The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-09-26
NAPOLEON'S RELICS.
The Little Camp Bed. the Long Gray De
and Other Memorial

The Little Camp Bed, the Long Gray Coat
and Other Memorials.
The bed on which Napoleon First
slept during his great campaigns and on
which he died at Saint Helena!
This must always be an object of af-
fectionate interest to the millions of ad-
mirers of the famous generals career
and exploits when they see it henceforth
in the magnificent mausoleum where
the emperor reposes in the Invalides.
By decree of President Carnot this
humble camp bed and few other relics
of the celebrated leader of men have
been removed from the Louvre museum
In Paris, where they have been since
1871, and may now be seen at the In
valides in the tomb.
The little iron bed, with its draperies
in light blue silk, now hanging in tat
tiers, and the red silk coverlet embroid-
cred with gold, pierced through and
through by the envious moth, is GER
tainly an object of profound interest.
How many times Napoleon has sprung
from it at dawn to mount horse and
ride away to direct battle on which
the fate of millions was hanging! How
many times he has been awakened
from dream of home and friends, to
find the cold morning air blowing in his
face, and to hear the tramp of the tens
of thousands march to execute the or
ders which he has given over night.
-
COW! What story it could tell if it
could speak,
All the noted captains have liked the
narrow camp beds Some kings, imi-
tating them, always sleep on them.
The old emperor of Germany never
slept on any other and he died on one.
The Duke of Wellington had one so mar
row that it made him daily illustrate
his own maxim: when the soldier
turns over in bed it is time to turn out"
He believed that sleep should be
dreamless, fast-the repose after abso-
Lutte fatigue; and SO did Napoleon. 1t
was because he slept on camp bed
and had trained himself to do so that he
could spring up after slum Der of three
or four hours and begin debating to
three or four secretaries, at the same
time carrying on a discussion on gov
eminent measures and conducting the
campaign also.
Besides the little camp bed, the rel
les comprise the noted old gray riding
coat in which the emperor was so often
seen and for which the tailor, Lejeune,
charged him one hundred and sixty
francs = not very expensive uniform
coat for an emperor. The small cooked
hat seen at Malmaison in 1867 - when
there was a restoration of the imperial
mansion as it was when Napoleon and
Josephine lived there together - and
the uniform which the emperor wore at
Marengo are the only garments left.
They will be hung at the foot of the
tomb in glass cases.
The bed and the bench on which Ma
poleon sat for hours at st. Helena are
to be placed in small hall by them
selves. Thousands will flock to see
them every Sunday, as thousands go to
visit and to gaze with almost fearful af-
lection upon the uniforms and swords
of Nelson at Greenwich in England.
The history of the bench which served
the emperor for an outdoor seat at
Saint Helena is simple. 1t was brought
from the lonely island by Sir Peregzine
Maitland, admiral of the station, and
offered by him to Queen Adelaide, of
England, who in her turn gave it to the
Royal Colosseum in Regents Park, and
the director of hatinstitution in process
of time gave it to Napoleon HIN. Y.
Journal.