The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-06-19
The Tomb Of Napoleon.

l suppose that no one thing in the world i'm
presses two persons in the same manner read
book the other day the author of which admired
Napoleon and gloried him through the whole
book as a man of action but as he stood at the
portals of his hero's tomb he talked of "cabbages
and kings"
Different persons will have their particular
favorite haunts. An ardent admirer of Dickens
said to me the other day, "If l were to land in
England again l do not think should stop
until had reached Gads Hill'' When Daniel
Webster landed in London, he took a carriage,
and before even seeking hotel at which to rest,
Numbered to the driver in voice such as only
Webster possessed, take me to the Tower !"
Am 1 again fortunate enough to land on the
British Isles l think shall keep on going until
they put me down along 'the banks and braes
O. bonny Doom" But when go to Paris 1 shall
say, "Take me to the Invades where 1 may be-
hold again the Tomb of Napoleon"
A man said to me one time, ITO understand the
real cause Of the French Revolution you must see
Versailles" Must see the extravaganza of vile
dynasty that taxed their peoples to build mag
nificent chateaux and support there their Pom
padours and Du Barrys. To get little closer to
the character of Napoleon it seems to me that you
must see Paris for he has left his mark over all
the city, and believe he will always be the idol
of the Parisians ard indeed of all the French
people. He appeals to them-and indeed to us
all-because of his dramatic character. The
French are essentially dramatic and their history
has been one long stage play-the comedy and
tragedy, the shifting of scenes, the denOuemen all
but the happy ending Their popular leaders
have been dramatic characters and the manner
in which they have appeared has been dramatic
in the greatest degree. There is the key to
Toulon,' said young subordinate to a group of
old army officers, placing his finger portion
of the military map. The siege of Touon is given
up, the place is aimed at from another point and
in short time 1oulon is taken And then Ma,
poleon Bonaparte, that mightiest product of the
French Revolution, dashes upon the stage and
| the world grows pale. Then we have that re-
markable sword-play, then the scene in Notre
Dame when the crown is taken from the Pope
and placed upon his own head, then Eiba, then
the return, then Waterloo, and at last the lonely
rock at St. Helena, and-what tragedy and what
comedy! And yet as we get further away from
the period in which this person lived, we are led
| to believe him one of the most considerable
characters ofthe eighteenth century.
l remember distinctly the first time l visited the
burial place of this man. I had just come to Paris
! from Switzeriand-that most ruggedly and ro-
mantically beautiful country of the Alps. Had
been looking upon the ponderous grandeur of
Rigi and Piatus and Blanc, not thinking much
about men and heroes. Had been entranced by
the miracles of Alpine scenery; for l had seen
hooks and dells, beautiful as tairy-land. embos-
| omed in the most rugged and gigantic elevations;
| | had seen roses and myrtles blooming unchilled
on the verge OF the avalanche. But as walked,
| on that August evening, across the Seine and
suddenly came upon the Dome DIES Invalides and
knew that l was at the tomb of Napoleon,
thoughts and feelings different from those ex.
perienced as l beheld the wonders of the Alps
| came crowdng upon me. You will call it foolish
ness, you will call it sentimentalism and you may
call it anything you like, but the experience eX-
planned to me the full force OF the word atos. 1t
was not to be my last visit to that part of Paris;
went there many times during my stay in the
great French city, and the impression was always
the same
The impressions and feelings are different, 1
know but could meyer see how some people
could be so coldblooded about such things.
Standing upon the walls of Windsor Castle-old
Windsor with her hundreds of years of splendid
associations, heard man say, after he had had
time enough to feel the full force of his surround
| ings. "how easy it would be to lombard this old
shanty," and always thought that man had d
very small SOUL
This tomb of Napoleon is situated beneath a
great dome and is in great open, circular crypt
twenty feet in DEPTH and thirty-six feet in diam
eter, On mosaic pavement, which represents a
wreath of laurels and is inscribed.with the names
of the Conquerors battles, rises the sareophagus,
thirteen feet long, consisting of single huge
block of Siberian porphyry weighing more than
sXty-tive tons. Twelve figures of victory sur
round the sarcophagus. and there are six trophies
OF sixty battle flags and then ten marble reliefs
representing events and institutions in French life
The entrance to the crypt is always closed and
is thanked by two sarcophagi. bearing the names
of Duroc and Bertrand. They were the Emperor's
most faithful friends. Bertrand was his constant
Oh hiS rpof n,,Ih
and followed his remains when brought to their
present resting place in 1910. | always think it so
appropriate for these two old friends to lie at the
entrance OF their Commanders tomh-guarding
their mighty chief, as it were
Above the entrance to the crypt these
expressive and significant words in French II
desire that my remains rest on the banks of the
Seine, in the midst of the French people whom |
loved so we'll" Then above it ali rises the great
dome one hundred and sixty feet; and over it all
falls faint blush light from above; and this,
with the sombre appearance of the crypt and its
surroundings, greatly enhance the solemn and
awful grandeur of the scene.
looked upon all this and my memory went
back to the little unpretentious grave up in
Dumfries-the grave OF Robert Burns and 1
thought how small and insignificant it would
appear along side this mighty mausoleum. And
then naturally thought of Carlyle and what he
has said about comprehensive they are class
that we could very well do without-and how he
has told in living words how Robert Burns with
all his humble surroundings, with no trappings
and glitter OF martial victory, without the Caesars
wreath IS yet greater indeed than he of RiVoi of
Austerlitz, of Wagram, of the Pyramids.
| 1t is hand to tell as yet what Judgment History
will give to the conqueror of a continent 1t Is IA
mistake toisuppose that the student does not
| admire men of action. The man who accom-
plishes something-the man of action-will
always claim the attention OF the world and its
| best thinkers far more than the man who leaves
| behind him but volume of sermons. But the
world is likely to demand that the coming Con-
l qqeror be man of right action
b. r.
West Nottingham Commencement
The one hundred sixty .secoLd commencement