The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-20
An Island Prison.

AL 2Sluuu ITISUus
In mid-ocean, midway between Africa
and South America, lies st. Helena,
known in history as the Island Prison.
Here in this lonely spot man, who had
once made all Europe tremble, pined and
fretted away his life. As you approach
the Island, it seems to be a huge rock /;
a nearer view shows that there are val
leys and ravines, with here ard there
luxuriant vegetation. Half a century
ago the surface was mostly waste land,
the road poor, the few houses scarcely
habitable. The waves dashed so wildly
against the shore that ships could land
only in one place. Waves and rocks,
then, were the bolts and bars which con-
fined this famous prisoner.
You all know of this great hero, Napo
leon Bonaparte; he who led large
army through the defiles of the Alps,
while the world was saying that it was
impossible; who fought and conquered
as he marched Eastward over The plains
of Europe; who forced the terrified Rus
SLAMS to burn Moscow, and then led back
through the snow his retreating army,
perishing by thousands from cold and
hunger. And then came Waterloo, and
his public life was ended.
1t was Oct. Is, 1915, when he first
caught sight of the island from the deck
of the steamer Northumberland.
"Wbat am l to do on this little rock at
the end of the world ?" he said.
At every opening on the shore cannon
pointed seaward. He soon realized more
than ever that he was in reality pris.
oner on this island. A circumference of
twelve miles was marked off. Within
this boundary Napoleon took his exer-.
else. One or more officers were with him
continually, and sentinels were stationed
at the limits. No stranger entered with
out pass. Under such guards he lived
for more than five years.
1t may seem strange that he did not
try, to escape; but, as fact, he thought
very little about the matter. On one
occasion, his attendants planned to carry
him away in a trunk filled with soiled
linen; again, he was to be disguised as
servant, carrying a dish. Itwas thought
that he might escape to America. When
Napoleon heard of this, be surprised them
all by saying, II would rather stay on
this bleak rock than be free but undis-
tinguished man in America"
So much for his ambition. He had
the feeling that France would again be-
come power in Europe and demand his
release; perhaps be imagined that Europe
herself in time would invite him from his
exile. But when he realized that France
was powerless and that Europe could do
without him be was nearly heart. broken.
Yet he settled down into sort of con.
tent. He became interested in garden.
ing; busted himself about shrubbery,
flowers and vegetables. He had pond
stocked with small fishes, in which he
took great delight. Owing to mixture
of copperas in cementing the basin, the
water became poisoned and the fishes
died. "It is so with all 1 love-" said
Napoleon. A strange sentiment from
man whose life had been spent destroy.
ing the beautiful things of the world
Much of his time was taken up in
writing passages from his life, which
have since been published. Then he
received his visitors, many of whom
stopped on their way to the East Indies
to see this renowned island prisoner. He
was very fond of chess and horseback.
riding. 1t is said that his handsome
horses came from the Cape of Good
Hope.
Ifyou were to read some of Napoleon's
conversations while a prisoner at St.
Helena, you would think him very
moral man. A few of his attendants
were in6dels. Trying to convince them
of their error, he says, "You may talk as
long as you please, but who made all
this?" pointing to the sky.
He fully realizes his lonely position.
Now that am at St. Helena, now that
I am alone, chained to this rock, who
fights for me? Who thinks of me /?
Where are my friends?"
Yet this same man had said, when in
the height of his power, Friendship is
but name, love silly infatuation." II
love nobody-not even my brother-per-
haps my brother Joseph little, from
habit"
In spite of his talks on Christianity,
his whole life shows that he had no moral
principle, and that he failed because he
lacked this one essential thing. Emer-
son says that he would steal, slander,
kill, poison, drown, as he felt it for his
interest.
For five years and seven months be
lived here prisoner. During the last
year or two his health began to fail rap
idly. Still he refused to take medicine.
He said that mans days we're numbered,
and that physicians were of no use. He
wished to be buried on the banks of the
Seine, in his beloved France, but this
was not granted until many years after.
He died May 5, 1921, and was buried in
q quiet valley of st. Helena. Near by
was fountain from which his servants
had filled silver pitchers for him. In his
last will he says, ~ die, prematurely
assassinated by the English aristocracy."
e. w. FLAGG, in C0ngregationakst.