The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-14
NAPOLEON III. AND GEO. SAND.
Three Interesting Letters by Prince
Napoleon BOnaparte.

The Figaro" publishes three inter
esting letters by Prince Napoleon Bon
aparte While a captive in the fort of
ham, IN 1919. Writing on the 24th of
January Of that year to George Sand.
the man who became Napoleon III.
emperor of the French, declared:
The finest title you can give me is
that of friend, for it would indicate an
intimacy which 1 should be proud to
see realized. If in the eyes of the pub-
lie l hold to my title of Prince. it is be-
cause my right to that title has ALWAYS
! been contested by the men in power.
who regard the French Revolution as
an accident, and all that the people
established in 1889 and 1915 as ilIegit-
innate. So long as France Possesses
princes, / will not tear up nv certif
cate of baptism. but [ shall with Meas
ure pass the sponge over my past on
the day she recognizes none but citi-
Zens."
Alter saying that word in her let
ter made him fear she had misunder-
stood the sentiment which had induced
MIN 10 ADDRESS her, the Prince added:
II We're fortunate enough to see
you, L would tell you all feel and all I
think, and If you did not approve all
my convictions, you would at least rem
der justice to my frankness. I desire
liberty even power, but / should pre-
Ter TO die in prison rather than to owe
my elevation to a lie. l am not a Re-
publican, because 1 believe the repub-
TIC 10 be impossible at the present time
In the presence of monarchical Europe
and OF the divisions of parties. Bur 7
desire with all my heart the advent of
some government that will strive to
lead France towards democratic insti
tutions, that will concern itself with
the welfare of the great masses of tbe
people, and that will insure the fri
umph OF liberty, virtue, and justice"
The second letter is dated the I'd Of
April, 1915. In it the captive at Ham
complains that George Sand is unjust
towards him, and that she has allowed
herself to be Influenced in her oninion
OF him by some of his numerous de-
tractors. The third letter is perhaps
the most interesting. 1t is dated the
10th of June, 1916, and in it the Prince
tells the lady that there was in her last
letter to him phrase deserving a vol
ume full Of thanks.
1T is wrote the Prince. that i'm
which you express regret at not being
able to come and see me-" Then he
adds:
You encourage me to talk philoso-
ply. L am not very strong on that
theme, perhaps for the very reason
that / have to practice it every dav
However, there is an expression in voI,r
last letter which 1 wish to quote with
the object of explaining it differently
from what you do. You say, Il invoke
the science of limits" This is indeed
the real practical science. If is clear
i do not mean by those words the
science of established boundaries as
that science is SO we'll practiced at the
present moment that no one could do
better; but l mean by the science of
limits that art which consists in maxi
ing ones way through space. in defin-
ing that which till now was underlined
in marking that narrow line separating
the sublime from the ridiculous and
in a word, in giving body and soul TO
that which was without form and with
out life. / call the science of limits.
not that science of the god Terme de
dieu Terme), who, in a narrow-minded
spirit of defence, teaches us to sur
round ourselves with meats: but that
science Of the shepherd who protects