The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07
SOME NEW BOOKS.
A. Engiishmsn In Paris.
SECOND ARTICLE.

Al Engiishmsn In Paris.
SECOND ARTICLE.
Since we noticed the FIRST volume OF this book
doubt has been cast on the report which as
cribed II to tho late Sir Richard Wallace. and
which previously had been accepted in Eng
land as authentic. Now the rumor Is denied
by the London Spectator on authority which 1t
does not specify. but which 1t says It can en-
tirely trust The internal evidence Of Sir
Richards authorship OF the book was very
strong. and H. after all. no did not write It. the
source OF the work Is likely to become one OF
tho puzzles OF literature. 1t Is evident that
the authors position was precisely such as
-. Richard is known to havO occupied. and
that his experience was similar both as re-
CARDS extent OF time and social range. 1t lie
only in the second volume that some materials
may DO detected which might have been pro-
cured at second hand. But even here there Ia
q great deal OF information which Ii plainly
the outcome of Independent observation on
the part OF one enjoying extraordinary oppor-
tunity. Whom We ind the author equally at
home in tho palace and the studio. and treated
apparently with as much deferenco by the au-
thorities OF tho Commune as he had been at
Compiagne. we are fnln to ask ourselves In
perplcxty who but Sir Richard Wallace could
possibly have satisfied all the complex cendi.
tons needed for tho production OF these notes2
Tho belief in his authorship was strengthened
by tho incessant exhibition OF reluctancot to
pronounce literary judgments and by the
studious avoidance o, criticism on the con-
duct OF political and military affairs.
!.
There Is nothing in these volumes more
striking than the authors record OF the i'm
preston made on him by Napoleon I'LL 1t
docs really seem that he. II any one. has
solved the riddle OF the Bonapartist sphinx.
1t was ut the Hotel du Rhin. in 1913 that he
caught his first glimpse OF the son OF Hor-
tense. who was at that time scarcely ever dos
ignated by any other name. The latter was
then a candidate for the Presidency OF the
second republic. The author owns that he
was disappointed in tho Princes appearance
Though no had not the slightest ground for
expecting to soc q fine man. he did not expect
TO soc ono 50 utterly insignificant. and so bad
ly dressed into tho bargain. On the evening
in question Louis NAPOLEON WORD Il brown coat
OF n peculiar color, green plush waistcoat.
and a pair OF yellowish trousers. the like OF
which had mover been seen on the legs or any
one off the stage. Nevertheless. it is conceded
By the author that Lord Normandy. and u good
many more who have said that he looked every
inch Il king. were not ato.oth 81 wrong. There
was certain grncefuness about him which
owed absolutely nothing either to his tailor
his barber. or his bootmakcr. The graceful
ness Of awkwardness" sounds remarkably
like an Irish bull. yet the author can find no
other term to describe his gait and carriage.
Louis Napolnon's legs seemed TO have been an
afterthought OF his Cr"ator-they were too
short for his body. and his head appeared
constantly bont down to supervise their mo-
ton: consequently their owner was always at
O disadvantage when compelled to mako use
OF Thorn. When standing still. however. or on
horseback. there was something about the
man that Mt once commanded attention.
Our author tells us that when he entered
the apartment Louis Napoleon was leaning in
his iavorite attitude against the mantelriece
smoking the scarcely ever absont cigarette
and pulling at tho heavy brown moustache.
tho ends of which ia those days were not |
wnxed int points they were later On. There |
was not tho remotcsG likeness to any portrait |
OF tho Bonapar:e family. He wore his thin. |
lank nair much Longer than he did afterwnrd.
THE most startling features werr decidedly
the auuilino nose aud the Dyes: tho latter OF u
grayish blue. were comparatively small and
somewhat almond shape. but except ut raro
intervals there was an impenet-abo look
which made it exceedingly difficult. IL not inn
possible. to read thoir owners thoughts in
the blinds were constantly down. The lam
pleased to see you. sir" with which hc well
coined the visitor. holding out his hand at tho
samo time was the English OF IN educated
German who had taken gtent pains to get the
right accent and pronunciation without how
svor com pletey succeeding. When he spoke
french his constant struggle with the .ame
difficulties was at once detected. The strug-
gle lasted to the very END OF his life. though
by dint Of speaking very slowly he ovcrcame
the difficulties to n marvellous extent But
the moment he became in any way excited tho
is and tho is and the p's were al
ways trying to Gust tho VS.. tho DIS.
and tho BIS from their newly acquired
positions and often gained momentary
victory. There is 1t seems. an amusing story
to that effect in connection with Louis Napo-
Icons first interview with Bismarck. 1t sounds
blunt enough to be genuine. The Emperor
was COMMUNICATING the German statesman on
his French. M. dc Bismarck. l have never
heard German speak French You do"
said Napoleon. will you allow me to return
the com liment. sire 7" Certainly" "Ihaye
nover heard Freuchman spenk French as
you do" In n foot note appended by the editor
OF these recollections is some further evidence
on this point. In the documents relating to
tho affair at Strusburg there was. wo learn. n
report to Louis Philippe by an officer in the
Forty sixth Regiment Of the line In which the
latter. borrowing the process OF Balzac as ap-
Piled to tho French Of the Baron de Nucingen.
credits Louis Napoleon with the following
phrase: "Fous ttes t6cor6 do Chuillet: fous
toiez 6tre I'm prafc; che fous tGcoro"
To return to our authors interview. Ho
says that when Prince Louis Napoleon held out
his hand and he looked into his face he felt
almost tempted to put him down rs an opium
~ ,trtk% E.lA
convinced that. to use n metaphor. the Prince
himself was the drug. and that every one with
whom he came in contact was bound to yield
to its influence. That is to say. Louis Napo-
leon hypnotized his interlocutors in the sense
that clever people folt themselves less clever
in his presence. That. curously enough. is an
effect which is more often produced b. stu
piaty than by intellect. hut in the case OF the
Prince 1t gave tho intellect which he undoubt-
edly possessed an inordinate prcponderance.
Our author says that when no came away he
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