The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-07
BIOGRAPHICAL.


Pierre De Lano by Helen Hunt Jack
son. With portrait. Cloth, u mo $l.o5
New York: Dodd. Mead 4 Co.
Because the nephew OF the Great Ma
poleor was at heart a good fellow, who
after the novelty Of official eminence
had worn off, became bored of it's cares
and longed rather to play at cards with
u congenial group than to be emperor of
the French; and because, having fallen
an easy victim to- the match ma king
propensities of the disreputable Nine
de Montijo and married her unreason-
able daughter, Eugenie. he afterward
could not live with her and hence gave
way to numerous sindiscriminatea amours.
bestowing his affections freely on
women Of the court when none was left
for his lawfully welded wife, M. de
1ano would have us believe that Napo-
leon III was zone of those heroes of
romance or Of drama before whom all
subsequent heroes Of romance and
drama In the literary world are insig-
nifcant." But the pictures which NJ. DE
Lano draws Of this Incompatible hero
OF his are anything but heroic. AL
though he tries to dress the figure up
in the garb of greatness, 1t remains at
best very commonplace puppet, weak
OF will, easily worked up by plotters and
fatterers, a dreamer filed with visions
OF desired magnificence but lacking the
resolution whereby the first Napoleon
would have made these visions real. Il
creature Of fluent emotions singularly
out Of sympathy with the people he
tried to govern--in short. character
picturesque only by reason of its semi
tragic environment, and interesting
chiefly as an illustration of the vanity
Of human ambition. NJ. De Lano writes
az eulogist rather than as biographcr.
His language is prefervid; his adjectives
are Invariably In the superlative de-
gree. and his enthusiasm becomes at
times almost contagious. That he IL
not convincing IL not his fault; 1t Is
rather the fault of the poverty Of his
material which even in the white glow
of eulogy looks withal weak and
pitiable.
We may be pardoned for introducing
a citation from the book in illustration
OF M. De LanO's fluent style and for
this purpose we may well take an
episode connected with the ill-starred
Mexican campaign Of the Emeperor
Macmillan. Louis Napoleon was
drawn into this fanciful scheme, we are
told under the influence of the en-
press Eugenie's enthusiasm"--which
somehow always seemed to be enlisted
in bad causes and to be denied to good
ones"-and through diplomatic intri-
CUES secretly conducted by Prince and
Nine. de Metternich. He sustained the
campaign. and preserved his faith in it's
i,,of 90 mir trG nf
success kept his eyes turned away from
the actual. When he saw the error into
which he had fallen, he withdrew to
his tent, and uttered the words Of the
ancients, 'Alea jacta est. 1t was not,
perhaps. a very generous course of ac-
tion: but the logic Of government Is
often cruel, and fails to take into con-
sideration generosity and sentiment"
The scene which follows describes the
emperor's interview with Maximilian's
wife the Empress Charlotte, In which
Napoleon declared his determination
TO withdraw all support from the pro-
jected Mexican empire.
Very nervous. very excited, with half
wild look In her eye, the Empress Char
lotte awaited with mingled feelings OF
hope and fear the arrival OF the emperor.
duc uoTcu " uOpCs VcC0uSC ~ SSS"co ~
her that NapOleon Ill, after raising a
throne for her husband, would be unwill-
ing that the whole work should be de-.
stroyed. She could not but fear because,
by his evasive words, his disheartening
actions and the pity which he showed, the
sovereign had made her understand that
her story had no longer any interest for
him. When the emperor was announced,
she went forward to meet him, and speed
toha liv,,f,, ,or bN, In
ing Immediately the subject which lay SO
near her heart.
"Your majesty is perhaps moved at
last" she said, by the cruel fate which
has overtaken my husband. May l hope
that your majesty will grant him assist
ence?"
The emperor remained silent a moment
then spoke with an accent Of great defer
ence and of sincere regret.
my action In Mexico. madame" he re-:
piled, is at an end and cannot renew It,
ernment and the Chambers would oppose
such a course"
You are emperor. SIRE
Il am emperor. madame. and my COM
mands are respected and obeyed when
they are In harmony with the glory and
the interests Of France; but"-he became
excited--"I shall not use the power of
emperor to plunge my country into immi-
nent danger, into an interminable war
from which France could gain nothing"
"a short tims ago, sire, you spoke diff
Serently.'
"A short time ago. madame. I had
hope"
''Ah. you had hope?"
Hope that Maximilian would avail hiul-
SELF of tho assistance which | gave him
and win the love Of the people: that he
A. 81, Al,
their natures, and be able to carry on by
himself the work which we began to-
gether.'
'And now?'
''Now have no longer this hope.''
Tho empress shuddered, rose and took
cne or two steps across the great room;
then she passed her hand over her fore
head.
This Is terrible" she muttered, "terri-
ble"
Once more she seated herself near the
emperor and resumed the conversation.
'sire." she said. in supplicating voice.
''sirc. Il In said that YOU are kind. that
your heart is touched by those who are
IN misfortune. My husband and I are
both victims Of misfortune: have pity,
ehersfore. upon him and me. I implore
you, Sire. give us your support. and our
hearts will love and bless you"
She took the emperor's hand. and
brought II to her lips as she stopped to
kneei. Napoleon III, however checked
this movement. and. full of compassion,
bent over the woman who duplicated
him.
'You speak. madame" he said, touching
her fingers with his lips, ''as though your
husband were in danger 1t lies with him
TO avoid this danger Let him retreat with
my troops and leave behind him the dream
Of On empire; It was an unfortunate
dream
The Empress Charlotte drew herself up
WITH pride.
what ID this, SIRE" she exclaimed.
ssYUu counsel my husband 10 Nv IN conn