The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14

The home roof cleaning near and tender,
Guiding our quickened steps Alright.
Soon darkened all the mighty hills,
The gods were sitting there in shadow;
Lulled were the noisy woodland rills,
Silent the silvery woodland trills-
Twas starlight over Colorado.
Mary Dodge
THE RETURN FROM ELBA.
One Of the Most Striking Incidents in Napo-
Icons Career.
On the 25th Of February, 1915, the
Princess Pauline gave banquet to the
principal inhabitants of the Island of
Elba. With great secrecy Napoleon had
made preparations to leave the island
and return to France. A small brig was
at anchor in the ofing, and three small
merchant vessels. In these four vessels,
during the night, thousand troops were
embarked-not one, not even their officers
knowing where they were bound. At
midday, under salute OF cannon, the
Emperor went on board the brig, and the
little fleet set sail tor the invasion of
France, and for the overthrow OF the
throne of the Bourbons, sustained by the
immense standing army of France and
all the allied armies of Europe.
When the vessels were out of sight of
land, Napoleon, gathering around him
the whole ships company OF the brig,
four hundred IN number, said to them
1--WE are going to France-to Paris.''
The exultation was boundless, for not
Wlthstanding past reverses, every soldier
had unlimited confidence In the fortunes
of the Emperor. The second day of their
voyage Bourban man-of war bore down
upon them. The soldiers were concealed
below, while Napoleon stood by the side
OF the captain on the quarter deck. At
ter the exchange of few words, the man
of. war inquired after the Emperor at Elba.
Napoleon seized the trumpet and shouted
over the waters:
"He is marvelously well.''
Toward evening of the third day the
blue hills of France were seen in the
splendor Of the setting sun. In the early
twilight Of the next morning they had
reached the shore in the Gulf of Juan,
and the Emperor Immediately landed his
followers on the lonely beach, and biv-
ouacked in the olive grove near the shore.
Pointing to an olive leaf, he said:
ut is the symbo.. of peace. It is a
lucky omen, and it will be realized"
He only took men enough with him,
as he said, to prevent his beng "collared
by the police.''
Most OF the dav was spent in landing
the troops and stores, and at eleven
o'clock at night the little army, now six
hundred in number, with three small
pieces of cannon, commenced their march
of seven hundred miles tor the conquest
of the capital of France. Fortresses on
their line of march, which the labor Of
ages had strengthened, and which were
garrisoned by 100000 troops, they were
first to subdue
Travelling rapidly all night and the
next day, toward evening they reached,
without opposition, the little town of
Grasse, about fifty miles distant. Here
the peasants crowded around the Emper-
or 80 enthusiastically that he afterwards
said, II could easily lave taken two mil
lions OF those peasants to Paris with
me-
The next two days they advanced six
ty miles to Digne, still encountering no
foe. The next day they reached Gap,
thirty miles further on their way.
The enthusiasm was now so intense and
universal that Napoleon needed no guard
The next day they were approaching
Grenoble. A strong garrison was sta
toned there. The commander posted
his troops, 5000 in number, in defile
1anked by a mountain and lake. Ma
poleon and his retlnue approached, and
rode calmly along upon gentle trot un-
til within hundred PAGES OF the impass-
able wall of bayonets cleaning before
him. Then dismounting, and folding
his arms, he advanced alone to within
ten PAGES of the troops. Every eye was
fixed upon him and there was silence as
OF death. There he stood, with the cock
ed hat and gray coat-the little corporal.
"Fire!' shouted the commandant. Not
trigger was pulled. Had there been
one single man among those six thou
sand willing to shoot, he would have re-
ceived houndless rewards from the Bour-
bops, and the destinies Of Europe would
have been changed. Napoleon spread
open the lapel of his coat, uncovering
his breast, and said, 'sSoldlers, if there is
one among you who would kill his En-
peror, let him do it. Here am.
After moments silence, one voice
called out, ''Vive lEmpereur!' it was
the signal for general burst of acclaim
from the soldiers and peasants, and for a
scene of enthusiasm such as no other man
on earth ever excited. All military order
was at an end. The troops rushed in in
describable tumult around the Emperor,
each one eager to grasp his hand, and
tears OF joy flowed freely. The Bourbon
commander put spurs to his horse and
disappeared.
II have come" said Napoleon, ssbe-
c ause I rely upon the people and upon