The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24
THE FIRST NAPOLEON.
He Was short and Fat, with Gray
Eyes and Slightly Aauiline Nose.

London Telegraph.
Never. perhaps. did a hero live touching
whose personal appearance there has been
much divergence on the part OF biogra-
NAPOLEON. In a monthly magazine there has
just been concluded a circumstantial narra-
tive of the conveyance or Napoleon In the
line-of-battle-ship northumberland to st.
Helena. The diariSt, who had an opportun-
ity of seeing the exile every day during
the voyage alleges that the face of NapOl-
con had in it something remarkable, but
nothing peculiarly comma nding. Other eve
witnesses have, on the other hand, declared
that the predominant expression in his coun-
tenance was one of supreme and irresistible
command. To the diarist's statement that
In 1915 Napoleon was squarely built and
rather corpulent no exception can be taken:
but the surprising allegation that he was
five feet seven inches and half In height
will be met. we should say, by uncompro-
missing dissent. The great majority or wit
nesses concur in saying. that his stature did
not exceed five feet six inches. and there are
others who Ak IL at five feet five.
The Northumberland diarist proceeds TO
say that Napoleon had "A full, round fat
fish face. darkish brown cropped hair, thin
on the fore part of the head and always
disheveled." This last statement is entire
hair long, and when he first took command
OF the army OF Italy his locks fioated over
- tbnse Savs he had LITTLE time to Sfteni
to the cares of his toilet and his hair may
have been. at the height of a distractingly
busy campaign, somewhat unkempt; but
from the period of his ascending the i'm
perial throne until within few days of
his death he always bestowed the mlnuteSt
care on his personal appearance.
1t was his custom to shave himself and
he performed the operation with wonder
full ease and accuracy; and there was, in
fact. a necessity for being closely shaver,
as his beard grew very rapidly, and one
of the English military surgeons who were
allowed to visit him in his last illness has
remarked that the appearance of his coun-
tenance after three days divorce from the
razor was horrible" Still. until he be-
came moribund. his hair was scrupulously
attended TO by his valet. IL very soft
and silky and could scarcely become dis
heveled. as il was thin. not on the fore
part OF the head. but on the crown. Victor
Hugo, indeed. says that in 1919 the eXile's
head was almost bald. The diarist notes
Napoleon'S eyebrows small and his
eyes as very light gray round ones. AS a
matter OF fact. his eyes were perfectly
oval.
Again, IL is stated that his nose was
moderately long and inclined TO aquiline."
IL we compare this profile with that of his
great antagonist and conqueror yelling
ton, Napoleon's nose must be acknowl-
edged 10 have had only the slightest in
clination 10 the aquiline. He had nearly
perfect Greek profile, and in early Adde'S
cence his visage was almost a replica OF
the famous bust of the young Augustus.
With the diarist's further remark that the
exile's mouth and teeth were small, his
shoulders inclined to be round, while his
leg and foot were we'll formed, experts
will not quarrel. but exception will GER