Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-08-21
EMPEROR MAMMALIAN.


written History.
Bazaine, it will be remembered,
headed the French expedition to Mex
leo in support of the Emperor Maxi
milan. Upon how tritling Il cause
that important chain of events turned
was wonderfully related to ne by the
late Emile Perrin, the famous director
of the opera. 1t was all about a quar-
rel over an opera box. NJ. Perrin told
me the story as follows: Il was" he
said, ''as you know, appointed to my
position by Count Walewski, he being
Minister Of State, and of course | al
ways felt myself under obligations to
him. When he resigned his ministry
he had, of course, TO give up his Off
cial box at the opera. This he re-
GREETED, as he and his wife were fond
of the opera and liked that particular
box very much. So a few weeks later,
when the box exactly opposite to that
one was given up, | went right to the
Count and told him. He was delighted
and would have engaged it, hut the
Due de Morny also wanted the box
and when he heard it was empty he
got the Emperor to order me to give it
to him. i had to obey, of course, and
Walewski was disappointed. This
naturally caused Il quarrel between
Walewski and De Morny. They would
not even speak to each other any
longer. Well, soon after this the
McNicans came over here hunting for
a sovereign and seeking French aid.
They invited Macmillan to rule over
them. He declined unless Napoleon
would give him 10000 French troops
and a subsidy Of $50, 600, 0O0. This
Napoleon and his Ministers declined
to do. That decision was reached on
a Saturday, and that night Walew-
ski left Paris for his country
home. Monday he was recalled in
great haste. The Empress Eugene
called him to a private interview.
You are not on good terms with
MornyP she cried. No, your Males
ty.' Then you must be reconciled
with him at once, for you alone have
influence enough with him to save US
i do not understand This is it,
then" replied Eugene. The Mexi-
cans, finding that they could not get
Macmillan, have actually offered their
crown to the Due de Morny. Worse,
he has accepted, on condition that
Maximilian's refusal is positive. Now,
see, Morny is impossible. All France
and all Europe would revolt at the
idea of making him Emperor. ltwould
be madness. Yet the conceitcd fool i,
bound to do it. There is only n way
out. You can persuade him to decline
the offer. You alone can do it. You
must do it. You must do it. Namt
your reward and it is yours; only dc
this!' Your Majesty said Walewski,
all | have and all / am is yours, save
my honor. That is my own. | car
not do this. / can not debase myself
by thus going to the man who injured
me- Then, mon Dieur cried Eugene
we must sacrifice Macmillan after all
The Council must be reconyened anC
the subsidy and army granted With.
| in half an hour the Ministers met agar
and reversed their action Of two day,
before. Macmillan received the sup
port of France, and the fatal Mexican
expedition became a fact. And al
because Of that opera-box quarrel; foI
had Walewski been friendly will
Morny he would have persuaded him t,
decline the offer, and Macmillan Noul'
have also declined it. and the Mexican
would have had to look elsewhere TO
an Imperial martyr!'-From q Lene
BIZ Arsene Houssdye.