The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12
ANECDOTES OF nAPo1EoN.
His Personal Habits In Palace and Camp
"A Petition to the k.Gg OF Rome.


"A Petition to the K.sg of Rome.
| st. James Gazette.
Having got rid Of Josephine by divorce, Ma
| poleon found successor to her in Marie Louise.
of Austria who 10 thus described by Mime.
Durand
Marie Louise was then eighteen years and six
| months old; she had majestic figure, noble
carriage, great deal of freshness and bloom,
fair hair, which was not insipid, blue eyes, but
they had animation in them, hands and feet
which might have served as models for a
sculptor. She was, perhaps, little too
stout-a defect she soon got rid OF IN France.
Such were the personal advantages which
were first remarked in her. Nothing could be
more gracious, more amiable, than her face,
when she was quite at ease either in her private
she was particularly intimate; but in public. and
especially on her first arrival in France, her
timidity gave her an embarrassed air which
many people mistook for haughtiness She had
been very carefully educated, her tastes were
simple, her mind was cultivated. No woman
could have suited Napoleon better.
When Napoleon married Princess Marie Louise
he was forty one years of age, and here is an ac-
count of his personal habits.
In camp. and during his early campaigns Ma
weather, slept under wretched tent. and
seemed to forget all care for his person In his
palace he bathed almost every day, rubbed
his whole body over with eau de
cologne and sometimes changed bis linen
several times in the day. His favorite CO.'S
tune was that Of the mounted Chasseurs de
la Garde. When travelling he did not care
what sort Of lodging he had, provided that no
ray OF light could get into his bedroom; he
could not bear even night lamp. His table
was supplied with the daintiest dishes, but he
never touched them. His favorite dish
grilled breast of mutton. or roast fowl with
lentils or haricot beans He was very partcu-
lar about the quality of bread, and he drank
none but the best wine, and very little of it. It
has been stated that he drank eight or ten cups
Of coffee daily but this is fable to be discarded
with so many others. He took small cup
of coffee after his breakfast and the same after
his dinner. He ate very fast and rose the mo-
ment he was DONE without troubling himself as
to whether those who were admitted to his table
had had time to dine. 1t has also been asserted
that he took the greatest precautions against
poison; this too, is pure falsehood. He spoke
In q loud voice, and when he was in a merry
mood his peals of laughter could be heard from
afar. He was fond of singing, though he had a
bad voice. and never could sing an air in tune.
When Marie-Louse bore son who was desig
n ated King of Rome, the Emperor was highly
pleased and took great interest in the child, a
frolc with whom always put him into good
humor. Persons who came at such times to
solicit favors were pretty sure to be graciously
received
M v, man of real talent, who was at
once highly informed and very poor, asked for
Oh appointments, uut, uhflue uO pdtTODs turoc Or
four petitions which he presented never reached
the hands Of the Emperor. Worn out, impatient
and daily growing poorer, he devised
stratagem which would have been worthy
of a courtier of Louis XIV. Necessity
frequently inspires happy thoughts he
drew up. with great care, little
placet, which he addressed to His Majesty the
King of Rome" He only asked for place
worth 100 louis; this was very modest request.
Full of the hope of success, lie went to M. D..
Emperor. stated his distressful case. and showed
equal to his valor, led the petitioner into the
presence of Napoleon. His Majesty took
the paper and remarked the superscription
said the applicant, "that is a petition for his
Majesty the King of Rome" Every well. them"
said the Emperor 'let it be taken to its address
The King OF Rome was then six months old. A
chamberlain was ordered to conduct the petition
er into the presence of his baby majesty. NJ.
v, seeing that fortune smiled upon him, was
equal to the occasion. He presented himself be-
fore the cradle of the King, and after he had
mnde profound and respectful reverence
he unfoded the paper and read its contents in
loud and distinct voice The infant King hav-
ing uttered some inarticulate sounds, M. V
and the chamberlain again saluted his Majesty
and returned to the Emperor, who asked, with
the greatest seriousness what answer they had
obtaianed. ''Sirs," said the cham berlain, shis
Majesty. the King of Rome, made no reply"
Every well. /" said Napoleon, ''silence gives con-
sent" Shortly afterward NJ. v was ap.
pointed to post in department administra-
tration, at q salary of 600 francs.