Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-02-16
LOUIS NAPOLEON.
The Death of the Last French Emperor,
From Blanchard Jerold's History of Napoleon

Ill
The emperor believed that universal suff-
frage would redress his wrongs, confound
his calumniators. and re-erect the empire.
He was confident that the millions of the
people who had responded to his appeal in
the spring of 1870 were still true to him.
But when the news of the elections reached
him at Chiselhurst he was overwhelme d
with grief. He uttered not single COM
plant. It is not on record that he gave
way even momentarily to anger; but he
was struck to the heart, for he truly
loved the people from whom the blow
proceeded. For some days he remained in
deep melancholy; and then his patient
spirit reasserted itself, and he turned 10
his little study by his bedroom, where he
worked, with the portraits of the empress
and Prince Imperial on the desk before
him, at his dreams for the good of the
many who had just spurned him.
His disease had been aggravated by the
physical exhaustion OF the campaign, and
especially by the hours he had spent in the
saddle Sedan, so that he moved little be-
yond the bounds of the park about Camden
place. He went in the summer of 1872 to
the Isle of Wight; but the good
gained was only temporary. He
and down the long corridor of Camden
Place with his arm on the young princes
shoulder, while he talked to him of men
and things. inculcating those kindly senti-
ments and generous ideas which time has
already compelled his enemies to concede
to him. After the mid day breakfast, at
which the little court met for the first time
in the day, he would sit in the morning.
room in his arm chair (the arms supported
by eagles) by tie wood fire, and talked
cheerfully with the empress or with any
visitors who had come. It was small cir
Gle in which the imperial couple moved,
but it was one Of steadfast friends
At the close of 1872 the emperors advis-
ers agreed that an operation had become
necessary, and it was fixed for Jan. q.
Two operations were successfully carried
out, but the state of the patient gave rise to
serious doubts as to the ultimate results.
On the evening of January 8, the emper-
or'5 case appeared more hopeful than on
any previous day since the operations be-
gan. He sleptpeacefully through the night.
watched by turns by NM. Conneau, Filou,
Clary, and the doctors. He was able to
rise from his bed in the morning and felt
relieved. Another, and it was hoped final,
operation was to take place at noon. The
empress had visited him as usual.
At half past 10 Sir Henry
Thompson approached him. A sudden
change became apparent. The strong reg
ular pulse fell rapidly; the action Of the
heart failed. The doctors were alarmed.
and in few moments the empress was at
her husbands bedside, but he did not rec
ognize her. Some stimulants were ad-
ministered, and the patient rallied for a
moment. And then the Abbe Goddard
administered the last sacraments of the
church, amid the weeping of the kneelinp
gentlemen and ladies Of the household, who
had gathered about the death bed. When
the empress leant over him and embraced
him, the emperor's eyes fell upon his wife;
he could not speak audib!y, but
he raised his lips to kiss
the devoted and heroic companion he had
taken TO his heart at the height of his glory,
and. who had comforted his exile; and then
he passed into his long sleep. He had
oreathed his last when his son arrived from
Woolwich. 1t was quarter past eleven o.
the 9th day of January, 1878.
The emperor's last words, family ad.
dressed to DR.. Conneau, were, "Etiez vous
Sedan?"
The poor young prince arrived from
Woolwich only half an hour after his faith
er had passed The empress met him
at the door of the death chamber, and talk
ing him in her arms cried-"I have only
you, Louis, leftl"