Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-26
TITLE OF NAPOLEON III"
How the Little Emperor Got Hi
Nppollation

How the Little Emperor Got His
Appellation.
Whatever may be the Immediate
chances OF Bonapartist restoration in
Franco. there is no doubt that the pres
cnt representative of the Napoleons is
taking the situation seriously, says a
Paris CORRESPONDENT OF the London
l,ost. 1t is even reported that pro-
clamation To the French people. signed
Napoleon W." is in print, ready to be
posted in Paris at the psychological
moment. and the very name suggests
strange recollections, especially on the
tWcniN-s!Xih anniversary of the death
OF NAPOLEON III. There has always
bcen some mystery as to why that par
.icuiar Napoleon was called 1.-THE
'h!rd. for il was ny the merest fiction
mat the due de Rcichstad;. son of the
great !|onapra;e. can be considered TO
nave re!gned. The traditional story Of
now the mineral first came To be
'-ouSht OF was originally related with
III a month after Louis Napoleon had
income emperor, by Lord Cowley. our
Ainbassador in Paris. TO Lord Malmcs-
A--l-4--- ON. foEei IN secratnrv II ,vos
mat the project Of Bourges. where tho
pr.nee-prcSident slept the first night of
ms progress in provincial France in
me autumn 0f 1852, had given instruc-
IONS mat the people We're to shout
'Nive Napoleon!' but he wrote ..Vivo
Napoleon''!' and the crowd took the
lhrec marks OF exclamation as the
iioinan nuncral H. and shouted ac-
cordingiy
one Of the band OF conspirators who
surrounded Louis Napoleon at and
',l.oF me cou3 dctat wanted in later
Gays. however to have the glory OF in
venting the numeral. and in his post.
humousiy published "AIcnoirs'' the
once-notoricus Due de Pcrsienv declar-
ed that it was he who on his own nc
count gave the necessary order 10 the
HIS STORY NOT TRUE.
There is train" he began "lnoy-
ing Paris for Bourses in an hour. Take
care to catch il. Resume Your dn,iee
without seeing any one here and with
our letting Il soul knew your secret in
structions. These instructions are
empire. NiEe lempercur' and let us
not make mistake. The due de Reich
stadt never reigned, but he was pro
claimed emperor by his father. Render
then. this homage to the memory of y
great man: announce the nephew as
Napoleon III. | have already told Won
10 summon all the municipalitios Of
your department. Set in hand. without
losing moment, flags inscribed WV,
lEmpereuT on one side and .Vive Ma
poleon IlI!' on the other. Place the
same inscription on the triumphant
% IeS u'ucT Whlch the prince will pass
Preserve the utmost secrecy in these
preparations and when the dav comes
telegraph to me from hour to hour aTl
that occurs"
Persigny's story. however. is ut.Ie
more that turgid amplificat ton Of the
postscript of a letter written toA1almes.
bury during the prince prcsjdent,s me-
gress by Walewski then French am
hassador in London. in which il was
said The. prince proceeds from triumph
to triumph. " his departure from Paris
they cried 'Nive Napoleonn and few.
Nive fempereur!' On his return there
VIII be n unanimous chorus Of 'Viyo
Iempereur" and 'Vive Napoleon M"
Persigny admitted in his Memoirs
indeed. that when it served him he was
an unscrupulous liar. and il is far
easier to believe the story told by Lord
Cowley.
NAPOLEON'S EXPLANATORY PAR
AGRAPH
In view OF the possibility Of the arri-
val OF a Napoleon W." and especially
IT, as Is limited. with the sympathy Of