The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-20
WASHINGTON AND NAPOLEON.
The Manner in Which Two Great Men Met
the Conqueror of All.


q. b., in st. Louis Globe democrat.
One of the noblest death scenes in the roll of
great soldiers was that which was witnessed at
Mount Vernon. in December, 1899 1t was all
duty and self abnegation. General Washington,
on Dec. 10, had spent the day preparing eab-
crate plans for the more economical manage
ment of his plantation, riding and walking over
the place on that and the succeeding two days
with his secretary, Mr.. Lear On the 18th there
was heavy snow, and he caught cold, which de-
veoped into acute laryngitis, from which he died
the following evening. 1t was very early on the
morning of the 14th, between and 4 o'clock,
when he appears to have become convinced
of approaching danger. He awoke his wife,
but would not suffer her to call servant, "lest
the girl might catch cold" Doctors were sum-
moned and he insisted on being bled encourag
ing them to draw more blood as they seemed to
finch. He was bled, altogether, four distinct
times, but without any apparent loss of strength.
In the afternoon he asked his wife to bring him
two wills, one of which he caused to be de-
stroyed. and. handing the other to her. said to
his secretary, IL find l am going my breath
cannot last long" Later after his secretary
had helped to turn him in bed he said: 81 am
afraid shall fatigue you too much; it is debt
we must pay to each other and hope when you
want aid of this kind you will find it."
To his old friend DR.. Craik he shortly afterwards
said: Doctor die hard, but am not afraid
to CO." And added when all the four physicians
surrounded him: Il feel myself going; l thank
y
more trouble about me- Let me go quickly; /
can not last long," All this time it must be re-
membered that the illustrious man was suffer
ing accute pain in the throat every word he
word breathed thoughtfulness for others, even to
telling his colored man Christopher to ''be
seated when he thought he had been standing
too long. At about 10 o'clock he said to
Mr.. Lear: II am fast going; have me decently
buried, and do not let my body be put into the
va111t Three aft + am
being unable to speak for emotion, the dying
General continued: do you understand meP
and upon receiving signal in the affirmative,
said: sit is we'll" These were his last words.
In few minutes more he died, peacefully, with
out struggle. Mrs. Washington, seeing the
change, asked: SIS he gomez" and on seeing that
it was surely So she also said: cit is WE'LL" add
ing, sail is over now; l shall soon follow him.
have no more trials to pass through" Comment
on the grand simplicity of this scene would be
impertnent.
Now let us turn from this noble picture to
another. When Washington was dying Napole-
on was nearing the zenith of his lurid career.
Within two years of that date he was almost
absolute master OF Europe Kings and emper
ors were his most obedient servants. Fate itself
seemed to obey him. Laws. both human and
divine. he defantly spurned, saying: They
charge me with the commission of great crimes.
impious boast he seemed sincerely to
believe. In twenty years Napoleon was
chained to lonely rock in the ocean,
q new Prometheus, watched over by narrow
minded but vigilant iailers, and with his own
baffled pride and ambition as the twin vultures
to gnaw at his vitals His latter days were
filled with perpetual quarrels and petty bicker-
ings with Sir Hudson Lowe, and when he came
to die he left but single muttered phrase for
men to remember. While rapidly passing into
Inconsistencies he murmured twice: ''Tete
d'armee, Tete d'armee," showing how inextn-
guishable was the flame that had led him on in
his career of conquest. There is picture in
the Mercantile Library of Napoleon on his
death bed also fine cast of his head, taken
Immediately after death. Both tell the same
-indomitable pride, indomitable egotism