The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-20
NAPOLEON AS A MAN.
Glimpses Behind the Scenes in the Life of the
Great Emperor.

Great Emperor.
The recently published memoirs of Napoleon
by his secretary, Louis Antoine de Bourrienne,
contain the following. "Ah, Bourrienne, you
will also be immortal" said Napoleon. How.
Generall" Are you not my secretaryF Ger
tainly the world would never have remembered
Bourriennne had he not been Napoleons secre-
tary and as it is, remembers little good of him
but that he wrote a life depicting the personality
OF Napoleon with extraordinary vividness and
truthfuness.
Some trifng incident occurred to mar the
harmonious relations between Napoleon and the
author. He determined, he says, to bring the
matter to conclusion. After the trouble had
existed for three days. with no sign of. recon
Citation, ne went to the Consul after he had re-
tired to bed.
II went to his chamber to which was adj
mitted at all hours / had a candle in my hand,
and, taking a chair, I sat down on the right side
of the bed and placed the candle on the table.
Both he and Josephine awoke What is the
matter no asked, with surprise. General, l
have come to tell You that l can no longer re-
main here since 1 have lost your confidence.
You know how sincerely am devoted to you.
If you have anything to reproach me
with let. me at least know it, for my
situation during the last three days has been
very painful What has Bourrenne doneP in
quired Josephine, earnestly. That does not
concern you, he replied. Then turning to me,
he said: 1t is true have cause to complain of
you. l am informed that you have spoken of
important affairs in a very lndiscreet manner
1 can assure you that spoke to none but your
brother 1t was he who led me into the con-
versation ard is too well versed in the business
for me to tell him any secret must confess,
replied Bourrienne, that after what / heard
from Joseph, / thought it right to put my conf
dence in quarantine The quarantine has last
ed three days, General; surely that is enough
We'll. Bourrienne, let us say no more about
it Open my letters as usual. You will
find the answers a good deal in
arrears, which has much vexed me- I
fancy still see and hear the amiable Josephine
sitting up in bed and saying in her gentle way,
What, Bonaparte, is it possible you could sus-
pect Bourrienne, who is so attached to you, and
who is your only friend9 How could you suffer
such a snare to be laid for him? What dinner
got up on purpose! How hate those odious
police maneuvers! Go to sleep said Bona
parte; let women mind their gewgags and not
interfere with politics. 1t was near in the
morning before | retired
"Bonaparte was in the prime of life, and
about thirty. The person Of Bonaparte has
served as model for the most skillful painters
and scuptors; many able French artists have
successfully delneated his features, and yet it
may be said that no perfectly faithful portrait
of him exists. His finely-shaped head his
superb forehead his pale countenance. and his
usual meditative look have been transferred to
the CANVASS; but the versatility of his express
sion was beyond the reach OF imitation. All the
vigorous workings of his mind were instan-
taneously depicted in his countenance, and his
glanced changed from mild to severe, and from
anger to good humor, almost with the Iapdtv
of lightning. 1t may truly be said that he had
a particular look for every thought that arose
in his mind. When walking either alone in
company with any one in his apartments or in
his garden, he had the habit of STOPPING little
and crossing his hands behind his back. He
frequently gave an involuntary shrug of his
shoulder, accompanied by movement of his
mouth from left to right. This
habit was always most remarkable
the consideration of any profound subject 1t
was often while walking that he dictated to me
his most important notes. He could endure
great fatigue, not only on horseback, but on
foot. He would sometimes walk for five or six
hours in succession without being aware of it.
When walking with any person whom he treated
with familiarity he would link his arm into that
of his companion and lean on it. He used often
to say to me: You see Bourrienne how temper
ate and thin I am: but in spite of that l cannot
help thinking that at forty shall become great
eater and get very fat His partiality
for the bath he mistook for a necessity. He
would usually remain in the bath two hours,
during which time used to read to him extracts
from the journals and pamphlets of the day, for
he was anxious to hear and know all that
was going While in the bath he contin-
ually turning on the warm water to raise the
temperature, SO that was sometimes enveloped
in such dense vapor that I could not see to
read, and was obliged to open tho door, y
His orders were that should call him every
morning at 7. was, therefore, the first to enter
his chamber, but very frequently when awoke
him he would turn himself and say, 'Ah, Bour-
rienne let me lie little longer When there
was no very pressing business | did not disturb
him again until o'clock. He in general slept
seven hours out of the twenty four, besides tax
ing short nap in the afternoon. Among the
private instructions which Bonaparte gave me,
one very curious. During the night, said
he, enter my chamber as seldom as possible.
Do not awake me when you have any good news
to communicate; with that there is no hurry.
But when you bring bad news. rouse me in
stantly, for then there is not moment to be
lost"