The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-09
NAPOLEON AND LITTLE "BETsEE"
A Child's Recollections of the Great
french Emperor in Exile.
+ rom the Manchester Time

The recent decision of the English gov
eminent to withdraw the garrison Of
imperial troops stationed for so many years
on the lonely and threatening rock of St.
Helena Rwakens q thousand recollections.
Many a heart sank at the aspect of the
abrupt, almost perpendicular, sides of this
huge mass, when, early in the century,
a British man-ofwar approached the island
bearing on board the unhappy Napoleon
Bonaparte. Seventy days of almost unen-
durable life on the Northumberland ended
by one night, passed under military guard,
in hostelry in st. Helena. The hateful
prison Of Lougwood being as yet unpre-
pared for its guest, the authorities selected
the house of MIR. Balcombe, a merchau [, as a
temporary resting place for the unfortunate
prisoner Of war, and he went thither the
next day.
Mr. Balcombe had charming wife and
young family. One young daughter, about
IL years of age at the time, has recorded
her impressions of the Emperor Napoleon
in deeply interesting narrative. For
nearly two months this sprighty girl was
daily in the society of that most unhappy
exile. and saw him through a different
medium from that in which he had ever
had the opportunity of presenting
himself to English eyes; though Tai
ma, and other stars of the French
stage-not forgetting Mile Georges, the
actress WHO begged permission to share and
Tighten his captivity-knew his gaiety and
his artistic nature Mr.. Balcombe, holding
the appointment of purveyor to the en-
peror, was in communication with him, not
only during the stay at the Briars, but in
the subsequent terrible captivity at Long
wood; aud the young girl who recounts her
impressions of Napoleon was without fear
Of self-consciousness in her intercourse with
him.
All preconceived notions of the terrible
"Bony" gave way before the playful and
friendly manifestations shown by Napoleon
to Mile. Betsee," as he called her. The
GOODNESS of his stern, pale features soon
melted into fascinating smiles, and his
games of play with the child quickly put
her quite at her case. Once, it is true, find
ing her at lessons, he asked a uues.
ton as to the capitals of Europe.
And what is the capital of
Russian he asked. Petersburg now,
but Moscow formerly" said the little girl;
when, with voice OF thunder and fiery
eyes, Napoleon asked who had burned Mos
cow. This CHASTITY and frightful remem-
brance no doubt scorched his very heart
and quickly changed the courteous gentle
man into an image of unbounded terror in
the eyes of his youthful companion. But,
as a rule, Napoleon would snow an almost
boyish mirth, not unmixed with tinge Of
malice.
| A little friend of "Mademoiselle Betsee"
| came to the BriarS, and having heard terri
| bic stories of "Bony," chung in agony to
| "Betses" when the emperor came out on the
lawn. Seesng this. Napoleon walked up to
her, brushed his hair up with his hands.
shook his head made horrible faces, and
gave regular howl, after the Cossack
manner. Having frightened the child al
most into Mysteries, the emperor began to
| laugh violently.
The adventurous "Mees Betsee," in re-
venge for some teasing tricks Of the en-
peror, kept him at bay, on one occasion, in
a corner of the drawing-room at the Briars,
! by hourishing over his head a magnificent
saoer, which he had shown her as a curios-
ity. The spirited child made repeated passes
at her ilustrious victim, and entreated him
| to say his prayers, as she meant
| to kill him. Her cries of
exultation brought her elder sister
to the spot, and, indeed, "Aiees Betsee's"
and she soon desisted. The grand chamber
| lain also came to the rescue, his parchment
visage glowing with indignation at the in
! suit offered to his master Napoleon, how
| ever, only pinohed the ear of the young
rebel, and laughed good-humoredly.
AT the whist table that evening he re-
venged himself on his you hful tormentor
by revoking, and finally mixing the cards
| together to prevent discovery. On being
accused of this by Miss Bstsee," he
adroitly ran Off with her new frock, which
! lay on the sofa, a white frock with
rosebuds, intended TO be worn at
| Sir George COckburn's ball. 1t
was Napoleon himself who had asked
| leave of Mr.. Balcombe for the little girl to
attend the bail, and be now ran
| off with her dress, and locked himself in his
own apartments. "Mees Betsee" remon-
strated outside the closed door, both in
! English and French, but was answered only
by laughter from within, and it was not
until the very day of the ball that the en-
peror restored the dress. Such amusements
as these hid for a few hours the CALLING
sense Of surveillance which weighed on the
mind OF the unsubdued captive.
The fire sin burned unquenched In those
veins OF Napoleon's. He who would play
at blind mans buff with tho children at the
| Briars and tease "Meas Betsee" 10 the point
of weeping, had his own terrible hours OF
gloom and depression. II must have been
strange for Mrs. Balcombs 20 hear him re-
grstting bis two wives and equAlly--one as
'Grace, the other as "Inuocence.n