The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-25

P,4nee Bonaparte. and NJ. Clement. The
Prince and his suite are
occupying some of the best apartments at
the Palace Hotel.
Prince Roland is a splendid specimen Of
manhood. standing about SIX feet two inches
and weighing over 200 pounds. BE is a
handsome man, with a large black mus
tache, dark brown eyes and thoroughly in
ielligent cast of features. He is said TO
closely resemble his grandfather Prince
Lucien Napoleon, brother of Napoleon the
Great He has snlderly bearing, which
was probably gained during his service in
the French army, in which he served for
many years with great promise of attaining
very high rank.
The generals under whom he served were
struck with his remarkable aptitude for the
profession OF arms, gift, no doubt, inher-
lied from that great soldier, his great-uncle.
The French Government. however, viewed
with disfavor his evident success and
passed a special and arbitrary law prohibit
ing the member of any Once-relening family
from no ding commission in the army of
the republic. Thus his military career was
cut short in 1856.
His wife, the Princess Marie, died in 1882,
leaving him midOwer with one child-a
daughter.
Then he turned his mental energies in the
direction Of science, and gave himself en-
tiTely UP TO study.
AS scientist he has made a name and
reputation far more valuable tnan the
claims of birth and noble ancestry. At the
present time lie enjoys the reputation of
being one Of the most deeply learned men of
his years in France, and his many works on
geography, zoology and anthropology attest
The depth and width of his studies and OBJ
servations.
He has travelled almost everywhere. The
eternal Ice and snow of the Arctic regions,
the endless scorching sand of the Sahara
Desert the spice perfumed groves of Java
are all as familiar to hsm as his own hearth
stone.
BE has written about twenty-three books
on various subjects, and is constantly pre-
pairing material for more.
The Prince has a great ambition TO write
book on the glorious campaigns of his
great-uncle, and is now engaged on the
work. 1t il to be an exhaustive resume of
the first NapOleoo's life, mis- battles, the
Revolution and the empire.
He is a member of the Council of the
GeOgra phicsl Society of Paris, and belongs
TO all the principal French scientific socie-
ties.
He has visited and written upon Switzer-
land, Germany, Holland, the United States.
Canada, Sweden, England, Finland, Lap
land. etc.
The Prince has large fortune, which he
devotes to objects of travel and research.
He took very prominent part in the con-
siTuetion OF the great observatory upon
Mount Blanc, in Switzerland, and in the
construction of boats intended for explora-
tiuns Of marine zoology; also in the founda-
ton of the Nignemale Observatory in the
PyTenees.
lie has a private library of over $4,000
y0lumes-One Of the largest private cOliec-
tions in France.
Prince Roland was seen at the Palace
Hotel by a representative of The CALL
LAST night and courteously granted an in
terview. Although he does not profess TO
speak English he manages very well in that
tongue and expresses himself clearly and
intelligeutly. He has an interpreter with
him, but it must be only matter of form,
for he eau certainly grapple with the intTi-
eacies Of our tongue far better than his paid
linguist
In the course of his conversation he said:
Il have only been in America about six
weeks this time. but was here before in
1888. Then. however, | did not get far
v est, so that this is the first glimpse | have
bad Of San Francisco. l must say that |
like your city very much, and as l have no
purpose TO serve by undue praise you may
be sure that | am sincere.
II only arrived this morning very early,
and was kept waiting three hours at Oak
land.
This afternoon visited points OF inter-
est in San Francisco. and took my first
lock at the Pacific Ocean from this side.
Il was much entertained by the seals
which bark on the rocks at the Cliff House.
That is something | have never seen be-
In the Arctic seas, but never saw them lying
about n the sun undisturbed.
II landed at New York six weeks ago,
aad passed few days pleasantly. Next !
visited Chicago and noted the progress of
the Worlds Fair buildings, and W ordered
how they could ever be finished in time.
The exposition will. no doubt, be one of the
greatest wonders of the nineteenth century.
In Washington l called upon President
Cleveland and was well received by him.
That was the second time l had the honor
Of shaking hands with him as President Of
the United States. In 1858. when l was
here last, be was just in the last year of his
first Presidency, and this year ne was COM
n:encing the first year of his second. |
have great respect for your worthy Presi-
dent That his wife Is one Of the most
charming women in America there can be
no doubt
81 am very fond Of this country, only /
fnd it too large. One must spend a lifetime
here TO see all the wonders you have TO
show.
81 am republican at heart and sympa-
thiZe with your great constitution. l find
among the American people some OF tho
finest men | have met in my life. and the
ladies' are simply beautiful. They are the
loveliest and most charming women in the
wOrld-always excepting the French, of
course.
Il am sorry l have never come to Cali.
fornia before, for find l like this beautiful
ST. tie better than any other part OF America.
1t Is not too hot here n or too cold. lido not like
the hot weather at all, aud far prefer snow
to great heat. In a hot country always
feel so sleepy that ] am good for nothing.
When l am among the ice and snow l am
vigorous and able to do almost anything.
Il am very much interested in astrOn-
rmical matters, and should much like to
visit the Lick Observatory, of which l
have heard so much, but / shall not have
lime.
Tomorrow Tuesday ] am to see the
war vessels which are being built here at
the Union Iron WORKS. and 90 through the
works, in which / am specially Interested
My stay here is unfortunately very
Short, as must be back in Paris by the
27th May. / have been building a new
house in Paris, Just off the grea. fashion,
able drive, the Champs Eysees, and am to
move from my present abode In months
time. | wish to be there to superintend
the removal of my books, which l am too
loDd Of to entrust to the careless hands of
others.
I'VE shall leave here on Wednesday night
Tor Portland; thence We 20 to Vancouver
and through British Columbia. We shall
tIaYel through Canada, as | wish to visit
ontario, Quebec, Montreal and Lake Win
nlpeg. From there we go to Chicago and
take look at the great Exposition before
going 0acs 10 Paris. From New York we
travel by tne French steamer to our home
i shall return to this country very
shortly, as there is much here that | wish to
see. / have mapped out a route through
Florida, Alabama. Texas and all the South
ern States, and when / have collected the
material shall write book upon it.
Il admire your city OF San Francisco. In
some respects it reminds me OF Paris, 1t is
so cosmopolitan in its population. but the
streets are certainly not Parisian."
|