The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-07
NEW BOOKS

TALKS OF NAPOLEON AT ST. HELENA w1TH
BARON GOURGAUD. Translated nv Ebzaheth
Wormeiey Lattmer. Chicago: A. C. McClug
General Gourgaud was more than . Ros-
well to Napoleon. In his original journal.
kept during his close contact with the
man OF destiny after the flight from
waterloo ne is always the conscientious
reporter of Napoleonic moods, as well AZ
sayings In this volume are preserved
many OF the best things in the journal
>loucllihs the lie and views of the en-
IRON the Waterloo disaster is an excellent
1oretaste of the Interesting things to fol-
low. Napoleon seriously CONTEMPLATED
night to the United States but changed his
mlnd' and surrendered to his deadliest
Toes and life exile. Altho a fa,yorite Of
Napoleon and devotedly attached to him.
Gourgaud Is one of the most candid and
realistic biographers who ever put nen 70
paper: 1t was thru Gourgaud that the
french nation was induced to, bring the
pody of Napoleon to France to be buried
IN french soil. He ACCOMPANIED the re-
mains from st. Helena, and, when the cof-
IN arrived at the 1nvalides, he laid the
SWORD or Austerlitz upon the coffin. There
is much in this journal touching the fam
ny and early days of Napoleon and most
interesting are his comments on his own
pubic career and aims and his criticisms
or his own officers and enemies. Gourgard
quotes him as saying: -
Il made the concordat to consolidate
thlngS by new agreement and to rallv
round me the true Catholics. 1 wanted to
nave the pope with me and then I should
nave been master of things ecclesiastical
IN france, as much as if had been head
o1 the church. The pope would have done
everything I asked him and should have
iE no dlif1culty with the sincerely relig-
lous party In France It would have been
supposed that the pope did everything.
and it was for him spent millions in
magn1hcently fitting up the archiepiscopal
palace in Paris. My design was that. az
Ter my death, all Italy should be united in
one Kingdom Of which my second son
should be- the sovereign. 1t is absurd for
me pope to exercise political power over
the subjects of another ruler. The popes
nave done this very often. They have
even undertaken to give away kingdoms.
IN emma the sovereign is worshipped as a.
god. That, I think, is how it ought to be-"
The religious views of Napoleon as given
by 3Gourgaur are fatty contradictory and
hls mind was inclined to variant specula-
tlons. He argued with Gourgaud that the
matter that I made man was ''slime
warmed by Che sun and .vivifled. by cleo
Uric 11uids Ia view which, later, Haskell
and Cllfford} adopted with much yehem-
ence. Napoleon strongly commended with
Montholon that Christ was divine Many
pages are filled with childish babble, but
one or the most amusing portions Of the
book is that devoted to Miscellaneous
Sayings - 7--'~,~ -.
THE WONDERFUL ELECTRIC ELEPHANT.
BY Frances Trego Montgomery, author of
billy Whskers," etc. Akron, Ohio: The Saal-
held furnishing company. Price $3.50.
The author Of this book shows q strong
disposition to emulate the daring wonder
stories OF the late Frank Stockton, but
she has not quite reached the conicaI
seriousness of that amiable raconteur. Her
hero finds an electric elephant in Color
ado; that is, an artificial elephant run
oy ingenious electric devices. the secret of
which, he finds in written directions in
the interior of the elephant, which is
fitted up comfortably. The story details
the use made Of this valuable find in
world wide excursions. There is a woman
IN the story and love episode illuminates
the pages. - IT.