San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-02
NAPOLEON.
N, Young Husband aad boy ConquerOr:-Hls
Early Career.
"Reminiscences by Count Mot.

"reminiscences by Count Mot
This is the latest and one of the most
..,luoble of the recent contributions to
,%s literature OF the time of the first
NSpoleon. Count Mot (made a count
nv Joseph Bonaparte) was an eye.wit.
Usss of many of the greatest of the
vents which distinguished the period
Seoinning with the French Revolution
and ending with the downfall of Napo.
Ieon. He was 'born in 1862, and his
carly home was in Versailles. He saw
the movement OF the Paris mob upon
the palace; he walked through the
building after it had been sacked; he
Looked into the faces of tho unhappy
King and queen as they were dragged
N the city, and he remained in the city
all through the reign of terror, hold
inc Office with remarkable dexterity
under the successive administrations
With many of the leaders of the Revo-
linton he had personal acquaintance,
and his descriptions of some of them
are not little interesting. OF Danton
he says:
He had a hideous face. His proper
tons were athletic; in that respect he
was even thought to resemble Mirabeau.
But the complexion of the latter was
of a livid pallor, while that of Danton
was of a reddish brown, and his conn
tenance was very animated. The tone
of his voice was impressive; he spoke
with warmth and energy that appeared
natural to him. His elocution was fiery,
and always accompanied by violent
gesticulation. ,,,.., - ........
Robespierre is thus described, as he
was seen at dinner: ......
Elegant in dress, carefully curled and
powdered, composed in manner, he
formed the most curious contrast with
the disorder, affected neglect and coarse
ness that appeared in the attire and
manners of his colleagues. His deport-
ment was grave, and he took hardly any
part in the conversation, speaking only
now and then few sententious words.
But Notwithstanding the immobility of
his pale and sinister countenance, it
was evident that he did not feel at his
ease, and I learned afterward that he
owed grudge to Deforgues for having
thrown him into the company of men
whom he pretended to regard as very
uncertain patriots, or, what was still
more criminal in his eyes, as moderate
Thus the conversation at dinner was
constrained. 1 also thought could
perceive by the few words uttered by
Robespierre that he especially desired
to be distinguished as great statesman.
Count Mot made narrow escape
from the guillotine, and it was only by
accident that he was permitted to live
and see the wonderful things that fol-
lowed the terror. While Napoleon was
in Italy, during his first campaign,
Count Mot was sent thither upon
diplomatic mission by the committee
of public safety. He met Napoleon for
the first time at Brescia, and he speaks
thus of the appearance of the young
conqueror at that period:
I was quite astonished at his appear
ance. Nothing could be more unlike
the idea my imagination had formed of
him. In the midst of numerous staff
I saw man below the middle height
and Of an extremely spare figure. His
powdered hair oddly cut and falling
squarely below the ears, reached down
to his shoulders. He was dressed in a
straight coat buttoned up to the chin
and edged with very narrow gold en-
broidery, and he wore tricolor feather
in his hat. At first sight he did not
strike me as handsome; but his strong
ly marked features, his quick and pierre
ing eyes, his brusque and animated
gestures revealed an ardent spirit, while
his wide and thoughtful brow was that
of profound thinker. He made me
sit near him, and we talked of Italy.
He spoke in short sentences, and, at
that time of his life: very incorrectly.
He crossed the rooms adjoining that
in which he received me, and gave
some orders to Murat, Lannes and Ju-
not, his aides-de-camp, and other Off
GERS in attendance. Everyone main
tanned toward him an attitude of res
pect, and L may even say of admira-
ton. I saw none of those marks of
familiarity between him and his COM
panions that I had observed in other
cases, and which was consonant with
republican equality. He had already
assumed his own place and set others
at distance.
Oftentimes he encountered Napoleon
under other circumstances, and the
glimpscs he affords of the man whose
fame was growing so fast are interest
ing. At Montebello:
Strict etiquette already reigned
around him; his aides-de-camp and his
officers were no longer received at his
table, and he had become fastidious in
the choice of the guests whom he adj
mitted to it. An invitation was an
honor and eagerly sought and obtained
with great difficulty. He dined, SO to
L Ii L. - Al,o