The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-05-20

An Inventory of His Personal Qualities and
Peculiar Mannerisms.

Peculiar Mannerisms.
Bourriennes Memoirs.
In perusing the history of the distin-
guished characters of past ages how often
do we regret that the historian should
have portrayed the hero rather than the
man. We wish to know even the most
trivial habits of those whom great talents
and vast reputation have elevated above
their fellow creatures. Is tins the eHec1
of mere curiosity, or rather Is 1t not an IN
voluntary feeling of vanity which prompts
us to console-ourselves for the superiority
of great men by rejecting on their faults,
their weakness, their absurdlties, IN snort,
all the points of resemblance between them
and common menl For the satisfaction of
those who are curious in details OF this
sort, i will here endeavor to paint Bona
part, as / saw him, in person and In mind,
to describe what were his tastes and haD-
it's and even his whims and caprices-
Bonaparte was now in the prime OF lie
and about thirty. The person OF BOnaparte
has served as a model for the most sklllfui
painters and SculptOrs many able french
artists have successfully deilneated MS Tea
lures, and yet it may be said that no per
fectly faithful portrait of HIM exists. Ills
finely-shaDed head. his superb forehead, his
pale countenance, and his usual medltatlve
look, have been transferred TO the canvas;
but the versa tility of his expression was
beyond the reach of imitation. All the va
riOus workings of his mind were lnstanta-
neously depicted In his countenance, and
his glance changed from mild to severe, ana
from angry to good-humOred, almost with
the rapidty of lightning. 1t may truly be
said that he had a particular look for every
thought that arose In his mind.
Bonaparte had beautiful hands. and he
wasvery proud of them; while cOnverslng he
would often look at them with an air or self
complacency. He also fancied he had fine
teeth, but his pretention to that advantage
was not SO well founded as his vanity on
the score of his hands.
When walking, either alone or In compa-
nv with any one, in his apartments or In
his gardens, he had the habit OF STOPPING
little, and crossing his hands behind his
back. He frequently gave an involuntary
shrug of his right shoulder, which was &C
cOmpanied by movement OF his mouth
from left to right. This habit was always
most remarkable when his mind was ab-
sorbed in the consideration of any profound
subject. 1t was often while walking That
he dictated to me his most important notes.
Napoleon always walked while debating.
He sometimes began while, seated, but at
in the room where he was, and walked W
and down it. This promenade lasted all
the time he was debating: AS he entered
into his subject he experienced a sort of
arm, which he twisted. while pulling with
his hand the lining of the cuff of his coat.
Still, his delivery was not quickened by
this movement, his step was also slow and
measured. Expressions came without effort
to render his thoughts. If they were some
times incorrect, this very incorrectness
added to their energy and always marvel
ously depicted to the mind what he wished
to say. Napoleon seldom wrote
himself Writing was fatigue for him.
His hand could not follow the rapidity of
his conception. His writing was an as
semblage of indecipherable characters with
out connection. Half of the letters of each
word were deficient He could not read it
over himself, or would not take the trouble
to do so. Ii any explanation were asked OF
him. he retook his draft, which he tore or
threw into the fire, while he dictated
afresh. giving the same ideas, but with
different expressions and words. His spell.
ing was incorrect, though he knew well
of others. < In figures, where there
is absolute and II positive exactness,
Napoleon also committed errors. 1t is,
however, right to Say that these errors
were not always committed undesignedly.
For instance, he always increased the total
of the number of men composing his bat
taliOns, regiments and divisions. Whatever
representations were made to him he re-
pulsed the evidence and Obstinately per-
sisted in his voluntary error in calculation.
His writing was illegible. and he detested
any writings which were difficult to read.
His notes, or the few lines he happened to
write, and which did NOT require any effort
of the mind were generally exempt from
faults -spelhn g. except in certain words
which we're always wrong. FOr.instance,
he wrote cabinet Swith g. He could
endure great fatigue, not only on horse
back but on foot. He would sometimes
walk for five or six hours in succession
without being aware of it.