New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-17

NAPOLEON AS HE APPEARED TO HIS
HOUSEHOLD.

Nh2sT mp h5sS is'
Preface to the English Edition BY ,ImbeTt de
Saint Amand Four volumes ssi l I'm v Vol Rs
New-York Charles Scribner's Sons.
RECoLLECTIONs OF The PRIVATE LIFE OF
NAPOLEON. BY CONSTANT. Premrie- Valet e De
Chambrs TTa3slated by WAl'sT C@rE Tnc
Merriam Company.
Constants Memoirs were originally puohsheo
In 1890 a; the height of the first revival CT Ma
poleonic enthusiasm, and have since been high-
" priced stcrehouse % information for students
who sought intimate details of the lie o. tEe
Emperor His revelations have been the subject
Of much controversy, and their Senrineness mas
been assai,ed by members Of the Bohapar'e
family but while Constant Is not 10 be rehed
upon for his exposition of politics and war con-
corning which he had no training ana ccuiu gam
little information. except through houschoid eos-
sip and eavesdropp!ng yet there is no reason TO
doubt that he tells the truth about those mat
tors which came within his own intimate knowl-
cGge--how Napoleon dressed and ate wha' We're
bis manners toward his household what Kind or
n man ne was when not on dress parade lhese
simultaneously issued transat.ons are the hrs'
publicatlon Of the memoirs in English Ihere
IS ii..ie 10 choose between them. NJ. clark
version is somewhat more slipshod and crude
but this snortcoming is atoned for by series
Of valuable biographical foOt-notes when the
other edition does not possess. He ori's now
eve, the journal of JoseI,hine's lady-in waiting
,rh,ch ccll into Constants hands and was pub
rshod by him with his own recollections
Constants attitude toward Napoleon's mem
orv is emphatlcay that Of an adoring servant
lie tries with due protestatcns of modesty 10
write history and deal with great men ana "a
nous deeds; but never for moment does he
cease to be the valet in spirit, devoted 10 his
master-perhaps all the more devoted because
OF the .mpelious ways which inspired awe ana
made imperial good nature and condolences spe-
ciaI,v impressive. lie IS really in his cement
only when dealing With petty household az
fairs never forgetting tc recall MS mat erial sur
rourdirss his comforts or his hardsalps TO pe
grateful for the things he enjoyed. ana 10 re-
cur repeatedly TO the fact that the emperor
gave no tips. That is the one sln II mas Deeh
said no valet ever forgives. and Constant IS De-
fore al things a valet Napoleon. VINO couid ne
so liberia! With the word, WHO parceHed OUT
States richly endowed his generals ana pro-
,ected monuments and palaces on a magnificent
scale. managed his domestic affairs with the
rigorous economy Of The pork merchant in
small way. Perhaps. thinks Constant ne re-
sembled those fooishly Iich persons who econ
households in order 20 shine outside. He
made very few. not to say no. presents to the
members of his household and the first day ~
tho vea- even passed without ioosen;ng his
,,,,rsa-strirys While ! undressing him the
evening before he said, pinching my car ell
Monsieur Constant what Will YOU give me l'r
my ,rcecl!t,' The Hrst time he asked me TINS
question / replied would give him whatever
lie wished: but | must confess that very much
houea tl.at il would not be who would give
rressi,ts next day" Yet the Emperor wished
lis valley to spend so much on his clothes that
he was abe to save little. and the master did
rot az M disdain 10 occupy himself with close
attention to the toilet Of tha servants
%,po,co.. wher Constant first entered his SER
y,c,. IN tho carly days of the Consulate. was
Handsomely uroporticned blu. extremely lean,
with high forehead ma thin brown hair HIS
eves were blue and oppressed his emotions WV
ia,v. being ut one moment extremely gentle ana
caressing. al another stern and severe HIS SKIN
was so sensitive that Constant always padded
and wore lis new hats to shape them ana
vardr be boy broke in his shoes. Nor IN spl'n
n ,,s military training could he endure cold,
bur almost always had fires In his apartments
ard only in the warmest weather would he dis
persa with having Ms bed heated with warm
jue-pan. The famous rapid raising Of tho right
sho,,lder so often interpreted as gesture or
dissatisfaction, was merely a nervous afection'
and another physical peculiar:ty was that MS
puIse was orly forty 10 the minute, and ne was
never able to feel his own heart beat. lie ate
very rapidly hardly spending a dozen minutes
ut the table. and this habit did not contribute
either 20 his health or TO the refinement or MS
table manners; for he was firm believer in the
sense Of the adage that fingers We're maze pc
fore forks. Coffee he used in moderation oranK
no wine but C,lambertin. and had an invinci-
blo r,rur,ance to all medicine. Eau de CO.
losne was his unfailirg application for all ex-
tecnai il.s and chicken broth, chicory and cream
CT tartar were the only remedies ne Couu ne III
crceG % take internally.
tn CorstaD. the Emperor seemed man born
70 DO waited upon. and with justice; for when
Only n general he had three Wallets and was
served WITH as much luxury as at the height Oh
his fortunes But though "aited on 10 the mi
nute3t detail being dressed Ike an infant ana
never putting Ills hand 10 anything, he ala not
subject himself 10 the etiquette or royalty IN
such matters. and even or the day Of his coro-
nation Constant made lis toilet as ne did at
other times.
The Emperor was often playful ana carcss-
ing with those about him, kindly OF impulse and
ready TO bestow favors and grant pardons II ap-
preached at the right time he was loa,n 20 re-
slst tears 0u; able 70 be unyieidng. and q
special mark of his good nature was the hard
pinch Of the ear which be sometimes gave to
his lnarshals as well TO his servants. Con-
slant cmphatically denies that he was ever
given TO striking them. Napoleon seldom
changed his dress during the day. Having once
donned costume ne wore 1t for twelve hours or
more, and frequently entered the drawing-room
at night with his white trousers covered with
,nk-stans; for when at his desk he was always
dropping MS pen and scattering ink on every
thing about him. He did not smoke, but snuff
he used In moderation. generally taking only
Whit OF the perfume from the open box; but this
he did so constantly and with such character
istic ehruptnees OF movement as 10 leave a