The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-10-01
Anecdotes Of Louis Napoleon.
The anecdotes of his childhood are

The anecdotes of his childhood are de-
ightful, 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 (he
was enrolled in the regiment of the
Guard as soon as he was shortcoated,
and at this time was a corporal J thus his
epauIets 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 1 have been
degraded in the service because was
disrespectful to my mother. However, 1
assure you it is not true. I love her too
much to be disrespectful to her. Please,
monsieur, tell my comrades it is falsep
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 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 a 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 coiffeur's 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. At
all reviews, at the opening of the Cham
bers, he was invariably seen at his
fathers side, and acknowledged the greet
1ngs 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 physical
with the intellectual training of young
Louis was admirable; and when, at nine
years of age, he left petticoat sway, the
choice of a male governor was made in
very clever manner. The Emperor was
talking to General Frossard one day,
when the boy came to ask his father for
something; but as he had been disobe-
dent to his mother the day previous, the
Emperor refused him, and told him to
leave the room. He resisted, and the
Emperor's efforts to remove him were
vain, which naturally very smuch dis
pleased his Majesty, who hardly knew
what to do. The General, who had been
silent looker-on, rose, and bowling to
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 struck with the Generals
victory that he at once confded to him
his sons education, and with the great
est success.
His first communion was a great event
in his life. 1t seemed to make a remark
able change in his character, and gave
to it that religious cast which was dis
tinguishing feature during the rest of
his career. The Emperor wisely brought
him to face difficulties at an early stage
OF his Life. On one OCCASION Wnen ne
had to distribute prizes at the Lycee
Charlemagne, schoolboy emeute took
took place, of which he was Indirectly
the cause. The Emperor treated the
matter lightly, shrugged his shoulders,
and merely remarked, Louis must learn
to meet with opposition, and the sooner
perhaps the better" The visit of the
Empress and the Prince to Corsica in
1859, was notable event, and afforded
him the 1iveliest pleasure. The whole
population of the different places they
visited, turned out to welcome them;
and at Ajaccio the crowd pressed them
SO closely that the police had to make a
path for their feet. The young prince
was perfectly delighted with the ovation,
and constantly stopped to acknowledge
the greetings of the people, checking the
efforts of the police to keep the crowd
off by saying, "Let them them alone,
let them alone. Don't try to prevent
them. Remember they have right to
to me. We all belong to one familyP
This speech naturally redoubled the
enthusiasm of the populace.
Why He WITHDREw.-s What will
Eliza say?" is the last catch of the cam