The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-06-12

9th of March, 1903, the Code CiVile des
Francais was completed and publish
cd 1t consisted of twenty two hundred
and eighty sone articles These were ar,
ranged under three heads: The Rights
of Persons; the Laws Of Property; and
the Methods Of acquiring Property. In
the code the elements of Roman Law
and the law customs of the French poo
pie were blended with singular skill.
The Code Napoleon became the basis
Of jurisprudence, not only in France,
but in Sicily, Holland, Belgium, the
Rhine provinces Switzerland. Poland,
and in all the countries dominated by
the Latin races In Europe and America.
At the date of his coronation, Napo-
leon was thirtyfve years, three months
and seventeen days Of age. He was in
his very prime. Physically. he had tri-
nmphed over that attenuation and utter
swarthiness which had marked his
younger years. On his first issuance to
public notice, and down to the time of
the Consulate, he had worn haggard
look, which, added to his thinness and
his low stature, made him almost
specter. In the year of his marriage, he
was described by all observant lady-as
reported in Stendhal--as "the thinnest
and queerest being / ever met" In
another place the same authority says
Of him: HE was 80 scrawny that he
inspired pity" But with the gratif-
cation Of his ambitions and desires, he
became plump and beautiful.
OF all the descriptions Of the person
Of Bonaparte, that of Meneval, his Sec
rotary, is doubtless the most correct and
satisfying. He says Of the Emperor,
that, though small Of stature, his per-
son was well knit and symmetrical. The
bust was longer relatively than the legs.
The head was large, and the skull fine
ly developed. The neck was short, and
the shoulders proportionally broad The
chesfWas round and full, indicating q
robust constitution. The limbs, both
arms and legs, were perfect. The EN-
peror was as proud as was Lord Byron
Of his small plump hands and tapering
fingers. His forehead was broad and
high his eyes easily kindled with pas
sion and flashed lightnings. His COM
plexion was pallid; bronzed at first; al.
ways Of the Italian hue. His dark hair
became thin on the top Of his head, and
the height Of the forehead was seeming
ly increased. Meneval, for thirteen
years intimate with his master-observ.
ing closely his every mood and feature
says: His head and bust were in no
way inferior in nobility and dignity to
the most beautiful statue of antiquity. I"
The new Imperial system quickly diff
fused itself abroad Wherever tho influ-
snce Of France extended, the political
transformation was easily effected. The
Cisalpine Republic was converted into
the kingdom Of Italy. This Napoleon
would make an appanage of his own.
For four months, sixteen hours daily,
he wrought at the establishment of the
new regime in France. He then sped to
Milan, and on the 26th Of May, 1906,
was crowned King Of Italy. The cere-
monial was In the great cathedral there,
second only in magnifoenoe to st. Pc
ter's. The old iron crown of the Lom-
bard kings was brought forth from its
dusty keep, and was given by the arch
bishop of Milan to the Emperor, who,
putting it on his head, uttered the IA
nous mot, Dieu me Ia donnee-Gare a
qui la touche. God has given it to me
beware who touches itr'--an aphor-
ism which became the motto of the Or.
der of the Iron Crown.
The Empire brought four years Of con-