature and the love he had for his father
and mother. On one occasion he had
been taxed with disrespectful behavior
to the Empress, and, as punishment,
the Emperor degraded him in rank The
was enrolled in the regiment of the
Guard as soon as he was shortcoated,
and at this time was corporal; j thus his
epanlets were laid aside for time. This
was cause of great distress to the poor
lad, and his pride was terribly wounded.
Somehow or other the story got into the
newspapers. That day while walking
out in the Bois, he met one of the officers
of the regiment; with crimson cheeks
and downcast eyes he first passed him,
then, suddenly summoning courage,
turned and addressed him thus: Mon
sieur, perhaps you have heard what the
newspapers say of me, that have been
degraded in the service because I was
disrespectful to my mother. However, ]
assure you it is not true. l love her too
much to be disrespectful to her. Please,
monsieur, tell nay comrades it is falsef'
And the child burst into sobs, nor could
he be comforted until the officer
promised to justify him in the face Of the
regiment.
His determination, which probably
was hereditary, was displayed very early
in life, and q funny incident may be
quoted to show this: Victor Emanuel
had given him lovely donkey, of which
he became very fond; but the donkey
being strong-willed, like his master,
frequent conflicts for supremacy were
the result. One day the Prince conceived
the brilliant idea that he would like his
pet to march upstairs, into the upper
rooms of the Tuileries. Naturally, the
quadruped objected; but his master in
sisted, and the customary battle ensued !;
to no purpose, until le petit Prince
carried the day by summoning the
servants, some to place the donkey's fore
feet on the stairs, others the hind-feet.
and so they reached their destination.
He was exceedingly fond of drawing
a pursuit which the Emperor did not
favor, as being of too absorbing nature
for one who had duties of so wide and
general character; but his tendency
could not be suppressed, and vented
itself in various odd ways; one of them
being that to get him to submit to
tonsorial offices (of which he seems to
have had some dislike) he was allowed to
sketch while under the coiffeurs hands.
and exceedingly clever these scraps are
said to have been. In modelling he was
also remarkably skillful. The Prince
Imperial was an early sufferer from
severe and painful maladies, having had
| two very bad cases of abscess in the hip
| joint, and an attack OF measles, from
which he did not recover for long time.
While yet young, he was made to
| take his position in all court ceremonials,
| and in fulfilling the duties of his rank
| he was taught to derive satisfaction. Al
all reviews, at the opening of the Cham.
| bers, he was invariably seen at his
father side, and acknowledged the greet
| lngs he received with undisguised pleas
ure. Every one conversant with the
court life of the Second Empire will re
member the share he took in the dram
attic representations which were favor
| ite amusement at the various residences
of the Emperor.
The careful blending of the physica
| with the intellectual training of younf
Louis was admirable; and when, at mint
years of age, he left petticoat sway, tn,
choice OF male governor was made in 1
very clever manner. The Emperor wa
talking to General Frossard one day
| when the boy came to ask his father fol
something; but as he had been disobe
| dent to his mother the day previous, ths
Emperor refused him, and told him *
leave the room. He resisted, and the
| Emperor's efforts to remove him were
vain, which naturally very much dis
/ L. Kas L.
what to do. The General, who had beer
o silent looker-on, rose, and bowling tc
the refractory young prince, said authori'
lively, What monseigneur. His Maj.
esty orders you to leave the room, and
| you refuse? Prince, have to request
you will obey at once and retire" and he
| opened the door for him to pass out
out. The child. surprised, looked him
full in the face, and seeing frmness and
determination there, demurred no longer
kissed his father and disappeared. The
Emperor was so ptruck with the Generals
victory that he ut once confded to hin
his sons education, and with the great
est success.
| His first communion was a great even
in his life. It seemed to make remark
able change in his character, and gave
| to it that religious cast which was dis
tinguishing feature during the rest O.
his career. The Emperor wisely brought
him to face difficulties at an early stage
of his life. On one occasion when ht
had ITO distribute prizes at the Lycet
Charlemagne, schoolboy emeute tool
took place, of which he was indirectl,
the cause. The Emperor treated ths
matter lightly, shrugged his shoulders
and merely remarked, Louis must learI
to meet with opposition, and the sooner
perhaps the better" The visit of th.
Empress and the Prince to Corsica il
1869, was notable event, and afforded
him the liveliest pleasure. The whole
population of the different places the,
visited, turned out to welcome them
and at Ajaccio the crowd pressed then
so closely that the police had to make
path for their feet. The young prime
was perfectly delighted with the ovation
and constantly stopped to acknowledg
the greetings of the people, checking tn
efforts of the police to keep the crow,
off by saying, "Let them them alone
let them alone. Don't try to preven
them. Remember they have right t
to me- We all belong to one family!
| ro,1o,.hlaJ III