The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-11

by large window, from which one could
see the capitol. Near this window was the
little iron bedstead of Napoleon. and on
this bed was woman almost 100 years
old, reclining against the pillows and atten-
lively listening to each sound. On her head
was muslin cap made like turban. The
calm face expressed meditation as in por-
trait made by her granddaughter, Princess
Charlotte Napoleon.
Madame leaned toward her visitors and
said TO my father, Baron LaTrey, l am very
much touched by this visit and | thank you
with all my heart. | think of you to-day as
L saw you long ago, You whom the Emperor
esteemed so much. For / know what he
said OF you in the recital of his captivity.
and recall The words of his last Will at ST.
Helena There sign of sublime sadness
touched the lips of Madame and she ex-
tended her thin hand 70 the friend she had
known in the past"
Her forehead expressed thought: her
straight nose resembled that of Napoleon /;
her eyes, once black, were gray and opaque
because OF a double cataract that deprived
her Of sight; her thin cheeks had hardly any
wrinkles; her well-cut lips showed sadness,
and the chin completed a profile that might
be compared 10 that Of a Roman Empress.
Around her were the portraits and busts
OF all her family, made by the great artists
OF her time-LOuis David. Gerard, Girodet,
Gros and lSabey represented painting, while
CanOya, Bartolini, Chaudet and Others rep
Napoleon dominated all aud these portraits
seemed grouped in advance about her, to
form. at the supreme hour OF her obsequies
Tesusc!tated cortege for this illustrious
mother of Napoleon.
Madame consulted Baron Larrev about
her inhrmties. Her double cataract, be-
cause OF her great age, presented very few
chances OF cure by a surgical operation.
Such was the advice of Dupuytren, and
such was that of the EmperCrs surgeon.
mi nd cnffa
able TO walk. because Of the fracture OF the
| thigh bone. The fracture had been badly
treated, and she remained in bed portion
| Of the day, while afternoon and evening
were spent on a chaise Tongue.
Awake very early in the morning, she
| first received her reader, who. until 10
| o'clock, told her all the news. She always
| breakfasted in bed, on a mahogany tablet
| used by Napoleon at ST. Helena. After
ward she was dressed for the day and her
| toilet was always oil the deepest mourning.
| Her favorits occupation was spinning Her
| memory WAS wonderful. her judgment sure
| and as she was very just in her opinions, she
| only appreciated truth. Baron Larrey and
| his father remained two hours, md when
| she babe us adieu." says tho Baron, sit
| seemed an adieu to her country that we
| were going to see. and that she would never
| see again. Baron Larrey's description of
the manner Ia which Madame Mere re-
ceived the news OF the Emperor's death is
AZ
ended after the death OF the Emperor
Then renowned everything forever"
No one better than Baron Larrey could
have written the life of the Emperor's
mother. for from his earliest childhood he
treasured everything he heard and read con-
corning this most remarkable woman. His
library Ia unique. for Ii contains more docu-
ments than any other concerning Napoleon
and his family. Although Baron Larrey is
81 years old. he is still youthful in manner,
nd hia IN fc Bet, 1xf II
the courtyard of Val de Grace. He is a
great surgeon and won his first laurels I'M
der his fathers orders. He is a member of
the French Institute. and, spite OF his years,
takes an interest in all the seanees of the
academy.
'Some Notes Of the Past" by Sir Henry
Drummond Wolff. published for private
circulation only, give some curious details
about Napoleon III. details that have even
greater interest because of the discussion
over ZOla's downfall" Most OF Sir Drum
mond's notes relate TO Napoleon III. whom
the author saw many times in London and
afterward during the Franco Prussian war.
The last time Sir Drummond saw Napoleon
was after the battle Of Sedan. in an Ar
dennes village.
About o'clock the Emperor arrived at
the station door. He was in a coach drawn
by four horses and was accompanied by an
oiflcer. lie did not seem i'll and his features
betrayed no emotion. l noticed, however,
thht hc icdueu DeaVliy on the arm OF the
footnan who helped him descend His
chest was covered with decorations. A dis
patch was handed to him. He read ii,
talked few minutes with the French and
Belgian authorities, then seated himself be-
fore table aud wrote a long time. After
ward he walked on the platform, returned
TO the waiting-room and read the journal
called Independence Beige AS soon as the
train was ready he entered with his suite,
General ChaZal aud two Prussan officers"
lola says that Napoleon III painted his
lace. and Ii is true that all who have seen
the Emperor in the most trying eircum-
stances OF his life say that he did not look
III. he did not look troubled.
DIT. Conneau, the friend whom Queen
Hortense called the inseparable of her son,
declared at the time of Napole0n's escape
from The fortress of Ham. that ''he put
vegetable red all over his face, so that he
who was ordinarily pale seemed illumin-
ated."
DR.. Conneau's lawyer. Nogent Saint
Laurent, confirmed this statement, and il
| seems from the best testimony that Napo-
leon always had this vegetable rouge in his
possession and always applied it himself.
| But the Emperor applied the rouge so skill
fully that his coicr seemed pei fectly
naturalist skillfuly that an ordinary wit
ness could afiirm that he was not painted.
| After the battle of Sedan Napoleon was
pale. oil waxen pallor, but even his friends
| say that when In the presence OF his con-
querors his face was Of healthy color. The
| night after Sedan he was alone. and after
| ings-lterrible moral and physical anguish
L inns off in ofa g..