The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-02-21


But week after week rolled away
and not one of his letters was an
swered. At length one of the unfor-
tunate prisoners memorials fell into
the hands of Fontanes, the head of the
University of Paris, who knew the
blameless character of the lexicog-
rapher, and had long held him in es-
TEEN. Fully convinced of the inno-
cence of the man, who he knew had
devoted long life to the completion
of dry and arduous labors, he watched
for an opportunity of mentioning him
to the Emperor. The great Napoleon
happened to be in one of his gracious
moods; he took from Fontanes the
captive's written plea, read it over,
and agreeing with him that there must
be some mistake, summoned the Duke
of Otranto to his presence and de-
manded an explanation.
The Duke knew no more of the mat
ter than they did, and professed him
self quite as much surprised at the ar
rest of Boiste as Boiste could have
been to be arrested. True, there was
his signature to the order; but then,
as often happened, he had probably
signed the paper when it was laid be-
fore him without reading it. He could
give no explanation, and now in
his turn he summoned the pre-
feet. The project had no expla-
nation to give, really knew moth
ing of the business, and he sent
for his deputy. The deputy, after a
search of some days, did contrive to
rummage up the original of the fatal
document. He hastened with it to
the Tuileries, and then it was dis
covered that it had been drawn up
upon the denunciation of the censor.
who had actually accused Boiste of
having characterized Bonaparte as a
Spoliateur The document afforded no
information as to how, when, or where
the offense was committed. The cen
sor was Immediately ordered to put in
an appearances; but he happened to be
three hundred miles off, engaged in his
periodical tour of inspection and super
vision of the provincial press.
LET the prisoner himself be ex-
amined, said Napoleon. ''It must be
blunder of some ones; for, not to
mention that Boiste is incapable OF
such an act, it really would not be
common sense to insert calumnies in a
dictionary"
Next morning Boiste was permitted
to emerge from his prison, and was
driven off to the Duke of Otranto's
Office, where he found NJ Fontanes
also awaiting him.
Sir" said the Duke, ''you are ac-
cused of libeling the august sovereign
who rules over this mighty empire.
"lKe accused of libel! I. my lord
Surely you can not be serious? A libel
comes from libellus, little book
never made one in my life, sir. ASK
that gentleman, sir, the principal ot
our University; he will tell you that
know too well the Specification and the
power of words, to-
"But, nevertheless, said M. Fon
tanes, showing him the accusation, but
hiding the signature with his finger
''read this. !"
Boiste read it through as desired
"Well ?n cried Otranto. seeing the
tranquil face quite unmoved.
| ''Is that all P" demanded Boiste.
"Altr' said the Duke. "Quitt
enough, should think. / hope, fol
your sake, it is a mistake"
mo mistake at all, 1t is the truth. ,
.The truth y
'Most certainly. | inserted it to dc
honor to the Emperor.
ITO do the Emperor honor "
'Yes. TO prove that he is as thor.
ough a linguist as he is warrior.
"Sir," said Fouche, impatiently, eve
have no time for iesting, / assure you
l should Ant dream of taking such /
liberty with your Excellency."
"Then be SO good as to afford ui
some explanation.
Certainly there is nothing more
easy Then taking a copy of his new
Dictionary, which lay on the table, ht
opened it, found the word Spoltateur
and pointed to the two words as they
stood thus ''Spotiateur, Batonaparte
''And what. exclaimed the indig
nant functionary, "could have tempted
you to such foul libel as that?"
"Libeli / only gave His Majesty
the honor that was due to him.
print his name after the word Spoil
atetr. as the authority for its use. I
was he who first made use of the word
he did so in the tribune, when he wai
General Bonaparte; he coined tht
word in the first instance, and it wa
never known in the French Language
until he gave it currency
The Duke looked at NJ. Fontanes
and NJ. Fontanes looked at the Duke
and both smiled in rather subduet
way at this simplest of all possibl,
explanations. Boiste was immediately
restored to liberty; but his art
less attempt to do credit to the En-
peror put him to no inconsiderablt
I L II y