The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-09-12
a TITLED POACHER.
The Ludicrous Predicament of Cues. of
Napoleon III.


Napoleon III.
Among the curious incidents of the
court of Napoleon III. recently
brought to light, there is an amusing
one connected with the visit of an
Italian general, Prince Caprici, to the
imperial residence at Fontainbleau. 1t
was in summer, and the weather was
extremely hot The apartment oc /
pied by the italian general was direcs J
above the cabinet, or working-room,
of the emperor; and beneath the win
dows of both rooms lay pond, it's
waters washing the walls of the
palace.
The general had been taking a bath
in a great tub brought in by servants
After his bath he leaned out of the win
dow, gazing at the pond below. There,
in the transparent waters, he noticed
great mum Der of fine carp swimming
about, and gathering beneath the win
dow as if expecting to be fed.
Prompted by an idle impulse, the
general took large pin, bent it into a
hook, and attached to it long, stout
string that he had in his personal be-
longings. Then he baited the hook
with bit of bread left from his break
fast, which had been brought to his
room, and dropped it into the ter.
An immense carp seized it, an -.
general, with a fisherman's impulse,
jerl1ed the line SO adroitly that he
hooked the fish
He Jrayu 70 hiS vrin1nuy nd
thoughtless of what might result,
landed it into the room. Instantly the
carp began to founder heavily about
the floor. The general, realizing the
situation, bounded after it. The fish
was adtive and slippery, and tie gen
eral upset a chair in his eff'rts to
catch it.
The emperor, at work at his Cesl< in
the room below, heard the tumut over
his head, and wondered; but Kept on
with his work.
Meantime the general, getthg the
fish against the bathtub, had ahappy
| thought. He would put the fishin the
tub He got his arms under it lifted
and pushed, and the carp splashd into
the tub.
For an instant it seemed quilted by
| being back in it's native elemen. But
the water was warm and soay. In
another instant the creature vas in
agony, and began to splash an, houn-
der about madly. The water over
flowed the tub and covered tie floor.
The general struggled to get tie fish,
but could not seize or hold It. He
merely succeeded in spilling great
deal more water.
The emperor, glancing up at the
ceiling as the noise went on, saw a wet
spot, and presently drops of water be-
gan to fall on his table. lie called the
cham berlain.
who is in the room above?" he
asked.
1T is the room occupied by the gem
eral, Prince Caprici."
Please go up and see what is the
matter with him. He must be in some
trouble"
The general had just sucaGadeax IN
selling the fish when there came/a rap
at his door He turned pale. He fan
cied that the emperor himself was com.
ing after him
In a moment! in a moment" he
gasped.
Then, seeing his bed open, he had
another happy thought he thrust
the big fish into the bed and covered it
with the clothes. Then he rushed and
opened the door.
THE emperor wishes to know what
is the matter" said the cham berlain;
'are you IN any trouble?"
"Oh, no trouble at all! In taking a
bath l accidentally spilled some water,
and"
just then the chamberlain, glancing
into the room, saw the bed covers vio-
lently agitated, and in utter astonisb-
ment the next moment he saw gigan-
tic carp founder out of the bed. This
time the general rushed upon the fish
to some purpose, seized it, and hurled
it out of the window into the pond
The general did not dare to appear
at breakfast that day. Noting his alb
sence, the emperor-to whom his cham
berlain had gravely made his report OF
the circumstances-gave this order to a
servant:
You will take Prince Capricis
breakfast up to his room; and you will
take him, as part of it, broiled carp.
believe the general is fond of carp
Youths Companion.