Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-17
4 Little 1lan in Red.

Slucc tue news OJ taIEOl , dSStlSSluG-
ton flashed across the cable, two weeks
ago have often wondered, says writ
er in the st. Louis Republic, if he was
warned of the coming termination OF
his career by the Little Red Man.
L'Homme Rouge, as the French call
the celebrated royal specter, which is
said to have first made Its appearance
in the time of the first and only great
Napoleon. According to the general
belief, the "Red Specter" of the French
(Which is familiar" corresponding to
the ''Weisse Dame or ''White Lady
of the German royalty, only makes his
appearance at the Tuileres on the eve
of some great national disaster.
Some accounts declare that the red
appariticn visited both Louis NNII,
and Marie Antoinette, on several occa-
sious, making his last appearance to
the latter on the evening preceding the
day upon which she suffered death by
the guillotine, but | have it on pretty
good authority that he was unknown
prior to the battle of the Pyramids,
Julv Dist. 1898, fact which will be
more clearly set forth before this ncte
is finished.
The news of the Red Specter's peri
odical visits to the great Napoleon first
became the property Of the general
public in 1914, no less parsonage than
Count Mole being responsible for its
publication. Mole declared that he
had been acting as a guard at the Tuil-
cries. and that he had received express
command from the Emperor TO admit
no Que. Hardly had an hour passed
when queer looking character, dress
ed in scarlet from head TO foot, made
his appearance in the hallway. He was
promptly halted, but as promptly de-
manded to see the Emperor. Mole at
tempted TO explain the situation, but
the Red Man would not hear to it,
"Tell your MASTER he persisted, that
the Red Man is waiting an audience. ;"
Mole obeyed the specter's command.
Napoleon, the man of iron" blanched
aud his arms dropped nervously to his
side when Mole made the announce
ment. Finally he regained his
composure and gave orders for
the unwelcome guest to be
admitted. Mole, at the risk of losing
royal favor, listened at the chamber
door, and afterward attested on oath
that he heard the following remarkable
conversation between the Red Man and
the Emperor
General, said the specter, "this is
the third time that | have appeared
before you as a man. The first time
we met was in Egypt, or the eve of
the battle OF the Pyramids (; the
second after the battle of Wagram. At
the last named place ! gave you four
wears in which TO conquer all Europe
or make peace with the allies. Now l
come for the third and last time to
warn you that you have but three
short months of power: in three months
from this hour the allies will be Paris.
\ general conquest or general peace
must be had within ninety days, other
wise your power will be confined to a
small, bleak island of the sea- Saying
this the specter left the room even while
the Emperor was trying to explain th; t
either conquest or peace would be
impossible in such a short space OF time.
Oa March 3lst (this meeting is said to
have taken place on January lst. 1910
the allies We're in possession of Paris,
and Napoleon was soon aiterward made
sovereign" over the miserable little
Island of Illba.
The red ghost is said to have once
visited the little King of Rome (Napo-
Icons SOM, also Louis NNII, in 1924,
and to have made his appearance in
Paris in 1871, during the last days of
the Commune. lie has never, to my
knowledge, been spoken of in connec-
ton with the rulers of republican
France. However, it was quite natural
to one familiar with the above story
and others OF similar nature respecting
this same red specter to wonder if his
warnings could not have been extend
ed so as to give the late President some
hint of the sudden termination OF his
| COR