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

bust of the dead marshal. and careless or IN.
almost cainting condition Of the Ouch IS, Ma
poleon blunty demanded how che liked It, ana
whether she thought II good likeness or not,
and doubtless wondered at her breaking down
and refusing for days to appear at court
B,;t It is not wonderful that TO his servants
and soldiers Napoleon hero. His faults
were those for which they had lenient Judg-
ment His virtues made them idoatrou,
valet is not scandalzed If mis- master Is not high
minded nor are soldiers critical OF drawing
room manners or given TO complaining If their
expeditions be in a less holy cause than the
seeking of the Grail. They knew that he was
always ready for work by day or night. AID his
own courage LEFT no excuse for cowardice. When
in a fit OF obstnacy he ordered naval drill lat
Boulognc on the eve Of a storm. against the
protests Of his admiral and only had his way
after dismssing that officer, the readiness with
which he rlsked his own life to rescue the sail
ors wrecked ~ the mad manoeuvre almost
atoned to the survivors for the wicked vast of
life. Then too, he endeared himself TO the sol
diers by the thoroughness with which he over
looked his army and his minute attention to de-
tail which made every man feel that good con-
duct and bravery surely meant reward.
When on Journeys during the Consulate he
often invited veteran soldiers and sailors dis
though they were generally too much awed to
touch the good things placed before them they
worshipped the commander who noticed them.
Nor did any false ideas of dignity control his
relations with his servants. lie might b in
perious and inpatient but he had ht arty in
terest IN those about him which. when SO moved,
he was not afraid to show one incident 50
impressed Constant that he tells 1t twice, but
with differences which suggest that his memory
of facts Is not always To be relied upon. Nheh
Constant returned from Russia. whence Ma
poleon Lad preceded him, he was Immediately
taken TO the Emperor's room. where lie found
also the Empress and Queen Horiense. The
Emperor compassionated his sCfferings ana dis
played great kindness toward him, and the
Queen cordial THE Empress alone kept
silence The Emperor said TO her: Louise nave
you nothing say to this poor Constant l
had not perceived him. replied the Empress This
answer was severe for it was impossible that
Her Majesty should not have perceived me.
The other account is that AS the Empress
seemed TO pay no attention TO me, he said. with
an accent OF kindness which shall never for
get: Louise, don't you recognize Constant. l
nerceIved him Such the sole response OF
Her Majesty the Empress.
The Emperor often worked far into the night
and a light supper was always provided in
hamper in case ne should b. hungry. but M sell
dom called for II. Constant and the cook had
the only keys to the hamper. one evening at
Sch0n5runn, Roustan, who had been riding ali
day in his masters service. returned tired and
hungry looked at the hamper in the ante-room
and said: Me would like very much To eat
chicken wing; me- very hungry. Constant re-
fused at first TO give him the Emporors lunch
con. but finally. thinking it unlikely that his
ill. tan
to help himself Suddenly the bell rang and
Napoleon called for his chick n for the first TN
in many days Constant thought to escape b.
carving the mutilated fowl and taking the pieces
70 the Emperor But His Majesty demanded Il
choose for himself. Hold on" he said; how
long IL IL since chickens have had only one leg
and one wing? This l. fine; ii s. ems | must
eat the leavings of others. Who was It, then.
that ate the half Of my supper? Roustan re-
sponded: "Ne was hungry. sire; me ate the leg
and the wing" How. you rogue ii was you?
All. how / shall scod you for IT, And without
another word the Emperor ate the remaining leg
and wing. The next morning when in conver'a-
ton with the Grand Marshal the Emperor
me- :ked Guess what ate 70: my supper last
night? The leavngs Of NJ. Rousan Yes. that
rasca. took the notion TO eat half of my chick
en-" Just then Roustan entered and the En-
peror went on: Come hera, you rogue and the
first time that happens again be sure you Will
pay me for IT," and with laugh and pull OF
the ear he dismissed him Another instancn Of
the Fmperor's kindness Constant thus relates.
] had been up for several nights together and
| was tired. The Emperor went out toward IL
o'clock In the evening and was absent three or
four hours ] sat down 10 wait for him in his
armchair. his writing table. intending to
rise and withdraw when heard him coming in.
But was worn out with fatigue that slumber
|
! found sleep with my head on my arm and my
His Majestys table. The Emperor at
last came in accompanied by Marshal Bcr-
thier and followed by Roustan | heard moth
ing Prince de Neufchatel started toward me-
intending 10 awake me and have me restore his
chair and table to HIS Majesty; but the En-
peror detained him. saying: Let the poor fell
| low alone: he has passed don't know how many
| sleepless nights" And then. as there was no
/ other chair in the apartment. His Majesty sat
| down the side Of his bed. made the Marshal
/ take a seat there also. and talked with him
long time. while I slept on But requiring one
| OF The maps which were on the table. and upon
! which my elbow was resting. His Majesty, al
| though he tried 10 draw II away with precau-
| ton. walked me up. and rose at once In utter
confusion and excusng myself for the liberty
! had involuntarily taken. Monsieur Constant,
said tho Emperor with a smile full Of benevo-
| lerca iii d.stresses me 20 have disturbed you
! kindly excuse me-
| Constant pretends TO be judicous. and set
forth Napoleon's faults well as his virtues
but he never quite succeeds in being anything
but !nlulrcntly apologize for peccadilloes which
are 20 be conceded to genius and for actions
which would have been criminal In man. but
were craftsmanship in sovereign. To Con-
slant he seemed wise. patriotic. deeply learned
witty, magniiccnt-wth all his eccen;r.ctics
high type Of civilized man. But Constant drew
a PORTRAIT much truer than his own ideas; for
in spite Of his hero-worship, the man who Is seen
in his ages is not a product OF civilization He
is veneered with a certain respect for convcn-
tionaties. he has a native kindness Of impulse
delight in creative work; but he is at heart
primitive, strong. simple. fond Of splendor
thirsting for glory, at once generous and SUI
premely selfish. powerful intellect that knows
no restraint in word, barbarian horn out of
| dur ti,,,o sci0llsV Con slant denicta