The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-04
NAPOLEON AND LOUISA.
Meeting of the Emperor and ouesa q
Prussia at TiISif.

Meeting of the Emperor and Qucea q
Prussia at TiIsit-
II was az this crisis of Prussia's
affairs that the king. after much urS'
ing. consented TO summon his queen
The rumors and insinuations concern.
ing the cars undue admiration of her,
so industriOusly spread by Napoleon,
had made him ovcr-SenSitive: but as q
last resort he felt the need of heI
preSence. She came with single ides
To make the cause of MagJiehurg hes
own. She had suffered under the ma.
licious innuendos of Napoleon regarding
her character; she had shared the dis
grace of the Berlin war party IN the
crushing defeat at jena and Auerstadt;
she had been a wayfarer among a dis.
graeed and helpless people: but her
spirit was not broken. and she an.
nounced her visit with all the dignity
OF her station. The court carriage in
which she drove, accompanied by her
ladies in waiting, reached TilSit on
July s, and drew up before the door OF
the artisan under whose roof were the
rooms of her husband. OHloers and
statesmen were gathered To receive aud
encourage her with good advice; bui
she waved them away with an earu
call for quiet, so that she might col
her ideas.
In a moment Napoleon WINS
noUuced. As he climbed the nar7
stairway she rose 20 meet him. Frien
and foe agree as To her beauty, her
taste and her manners; her presence,
in a white dress embroidered with sill.
yer, and with q pearl diadem on Der
brow, was queenly. In her husbands
apartment she was the hostess, and as
such she apologized for the stair,
What would not one do for such an
cndi' gallantly replied the somewhat
dazzied conqusror.
The suppliant, after making o few
respectful inquiries as 20 her visitors
welfare and the effect Of tho northrrr
Climate on his health, at once an.
nounced the object OF her visit. Her
manner was full OF pathos and there
were tears In her eyes ~ she recalled
how her country had been punished
for its appeal 20 arms and for it's mis-.
taken confidence In the traditions OF
the great Frederick and his glory. The
emperor WAS sbRshed by the lofty
strain Of her address. So elevated wa
her mien that she oveTpowered him:
for the instant his self-assurancs fed
aud no felt himself but u man Of ths
PEOPLE. He felt alec the humiliation ~
the contrast, and WAS angry. Long
Bfterward he confessed that she pas
mistress OF the conversation. adding
that she stood with her head Thrown
back like Mile. Ducheanois In Ehs char
acter of Chinene. meaning BY fhiscon.
parison to stigmatiso Der altitude and
language as theatrical.
So effective was her appeal that he
felt the need OF something TO says hia
own role, and accordingly be bo~et
her to a chair. and in the moment thus
gained determined tO strike the kev
Of high comedy. Taking up the con.
vcrsatiou in turn, hs EcryTtinizad ths
beauties Of her person. and. conpIr
mentinR her dress. asked Whistler The
material was Grape or India gso1~
'6hall we talk OF rage az such a solemn
noment2" she retortedt and then pro
ceedeli w4th her direct plea for Aa1de
burf-. In The midst of her elcquenc~,
80 I'D tic emperor seemed almost over
come Dy her Importantly, her ussfdling
bus band most iuopportuneIy entersd
The room. He began TO argue and rea.
BON, citing Mis- threadbar. grieyaoee.
the violation of Ansbaeh territory, ana
10 prove himself % ~
right. Napoleon a. once turned the
conversation 70 Indifferent themes. and
IN few moments took his keava.
lou ssk much, h- said Ia the quess
on parting; but promise 10 think &,
nver." Tho courageous woman had
done her best. bat her cau@e--if. inoieef,
u waH ever IN the bnlaDee--ssas Ios'
from the moment shs put her loese
ia an Inferior position. Her majestic
learing was fine, bit IL Vvas not dipFo-
macy. She might, nevertheless. have
suoo1eded bad abe been ths wife OF
y iter man. Long afteyvrar,i Sspoleo1
thought she might have bad consider.
zDls influence on tie negotiations q
he had appeared IN heir Earlier sf@0r<
AID congrs.s ala1<-f himself that shs
same TOO late. inssfau~h - they were
+ rssdy virtually closed = ben she a..
sloane, IN Century.