The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-03-02
NAPOLEON III.
Personal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of His Good
Qualities-His Escape from Ham.

E. Q. Granville hurry contributes to the
Swiss Times some personal "reminiscences or
Napoleon Ill, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts: "Apropos Of the Emperor's
private life, one can not help abiding to this
most ennobling feature Of it that he never for
got a kindness. An E%nglishman had the good
fortune to oblige the Emperor in the days of
his Majesty's greatness. If [ can be of any
service to you,' said Napoleon, you have
to ask me- your Majesty stammered the
Englishman, sI-I-I- should like the-the
Legion of Honor 'Oh,' said the Emperor
with a smile, I should not have offered it to
you, as I imagined your Government did not
allow Engiishment to wear it except under
extraordinary circumstances, but if you can
get over that difficulty, by al means Here
Napoleon went to a cupboard, unlocked a
drawer, and took out q small cross in brill
liants. This he continued, once belonged
to Prince Murat pray accept it as a token of
my gratitude for the service you have render
ed me- And John Bull departed almost be-
side himself with admiration for 'the Napo-
leonic idea.'
sAnother instance of the mans generosity.
He was in prison at Ham. Nine. Cornu paid
him q visit. Have you any money? she
asked il q sisterly way. The prince con-
fessed he had not much-in fact (after two
or three turns Of the screw, just three louis.
The concierge had died the day before yes
terday; the family were in great distress; be
only knew Of it this morning; had sent them
fifteen louis.
* y Here the conversation was inter-
rupted, for the concierge's child had come to
thank the prince in her mothers name Ma
poleon patted her on the head and slipped his
three remaining gold coins into her hand.
One is bound to add-by way Of moral pen
dant-that Nine. c.. had to lend her foster
brother something before she left the prison
walls.
s'He must occasionally have been in dread
full straits. One day, after a Cabine Council
the President Of the Republic laughlngly
drew from his pocket two five franc pieces,
iingled them one against another, and said.
This is all | have to pay the expenses OF my
progress.' He was aboutto visit some OF the
departments. Ferdinand Barrot, his Secreta-
ry-General, overheard these words and saw
that his chief was jesting with 8 forced
smile. That evening the Prince (who was to
start next morning) found 10000 francs in
gold on his dressing table. Its you, Barrot,'
he said to his faithful servant, who was in
attendance. Barrot afterward obtained all
that 90 Emperor could give, portfolio, sena-
torship, Grand Gross, etc.
Napoleon was sorely puzzled as to the
right way of dealing with the opposition,
and the fact is much to his credit. The Per-
signys and the De Mornys were not at all
puzzled. Three rolls Of the drum and a vol
ley was their infallible panacea for all dis
content. But Napoleon, half Italian himself,
shared the Italian Cavour's dislike Of such
methods. Mr.. Kinglake in IN ill-natured
and absurdly misinformed book, has told the
world that the Prince President turned pale
on the night Of December 10, 1851. This
solitary fact in Mr.. Kinglake's book may pos
sibly be true; but it was not the pallor OF
fear that blanched the cheeks of the arch
conspirator. He honestly disliked the blood
shed that he foresaw, albeit too ambitious to
recoil from that supreme attempt. There is
no doubt that Morny at one moment doubted
whether his master would be willing to do all
and (morally) dare all. AS to personal cour-
age, only the widest malice Of party spite
could ever deny it to Louis Napoleon Bona
parte. Bismarck bore unwilling testimony
to the Emperor s courage when, as the Prus-
sian shells were raining upon Sedan, he said
(in answer to question as to whether Napo-
leon was there:) mo, | don't think him very
wise, but I do think him wise enough not to
expose himself to t~hat'-pointing to a shell
which went whizzing away in the direction
of the French lines. All the while Napoleon
was quietly sitting on horseback in the thick
of il, with shell after shell crushing around
him. 1t was no empty phrase that he penned
10 his letter to King William when he wrote,
mot having been permitted to die at the
head Of my troops etc. Indeed, it stands TO
reason that no fate could have been more
welcome to any man of ordinary courage at
such q moment"
e~ --@
The Religion OF ]OrOaste